Batplane

File:Batplane 1939.jpg

Batman once maintained aircraft in his original Batcave. However, launching these planes so close to Wayne Manor's neighboring estates threatened to compromise Batman's secret identity. The Caped Crusader now "borrows" specially-modified jets and helicopters from Wayne Aerospace's business and military contracts.

Batplane I{{cite web |url=http://ourworld.cs.com/argentprime/batman.htm |title=The Golden Age Batman Chronology |website=ourworld.cs.com |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020805124302/http://ourworld.cs.com/argentprime/batman.htm |archive-date=5 August 2002 |url-status=dead}} and the Bat-Rocket favored Batman's signature look over sleek aerodynamics.

File:Batplane 1950.jpg

Batplane II{{cite web |url=http://ourworld.cs.com/argentprime/batman2.htm |title=The Golden Age Batman Chronology |website=ourworld.cs.com |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020817173659/http://ourworld.cs.com/argentprime/batman2.htm |archive-date=17 August 2002 |url-status=dead}} was a retooled needle-nosed Wayne Aerospace W4 Wraith fighter that married style with substance.{{cite book |last1=Steranko |first1=Jim |title=The Steranko History of Comics, vol 1 |date=1970 |publisher=Supergraphics |page=49}} In terms of design, it shares features with the Grumman F9F Cougar and McDonnell F-101 Voodoo. When the Batplane is stolen and triplicated by smugglers in Batman #61, Batman and Robin upgrade the Batplane to jet propulsion, adding at least "100 miles per hour" to its maximum speed.Reed, David Vern (w); Sprang, Dick (p); Paris, Charles (i). "The Birth of Batplane II!", Batman #61, DC Comics, October–November 1950.

Batplane III is a modified Wayne Aerospace SlipStream ($46 million sans "extras"). It is detailed to resemble a standard mid-size corporate jet during take-offs and landings. Some of its features and capabilities are as follows:

• At cruising altitude (35,000-45,000 ft.), telescoping wings retract. Exterior sections of tail and nose-cone envelop cockpit and cabin fuselage for higher altitude pressurization.
• Gaining further altitude (45,000-55,000 ft.) delta fins in the tail and snub winglets elongate to increase efficiency and stability as speeds approach supersonic.
• At ceiling altitudes (55,000-60,000 ft.) "smart" paint on exterior radar-shielding ceramics responds to dropping air pressure and temperature, thus camouflaging the Batplane's exterior to stealthy black.
• Avionics include ergonomic "at-a-glance" viewing levels for all electronics and multifunction displays. The breakaway canopy allows for pilot/co-pilot emergency ejection. The reinforced acrylic glass canopy windows polarize at stealth altitude.

The aircraft's specifications are:{{Cite web |url=http://www.gambitmag.com/2014/03/batman-ultimate-guide-dark-knight-archived/ |title=BATMAN: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO THE DARK KNIGHT |access-date=2014-03-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924020610/http://www.gambitmag.com/2014/03/batman-ultimate-guide-dark-knight-archived/ |archive-date=2015-09-24 |url-status=dead }}Batman: The Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight: {{ISBN|0-7894-7865-X}}

:Height: 14.5 ft.

:Length: 57.7 ft.

:Wingspan: 47.6 ft. - The wings are protected by a bleed-air anti-icing system.

:Altitude Ceiling: 60,000 ft.

:Maximum Speed: 4,400 mph

:Range: 2,486 n m

:Take-Off Distance: 5,230 ft.

:Landing Distance: 2,984 ft.

:Payload: 2,670 lb.

:Refueling Time: 7.8 minutes

The Batwing appears in Batman (1989) and Batman Forever. It is destroyed in the former film, but rebuilt and upgraded. Both models of the plane were created with miniature effects.

