Flight
From Transformers Wiki
Flight is a capability many mechanoids and no few Transformers have, whether through rocket boosters, propellers, or even flapping wings. Humans do not generally have the ability to fly, but there are exceptions. It has proven quite useful strategically in many continuities.
Contents
|
Jet-powered flight
The most common means by which Transformers fly is some variation on jet-propulsion engines, rocket engines, or similar. Transformers such as the Seekers have such thrusters built into their legs, while other individuals such as Sideswipe and Sunstreaker possess removable jet-packs which strap to their backs.
Transformers with jet-powered flight
- Dinomode Grimlock[1]
- Inferno (BW)
- Transmetal Megatron
- Optimus Primal
- Starscream (Movie)
- Autobot X
- Megatron (Animated)
Propeller-powered flight
Sometimes, by virtue of a Transformer's alternate mode, they can fly by means more primitive than they might be accustomed to on Cybertron. Using airplane propellers, helicopter rotors, or other similar technologies they can fly at speeds comparable to native aircraft on the worlds they are residing upon.
Transformers with propeller-powered flight
- Classics Divebomb
- Obsidian (BM)
- Blackout (Movie)
- Cyclonus (Armada)
- Springer
- Sandstorm (G1)
- Powerdive
- Ransack (G2)
- Tankor (Universe Classic series)
- Megatron (Animated)
- Evac (Cybertron)
- Galvatron (SG)
Biological flight
Many transformers have a physical pair of beast mode wings, whether natural-looking or mechanical. In these cases, the transformer's flight derives from flapping these wings or gliding much like an animal would.
Transformers with biological flight
- Airazor (BW) / Airazor (Armada)
- Divebomb (G1)
- Transmetal 2 Megatron
- Nightscream (BM)
- Silverbolt (BW)
- Swoop (G1)
- Terrorsaur (BW)
- Waspinator (BW)
- Waspinator (Animated)
- Predaking (Prime)
Levitation
Some Transformers just float, often by no apparent means. It isn't always that well explained in the fiction, though certainly there exist Transformers with anti-gravity generators and other technologies which allow them to maneuver effortlessly even within a gravitational field.
Transformers with levitation
Robot mode flight
Robot mode flight powers are an innovative power that allows Transformers without a flight-based alternate mode to fly while in robot mode. The Decepticons make good use of this power.
Sometimes the Autobots have them... sometimes they don't. Most often they display them early in Season 1 of the US cartoon, particularly the pilot. It is uncertain if they require external equipment to fly; several times the Autobots use strap-on jet packs or rocket packs, but sometimes they don't.
Robot mode flight was prevalent in the post-movie episodes, in which the focus was shifted to space. Although some characters could not fly under the influence of a planet's gravity, everyone seemed to possess the power of flight in deep space.
Human flight
- Circuit Breaker's electronic suit allows her to fly by manipulating electricity. Same goes for Sephie Beller.
- Dynamo has the innate ability to tap into the power of the Earth which gives him flight capability.
- Rapture uses a jet pack provided by G.B. Blackrock to allow her to fly.
- Falcon flies with the aid of high tech wings.
- Iron Man wore a special suit of armor that allowed him to fly, among other things.
- Ms. Marvel can fly, courtesy of her half-Kree genetics.
- Professor Princess flies around on her electro-mechanical unicorn, Powdered Sugar.
Fiction
Marvel Comics continuity
Marvel The Transformers comics
Transformers did not demonstrate a cartoon-style robot mode levitation-type flight ability. Any type of robot mode flight was rare. Shockwave could fly in either mode using jet thrusters in his "boots." The Transformers Universe The Battlechargers flight was explained by the use of short-range rocket jumpers attached to their legs. Decepticon Graffiti! Some or all of the Decepticon Pretenders could fly in their shells. Pretender to the Throne! King Con!
Marvel G.I. Joe comic
Megatron could fly in gun mode. Realignments
Marvel Generation 2 comic
Megatron flew using rockets in the bottom of his tank form's feet. Total War!
