Question about Star Wars fighters

Blackstar the Chakat · Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:03 am

Why do they have adjustable S-foils? That seems more worthless then the Prometheus' MVAM. At least that has advantages of some sort. The B-Wing I can understand to save space in a hanger but the X-Wing doesn't really change in size. So what real purpose does it serve? All it seems to do is add more mass and complex components.

stitch626 · Post by **stitch626** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:09 am

Well, the change of blaster possition does increase firing spread slightly, and the changiing of wing positions does change the moments of inertia leterally allowing for better manouvourbillity (probably botched the spelling there

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mwhittington · Post by **mwhittington** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:17 am

The X-wing is a cool ship, but I liked the Z-95 Headhunter better (Predecessor to the X-Wing). No astromech droid, no having to open the foils to attack the enemy. It had only 2 turbolasers and I don't know if it had a proton torpedo launcher or not, but it was the "pure sports car" of space fighters.

Monroe · Post by **Monroe** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 3:40 am

It had concusion missile launchers.

The X-Wing s-foils save space a little bit. Like others said it also increases the firing arc.

RK_Striker_JK_5 · Post by **RK_Striker_JK_5** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 4:31 am

Yeah, they spread out the fire for larger targeting area. And it... looks cool.

Besides, I love saying, "Lock S-foils in attack position!"

Reliant121 · Post by **Reliant121** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 8:17 am

I thought that when the S-Foils are in a folded position, they are more streamlined, making atmospheric travel quicker and easier. And when they are in firing position, they provide more resistance, therefore higher manouvrability. And the cannons are mounted in such a way that when in the deployed position, it gives a bigger fire spread.
Perhaps if the cannons were fired in the cruising position, the heat of being so close together would melt them or fuse them somehow...just a theory.

Post by **Captain Seafort** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:49 am

X-wings can fire with the wings closed, but it's very unusual, and apparently an impressive trick. This suggests it's got something to do with the targeting (X-wing: Wraith Squadron, pg 49).

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 12:53 pm

Captain Seafort wrote:X-wings can fire with the wings closed, but it's very unusual, and apparently an impressive trick. This suggests it's got something to do with the targeting (X-wing: Wraith Squadron, pg 49).

It's also got something to do with the radiators being in the wings. Opening them makes shedding heat easier.

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:56 pm

Don't the four laser bolts converge when the ship fires? That would mean that firing with the wings closed and hitting something would be pretty damn hard to do.

Deepcrush · Post by **Deepcrush** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:08 pm

The S-soils also work with the ships shields. Spreading the shield bubble out, thining out the fighters profile and supporting a wider firing arc. In flight they serve also to increase combat manouvrability and displace heat from the weapons.

Blackstar the Chakat · Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:12 pm

Rochey wrote:Don't the four laser bolts converge when the ship fires? That would mean that firing with the wings closed and hitting something would be pretty damn hard to do.

Yes, in the X-Wing series Seafort mentioned earlier also had mentioned in one of the earlier books that they can adjust the range of the convergence.

But we've seen fixed wing fighters that seemed to fight as efficently and they don't seem to have their shots converge either. So what advantage is there?

Sionnach Glic · Post by **Sionnach Glic** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:21 pm

*shrug*
As others pointed out, it could be to allow heat to bleed off more efficiently, which would be the advantage in this case.

Tiberius · Post by **Tiberius** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 9:15 pm

because it looks cool, that's why.

Post by **Mikey** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:20 pm

Tiberius wrote:because it looks cool, that's why.

*ding ding ding!* WINNER!

Blackstar the Chakat · Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:50 pm

Mikey wrote:
Tiberius wrote:because it looks cool, that's why.
*ding ding ding!* WINNER!

If that's the final answer for this then I'm saying the same thing the next time the MVAM issue comes up.