Starfleet Jedi

OK, so one of the most central features of Star Wars is the dogfights and the daring pilots striking at difficult targets against incredible odds. So many daring heros are fighter pilots; so many of the classic Star Wars games are fighter games.

Some starfighters are more the tool of independent freelancers, like the Z-95 - seen only in the movies. Mara Jade piloted one. Others are team piloted, like the tri-wing three-man (plus an astromech) ARC-170.

Some craft are really meant for atmospheric use, like the T-16 Skyhopper (usually not armed) and the T-47 airspeeders seen on Hoth; some are local defense craft, like the Geonosian fighters, the N-1 of Naboo, and the Utapau P-38.

Others seem custom one-off jobs, like Grievous's starfighter and Vader's TIE; some are automated and mass produced. Vulture droids and trifighters come to mind, although TIEs were also around in great numbers - at least, the other three seen in the movies. The large number of other TIE variants seen only in the EU were rarer.

And, of course, there are the A, B, E, K, V, X, and Y wing fighters.

Personally, I like the Y-Wing. Ok, it supposedly flies like a pig and is obsolete compared to the others, and they get blown up quite easily by attacking TIEs in ANH, but I like nacelles. And it's supposedly a durable, versatile craft, easily modified, and just the thing for taking a nice long-range strike mission with a close friend or loved one.

I also like the TIE Interceptor. Twice the firepower and improved maneuverability from the basic TIE fighter with no real increase in target profile? No other TIE fits the TIE mission as well or as credibly, IMO...

...and yes, I think it looks really nice.

I always liked the X-wing, it was a cool looking ship. I also like the two Jedi star-fighters seen, especially the TIE fighter-like predecessor in ROTS.

The X-Wing is an icon, no question. But personally, I love the EU's TIE Defender, an Imperial starfighter constructed with a Rebel mentality, complete with shields and its own hyperdrive.

Cocytus wrote:The X-Wing is an icon, no question. But personally, I love the EU's TIE Defender, an Imperial starfighter constructed with a Rebel mentality, complete with shields and its own hyperdrive.

I think it looks ugly, and is like made by a fanboy who said oh yeah, more lazorz and better missiles and better shields and better hyperdrives and better speed and better acceleration and better range oh my god what's happening???

I like the EU's Chiss fighter. Pure coolness.

The TIE Interceptor is clearly a winner for me as well.

I don't fancy the designs from the PT safe the N-1 fighter. It's a complete oddity.

Other than that, I also love the Y-wing, especially with all the hull plating as seen in the ICS, and for their fins at the back of the nacelles.
The B-wings are very cool, it's a pity we don't see them more.
I appreciated the sort of rip off in Lost in Space.

The X-wing is just the fighter everybody knows, and I also dig it.

As with several others in this thread, my favorite fighter is the X-Wing. It is an icon, and it has speed and maneuverability comparable to a TIE Fighter, along with four laser cannons and proton torpedoes.

Mr. Oragahn wrote:

Cocytus wrote:The X-Wing is an icon, no question. But personally, I love the EU's TIE Defender, an Imperial starfighter constructed with a Rebel mentality, complete with shields and its own hyperdrive.

I think it looks ugly, and is like made by a fanboy who said oh yeah, more lazorz and better missiles and better shields and better hyperdrives and better speed and better acceleration and better range oh my god what's happening???

Or, some Imperial engineer, who probably endangered his life by daring to question the wisdom of commonplace Imperial thinking, (which held that fighters were insignificant and disposable) posited that perhaps human and material resources are not inexhaustible, and therefore more steps should be taken to protect pilots and enhance versatility and firepower. To me, the Defender makes perfect sense, especially in light of the two crushing, costly defeats the Empire suffered at the hands of those better Rebel fighters.

Didn't Vader's personal TIE also have shields and a hyperdrive? If its fanboyish you want, I can't think of a better example than the Virago, which I loathe.

There is something wonderful about the Y wing... To this day I'm in love with that ship...

The B-Wing...
Give me a gyrating nacelle anyday... :)

Tie Interceptor, or the Chiss "clawcraft" version, because they took a cool design, that didn't just look like a plane with extra bits, and made it cooler.

I'm thinking the ARC-170. A more modern look to the older X-wing. I never did like any of the designs in the original trilogy, they seemed a bit dated, visually speaking. The Stardestroyer being a big exception to that rule.

For me it's the X-wing. As fighter, it's the perfect balance between speed, firepower and toughness. It also looks cool :D

As much as I love the X-wing and all, I have to throw in with the Y-wing, if for no other reason than it deserves an honorable mention, and is one of the few fighter designs in both trilogies that is built without too much in the way of consideration for aerodynamics (no wings or fins, just pylons and big nacelles, built like a brick).
-Mike

On the rebel side i've always been partial to the A-Wing. Fast, maneuverable, shielded and packs two lasers and missiles. Ultimate fighter-killer. Even X-Wings can't match the A-Wing in a straight one on one Dogfight IMHO.

On the Imperial side, I'll go with the TIE Interceptor for the same reasons. Though it trades in shields for an extra pair of lasers, it can still out-dogfight anything but an A-Wing.

If we allow non-canon into consideration I'll go with the TIE-Advanced instead. It's basically a slightly faster and slightly more maneuverable TIE Interceptor with shields, and missiles. All around improvement.

If we were to include ST vessels, my favorite Fighter craft would be the Defiant.
I mean, look at it's maneuverability, it's an 120 meter long starfighter... :)

The Defiant doesn't really count as a fighter. It's a full on Warship. Maybe you could classify it as a frigate, based on size alone. Though it's firepower is easily capital-ship worthy

Closest thing to a Trek Fighter would be shuttles, in which case the Delta Flyer is as good as it gets. Borg-enhanced shields and weapons for the win.