The Transformers cartoon
Robot mode flight powers were a technological innovation that allowed the Decepticons, who had just mastered the art of Transformation, to start a new war and battle the Autobots for supremacy of Cybertron. Their initial attacks were not a matter of public knowledge, and some Autobots, such as Orion Pax and Dion, admired them for their innovations. This admiration was ended when Megatron blasted Orion, Dion, and Ariel. It was to Megatron's detriment, however, for Alpha Trion rebuilt Orion and Ariel into Optimus Prime and Elita One. War Dawn
Eventually, the Autobots also mastered robot mode flight powers, and they used them to reach an oil rig which the Decepticons were plundering. More than Meets the Eye, Part 1 Ironhide and Bluestreak pursued the fleeing Decepticons into the air, though Skywarp had little difficulty shooting down Ironhide. Optimus required the use of Sideswipe's rocket pack to catch up to the space-bound Decepticon ship shortly afterwards, implying a limit on the speed or range of his flight capabilities. More than Meets the Eye, Part 3 Sideswipe and Sunstreaker also used robot mode flight powers in their use of jet judo against Seekers attacking the Autobot base. More than Meets the Eye, Part 2
The Decepticons' own flight capabilities have known to fail them at times too. In one instance, under a barrage of firepower, Optimus and the Autobots drove the Decepticons back until they fell down a canyon into lava, instead of simply flying out. Heavy Metal War
The Autobots' ability to fly in robot mode effectively vanished after that. To reach Dinobot Island, Optimus Prime and a crew of Autobots used strap-on jetpacks. Even Autobots with flying alternate modes did not seem able to fly in robot mode, though Cosmos seemed able to maneuver in space while in robot mode.
The newly created Dinobots could fly in robot mode, an ability they consistently demonstrated throughout their history. Their creator, Wheeljack, was also shown flying in robot mode apparently unassisted, an ability his on-package bio claims for him. S.O.S. Dinobots
In the years following the defeat of Unicron, a number of Autobots were seen to fly through space without any visible aid or means of propulsion. Notable among them was Perceptor, who had never before demonstrated such an ability. Before one such instance, Sky Lynx advised the Autobots in question to "don your rocket packs, gentlemen!" The Technobots all flew in robot mode from Earth to Saturn's moon Titan.
Despite the Autobots' rare display of this ability, some claim they do not have it at all. Galvatron once said outright that "Autobots cannot fly," himself flying easily over a booby trap, while his apparently earthbound Autobot companions remained helpless. Then again, Galvatron is beyond psychotic. The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 2
Beast Wars cartoon
Early in this series, the Predacons had a tactical advantage due to the imbalance of flight-capable individuals in their faction. Initially, only Optimus Primal could provide air support for the Maximals, and then only in robot mode, which was risky in the energon-rich environment. However, as more protoforms were formatted and pressed into service, particularly Airazor and Silverbolt, the balance of forces became more even.
The introduction of Transmetal forms into the Maximal and Predacon ranks once again shifted the balance of flight-capable transformers. Megatron and Cheetor gained the ability to fly via jets in their beast modes, and Optimus Primal gained the ability to fly in his beast mode via a jet-powered hover board, addition to his original robot mode flight. After upgrading to his "Optimal Optimus" form, he further acquired a true jet mode that only enhanced his flight capabilities. The arrivals of Depth Charge and Tigerhawk, who were likewise equipped with flight-based altmodes, further added to the ranks of airborne Maximals.
Sufficient volumes of energon itself, of a certain level of instability, are said to have the ability to cause large objects to float Power Surge.
Transmutate had an apparently unique flight mechanism: it extended a crystalline object from within its body, and when the crystal was exposed to air, it gave off an intense energy field and then caused its user to levitate. Since Transmutate was a malformed, incomplete design, this might have been a display of widespread Transformer flight technology that otherwise would always be internal and unseen.
IDW Generation 1 continuity
Back before the war, information on scientific breakthroughs in levitation/"repulsors" that could lead to robot mode flight abilities caught the greedy optics of Senator Ratbat, who manipulated the stock to take control. Given that he offered a variety of war-tech to the fledgling Decepticons under Megatron, this may be intended as a reference to or origin for their robot-form flight abilities; however, the Decepticons have demonstrated no such abilities in the IDW continuity. This may be an artifact of this storyline's planning and even possible scripting during the latter days before the Dreamwave bankruptcy.
