X-wing fighter

Starting with The Force Awakens (2015), a new model of X-wing was introduced, which has gone on to play a prominent role in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. The T-70 X-wing, flown by the Resistance in their fight against the First Order, is depicted as the successor to the T-65. Although described as being an improvement over the original, in the expanded literature this new X-wing is itself considered outdated, having been replaced by the T-85 X-wing in the New Republic's defense fleet. The T-85 X-wing made its first appearance in the TV series Star Wars Resistance (2018).

Origin and design[edit]

Colin Cantwell sketched and built models that eventually became the final X-wing fighter in Star Wars.^[1] The X-wings were designed to appear more "traditional" than the Empire's TIE fighters.^[2] ILM built miniatures in various scales, with wing markings indicating which prop represented which pilot.^[1] When ILM fell behind on generating X-wing footage, Star Wars creator/director George Lucas and his editors temporarily used World War II dogfight footage for initial editing cuts.^[3] Each X-wing model was built around a hollow core made from surgical tubing, which allowed lighting, cooling, and electrical connectors for the wing motors to be installed and maintained.^[2] The cockpit windows were made from faceted glass so that accurate reflections could be filmed.^[2] Although the movie's initial script and novelization describe the X-wings as belonging to "Blue squadron", limitations in bluescreen photography led to the markings on the filming models, as well as the fictional squadron affiliation being changed to red.^[1]


In addition to miniatures, special effects expert John Stears and his crew made a single, full-size X-wing for scenes in the Rebels' Yavin 4 base hangar; combined with cardboard cutouts and careful editing, the Rebels appear to have dozens of fighters.^[1] The production crew also made a full-size X-wing cockpit that was used for all actors; the astromech droid visible behind each actor was changed for each starfighter.^[4] Background noise pitch and tone also varied between X-wings to further differentiate the characters piloting them.^[5]


The "lake" in which Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) crashes his X-wing in The Empire Strikes Back was only 3.5 feet (1.1 m) deep, requiring the creation of a rig resembling the starfighter sitting in the lake at an angle.^[6] The rig was built in hinged sections so it could be manipulated by frogmen to sink or rise, a key feature for the scene when Luke fails to levitate his ship from the water.^[6]


In 1993, ILM visual effects specialist John Knoll created a proof of concept test of dogfighting X-wings and TIE fighters to demonstrate the feasibility of using commercially available desktop computer software for simple animation work.^[7] This resulted in numerous parts of space battle scenes being "re-shot" as digital animations for the original trilogy's Special Edition releases.^[7] The ARC-170 starfighter seen in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is the ancestor of the X-wing and is deliberately reminiscent of the X-wing's design.^[8]

Merchandise and licensing[edit]

Kenner Toys produced an X-wing toy as a complement to its action figure line in 1978; this model was made from formed plastic and had a battery-operated light and buzzer in the forward fuselage. The "s-foils" were activated by depressing the molded astromech droid. In 1982, a "battle-damaged" version was released using the same mold but with damage stickers, a grey fuselage, blackened engine inlets, and a darker canopy. In countries outside the U.S., the electronics were removed and the R2-D2 “button” was chrome (apart from the U.S., the electronic X-wing was only available in Brazil, Canada, and France).^[14] Kenner also produced a die-cast 1:72 miniature X-wing in 1978 and a smaller scaled version with "battle damage crash feature" for the short lived Micro Collection line in 1982.


The X-wing appeared in four Micro Machines three-packs, including the first Star Wars pack released, a bronzed version, and a pack of three "battle damaged" X-wings with different colored markings.^{[15][16][17][18]} The Micro Machines X-wing has also been released in two single-packs, as a promotional souvenir with German video releases, in a nine-pack of Original Trilogy vehicles, and once in clear plastic.^{[19][20][21][22]} The X-wing appears eight times in the Micro Machines Action Fleet toy line: Luke's starfighter on its own,^[23] with "targeter" stand,^[24] with Dagobah swamp damage,^[25] and in a double pack with a TIE Fighter,^[26] Wedge's starfighter on its own,^[27] and as a component of the Yavin Rebel Base playset,^[28] a toy based on the prototype packaged with Biggs Darklighter's starfighter,^[29] and Jek Porkins' starfighter.^[30]


Lego also released numerous X-wing models, including a 76-piece miniature X-wing/TIE advanced kit,^[31] a 263-piece X-wing (1999/2002), a 563-piece X-wing kit with Yoda's Hut (2004), a 437-piece X-Wing (2006),^[32] a 560-piece X-wing (2012), a 730-piece X-wing (2018),^[33] and a 474-piece Luke Skywalker's X-wing Fighter (2021).^[34] A 1,304-piece "Ultimate Collector's" model was released in 2000.^[35] A new "Ultimate Collector's" model with 1,559 pieces was released in 2013. In 2019, the Lego Group's annual Christmas gift to employees was a 1,038-piece Christmas X-wing, which also included Yoda's igloo and a sleigh.^[36] In addition to the original T-65 X-wing, Lego has released several models of the newer T-70 X-wing. These include the black/orange Poe's X-wing Fighter (2015),^[37] the gray/blue Resistance X-wing Fighter (2016)^[38] and orange/white Poe Dameron's X-wing Fighter (2020),^[39] as well as several small mini-scale versions.


X-wings also appear in numerous Star Wars games and Expanded Universe stories. The player pilots an X-wing in the Atari Star Wars game. It is also a playable ship in numerous LucasArts games, and is the eponymous vessel in the first of several space combat simulator games. Both the Rebel Assault and Rebel Assault II rail shooters include X-wing levels, and X-wing squadrons are controllable units in the Rebellion and Empire at War strategy games. Decipher and Wizards of the Coast published X-wing and X-wing-related cards for the Star Wars Customizable Card Game and Star Wars Trading Card Game, respectively.^[40] Michael A. Stackpole and Aaron Allston wrote the X-wing novel series that focuses on the X-wing pilots of Rogue Squadron and Wraith Squadron, the former expanding the story of pilots like Wedge Antilles who appear in the films. Dark Horse Comics has also published an X-Wing Rogue Squadron series.^[41] In 2012, Fantasy Flight Games released the Star Wars: X-Wing Miniatures Game featuring several pilots and variations of the ship.^[42] The X-wing also included in its Star Wars: Armada miniatures game and Star Wars: Rebellion board game.^[43][44]