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T-16 skyhopper

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T-16 Skyhopper
Production information
Manufacturer

Incom Corporation

Product line

Airspeeder[1]

Model

T-16 Skyhopper

Class

Repulsorcraft

Cost
  • New: 14,500 credits[1]
  • Used: 6,500 credits[1]
Technical specifications
Length

10.4 meters (including blaster)[2]

Height/depth

12 meters[3]

Maximum speed

1,200 km/h[3]

Maximum altitude

300 km[3]

Engine unit(s)
Armament

Double laser cannon (1; when armed)[1]

Crew

Pilot/gunner (1)[2]

Passengers

1[2]

Cargo capacity

50 kg[1]

Usage
Role(s)
  • Reconnaissance
  • Patrol
  • Training
  • Aerial assault
  • Sport
Era(s)
Affiliation

Various

[Source]
"You may be the hottest bush pilot this side of Mos Eisley, Luke, but those little skyhoppers can be dangerous. They move awfully fast for tropospheric craft—faster than they need to. Keep playing engine jockey with one and someday, whammo! You're going to be nothing more than a dark spot on the damp side of a canyon wall."
―Biggs Darklighter to Luke Skywalker[src]

The T-16 skyhopper was a high-performance airspeeder.

Contents

[edit] Characteristics

T-16 schematics.

It was equipped with an ion engine and a fully pressurized cockpit, allowing it to operate at trans-orbital altitudes.

Civilian versions of the skyhopper were armed with pneumatic cannons, though many law-enforcement agencies and planetary militaries throughout the galaxy utilized modified T-16s due to their overall good performance; however, because it was armed with only a single mounted repeating blaster, it was often overlooked by the military.

Even so, these airspeeders were often used as training vehicles by the Rebel Alliance, due to the fact that their flight controls were similar to those of X-wings.

The skyhopper was a common sight across the galaxy, with versions of the craft found on nearly every settled world. The T-16 was identified by its tri-wing design and triangular cabin. The three wings, which were reproduced in countless Imperial transports, provided excellent stability. The central airfoil segmented the canopy and blocked much of the pilot's view, but computer displays and a holographic mapping system compensated for this decreased field of view.

Luke, playing with a model T-16.

The speeder had a top speed of approximately 1,200 kilometers per hour. Many young pilots preferred skyhoppers over landspeeders because of the increased maneuverability.

[edit] History

Luke Skywalker owned a T-16 on his home planet of Tatooine, where he would use womp rats as target practice and race through Beggar's Canyon with his friend, Biggs Darklighter.

[edit] Behind the scenes

In A New Hope, Luke is seen playing with a model of a T-16, which in reality was the prop miniature built by Colin Cantwell. The actual prop could not be completed, and an incomplete hull, which was ruined by Luke in-universe—the reason he takes his landspeeder to search for R2-D2—can be seen as a matte painting in the background.

A flying T-16 can be seen above Mos Eisley during the Return of the Jedi Special Edition's celebration ending sequence.

In Attack of the Clones, a T-16 can be seen in the background of the homestead garage scene.

A Lego set has been created featuring the skyhopper. It includes a T-16 pilot.

Early screenshots of the Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO video game have shown a vehicle resembling the T-16 skyhopper.

[edit] Appearances

Early T-16 concept sketch

[edit] Sources

Wookieepedia has a collection of images related to T-16 skyhopper.

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Arms & Equipment Guide
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 The Official Star Wars Fact File
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Star Wars: Behind the Magic
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