Cybertron cartoon
Robot mode flight powers were tied to the ability to fly in vehicle mode, indicating that all Transformers with flight-capable alternate modes possessed internal repulsors or vertical thrusters. Faction did not come into it. A Transformer who went from vehicle mode to robot mode while in flight would lose considerable momentum doing so, a factor often used to land in confined areas. Most flight was typically carried out in vehicle mode, as it was faster and typically more agile. Interestingly, all Transformers were capable of robot mode flight in zero gravity (and some were capable of it in car modes). Given the way things work in zero gravity, the robot mode flight in such conditions is actually quite natural, albeit slow.
Animated cartoon
Autobots did not possess flight, save for limited jumps using booster jets. However, the capture of the Decepticon Starscream allowed the Autobot Ministry of Science to reverse-engineer flight protocols and implant them in a pair of energon refinery maintenance bots. The result was Jetfire and Jetstorm, whose origins as a split protoform granted them other new abilities as a result of the process, including becoming a combiner. First (and Second) in Flight
TransTech
GoBots all have robot mode flight systems. Withered Hope
Live-action film series
Some Transformers have robot mode flight with the aid of "jetpacks" and other flight systems.
Bumblebee film
When B-127 landed on Earth, he was attacked by Blitzwing who slammed the scout against the rocks using his flight capabilities. B-127 managed to use his more nimble frame to climb onto Blitzwing's back and his blade to disable the Seeker's engines, grounding him. Bumblebee
Ghosts of Yesterday
Autobots and Decepticons alike can fly under gravity in robot mode by using "propulsion." Ghosts of Yesterday
Age of Extinction film
After vowing to leave Earth and confront the "Creators", Optimus Prime deployed a set of built-in rockets which he used to break free of Earth's atmosphere. Age of Extinction
The Last Knight film
Optimus's energon supply ran out near Jupiter and he entered stasis lock, being revived when he was pulled into the gravity well of the approaching Cybertron. After he'd been brainwashed by Quintessa into "Nemesis Prime", he flew back to Earth so he could retrieve the Staff of Merlin where Bumblebee coaxed him free of the mind control. After rallying the troops, Optimus flew ahead of them all and to Cybertron on his own power, using his flight capabilities to gain the height advantage on Infernocus. The Last Knight
Aligned continuity family
War For Cybertron video game
All Transformers are equipped with thrusters in their feet, allowing them to boost themselves while jumping (a double-jump, if you will). Jet mode Transformers, such as Starscream and Air Raid, are flight capable in jet mode but are ground-bound in robot mode. However, several Transformers have the ability to hover in the air in robot mode (including Megatron).
Prime cartoon
Most Decepticons that had an aerial vehicle form could fly, but only in vehicle mode. When MECH stole Starscream's T-cog, he was unable to transform into his jet mode and thus was incapable of flight. Operation Bumblebee, Part 2 Several Predacons, such as Predaking, were flight capable thanks to their wings. Prey Following his resurrection with the Forge of Solus Prime, Optimus Prime got a new body with a jet-pack, allowing him to fly in robot mode. Rebellion
2015 Robots in Disguise cartoon
Several Decepticons, such as Filch, Nightstrike and Zizza, were capable of biological flight due to the wings they possessed in their beast/beast-like modes. A confused Grimlock once thought he could fly and was surprised to find out that he couldn't. As the Kospego Commands! Windblade was a female Autobot who could turn into jet and thus provided air-support for the other grounded Autobots. Other Autobots like Sideswipe and Drift would hitch a ride on her if the mission ever required it. The Buzz on Windblade Battlegrounds, Part 2 After returning from the dead again, Optimus Prime used his built-in jet pack to reach the battle site that Megatronus was at. Battlegrounds, Part 1 After absorbing all seven Weaponizer Mini-Cons, Starscream gained both fancy armor and the ability to fly in robot mode. That got taken away once the Mini-Cons were extracted from him. Worthy
Notes
- Despite all these advanced flight abilities, Cybertronians seem incapable of actually landing successfully after achieving flight. There are many, many instances of infamous crashes within the fictions. In fact, Jetfire makes somewhat of a reference to this in Revenge of the Fallen, when he botches his own landing, commenting on it sarcastically as he does.