B-wing

Infobox Fictional Spacecraft
name = B-wing


caption =
first = ""
last =
status =
affiliation = Rebel Alliance New Republic
launched =
decommissioned =
class =
registry =
fighters =
auxcraft =
armaments = Laser cannons Ion cannons Proton torpedoes
defense = Deflector shields
propulsion =
power =
length = 16.9 meters
width =
height =
primeref = Starwars.com Databankcite web|url=http://www.starwars.com/databank/starship/bwingstarfighter|title=B-wing starfighter|work=Star Wars Databank|publisher=Lucasfilm|accessdate=2008-06-23]

B-wings are fictional Rebel Alliance and New Republic starfighters in the "Star Wars" universe. They first appear in "" and subsequently in the Star Wars Expanded Universe's books, comics, and games. A variety of B-wing merchandise has been released by toy companies.

Origin and design

Although initial plans called for B-wings to appear in several scenes, its narrow appearance from some angles made it difficult to see against the backdrop of space.cite web|url=http://www.starwars.com/databank/starship/bwingstarfighter/?id=bts|title=B-wing starfighter (Behind the Scenes)|work=Star Wars Databank|accessdate=2007-08-25|publisher=Lucasfilm] The ship's rotating cockpit stems from an initial design for the "Millennium Falcon".

Depiction

Expanded Universe material states that when the Galactic Empire designs the Nebulon-B frigate to protect its convoys from Rebel Alliance X-wings and Y-wings, the Rebels respond by constructing the B-wing.cite web|url=http://www.starwars.com/databank/starship/bwingstarfighter/?id=eu|title=B-wing starfighter (Expanded Universe)|work=Star Wars Database|accessdate=2007-08-25|publisher=Lucasfilm] The Verpine, supervised by Ackbar, design and arm the fighter to engage capital ships. The B-wing's gyrostabilized cockpit allows the pilot to maintain a consistent horizon while the craft's body rotates around it. The B-wing is the largest and most powerful fighter designed by the Rebel Alliance, and it is generally viewed as the successor to the older and slower Y-wing fighter/bomber. B-wings have powerful shields which are considerably stronger than the shields featured on most Imperial or Rebel fighter designs, and they are armed with a greater variety of weapons. B-wings participate at the Battle of Endor in "Return of the Jedi" and in numerous other engagements throughout the Star Wars Expanded Universe.

Merchandise

Both Kenner and Hasbro released B-wing toys, [cite web|url=http://photos.sirstevesguide.com/showphoto.php?photo=11050&cat=3297|title=B-Wing Fighter: Box Front|work=SirStevesGuide.com Photo Gallery|accessdate=2007-08-25|publisher=sirstevesguide.com] [cite web|url=http://www.starwars.com/collecting/news/hasbro/news20010516.html|title=Dude, Where's my ship|work=Star Wars Collecting|publisher=Lucasfilm|accessdate=2007-08-25] the B-wing is part of two Micro Machines three-packs, [cite web|url=http://cargobay.starwars.com/webapps/cargobay/item-detail/12983|title=#IX: Executor, B-wing, A-wing (1995)|publisher=Lucasfilm|work=Star Wars Cargo Bay|accessdate=2007-08-25] [cite web|url=http://cargobay.starwars.com/webapps/cargobay/item-detail/11786|title=#3: AT-ST, Jabba's Sail Barge, B-wing (1994)|publisher=Lucasfilm|work=Star Wars Cargo Bay|accessdate=2007-08-25] and Lego has made two B-wing sets. [cite web|url=http://www.fbtb.net/sets/index.asp?set=7180|title=FBTB Lego Star Wars Set Guide - 7180 B-Wing Fighter|accessdate=2007-08-29] [cite web|url=http://www.starwars.com/collecting/news/lego/news20050708.html|title=LEGO Releases Obi-Wan's Starfighter in Target Exclusive Set This Fall|work=Star Wars Collecting|accessdate=2007-08-25|publisher=Lucasfilm] A Micro Machines Alpha Fleet package includes models both of the B-wing's film appearance and of an initial production design. [cite web|url=http://cargobay.starwars.com/webapps/cargobay/item-detail/11947|title=B-wing Fighter|publisher=Lucasfilm|accessdate=2007-08-25|work=Star Wars Cargo Bay] Decipher and Wizards of the Coast published B-wing cards for the Star Wars Customizable Card Game and Star Wars Trading Card Game, respectively. [cite web|url=http://www.decipher.com/starwars/cardlists/swallcards.pdf|title=Star Wars Customizable Card Game Complete Card List|accessdate=2007-08-23|publisher=Decipher, Inc.|date=2001-08-23|format=PDF] [cite web|url=http://cargobay.starwars.com/webapps/cargobay/item-detail/17126|work=Star Wars Cargo Bay|title=B-wing|publisher=Lucasfilm|accessdate=2007-08-25] The second expansion pack for the "" flight simulator, "B-Wing", introduces the B-wing as a playable starfighter; several other Lucasarts products also depict B-wings.

References

External links

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