In Batman, the Batwing was designed by Anton Furst and Julian Caldow and constructed by the John Evans special effects team at Pinewood Studios. Five models were created, with only one in full-scale. A full-size segment of the cockpit was created in front of a blue-screen set for close-up shots of Michael Keaton piloting the craft.[http://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/empire-classic-feature-batman/ Classic Feature: The Making Of Batman] The Batplane's redesign in Forever was devised by Barbara Ling and Matt Codd and has a ribbed body and tail fin similar to the Batmobile.[https://books.google.com/books?id=jWAsAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA160 The Batman Filmography]{{cite journal|journal=American Cinematographer|title=Effects Help to Expand Batman's World|volume=76|issue=7|date=July 1995|author=Magid, Ron}}

This version of the Batplane appears in The Flash, which ignores the events of Forever and Batman & Robin and showcases more of its inner functions, including folding wings and rear seats with built-in parachutes.[https://thedirect.com/article/michael-keaton-flash-movie-batwing-photo First Look at Michael Keaton's New Batwing in The Flash Movie Merch]

File:Bat-wing3.jpg in June 2011]]

An entirely new version of the Batwing appears in the film The Dark Knight Rises, referred to simply as the Bat. It is an unconventional, lightweight volantor-like craft with a ventrally mounted rotor. Developed by Lucius Fox, the Bat was originally intended for close-quarters urban military operations but instead becomes Batman's new primary vehicle.

The Bat was designed by Nathan Crowley, who based it on the Harrier jump jet, Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey, and Boeing AH-64 Apache.{{cite web|url=http://www.thedarkknightrises.com/downloads/TDKR_productionNotes.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706184210/http://www.thedarkknightrises.com/downloads/TDKR_productionNotes.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 6, 2012 |title=The Dark Knight Rises Production Notes |access-date=July 5, 2012 }} Chris Corbould described the Bat's size and shape as presenting a major challenge for filming due to Christopher Nolan's emphasis on practical effects over computer-generated imagery. The Bat was variously supported by wires and mounted on a purpose-built vehicle with hydraulic controls to simulate movement.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669053/dark-knight-rises-batwing-photos.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923092016/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1669053/dark-knight-rises-batwing-photos.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 23, 2011|title='Dark Knight Rises': Batwing First Look!|publisher=MTV|date=August 15, 2011|access-date=February 25, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.superherohype.com/news/articles/171133-new-images-of-the-bat-in-the-dark-knight-rises|title=New Images of The Bat in The Dark Knight Rises|publisher=Superhero Hype!|date=June 14, 2012|access-date=June 23, 2012}}

The Batplane appears in the 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Here it is shown as a lightweight VTOL aircraft armed with machine guns and missiles, with a function that allows Alfred to remotely assume control.

The Batplane was largely rendered via CGI by Scanline VFX, with only its cockpit being physical. It was modeled after the Northrop Grumman X-47B and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.[http://www.artofvfx.com/batman-v-superman-dawn-justice-bryan-hirota-vfx-supervisor-scanline-vfx/ BATMAN V SUPERMAN – DAWN OF JUSTICE: Bryan Hirota – VFX Supervisor – Scanline VFX], Art of VFX

The Batplane makes a cameo appearance in Justice League.

• The Batplane, referred to as the Batjet, appears in Super Friends.
• The Batplane appears in series set in the DC Animated Universe (DCAU).
• The Batplane appears in Batman: The Brave and the Bold.
• The Batplane appears in The Batman.
• The Batplane appears in Young Justice.
• The Batplane appears in Harley Quinn.
• Wing, a sentient version of the Batplane, appears in Batwheels, voiced by Lilimar Hernandez.{{Cite web |date=September 13, 2021 |title=WarnerMedia Announces Batwheels Cast |url=https://www.awn.com/news/warnermedia-announces-batwheels-cast |access-date=December 6, 2024 |website=Animation World Network |language=en}}

• The Batplane appears in the Batman: Arkham series.
• The Batplane appears in Lego Dimensions as part of The Lego Batman Movie DLC.

Lego's Lego Batman line includes one set which features an incarnation of the Batplane, though it goes by the name of "The Batwing" (7782 The Batwing: The Joker's Aerial Assault). The set is featured alongside the Joker's helicopter. Lego also made another set named (6863 Batwing battle over Gotham City) with the similar type of vehicles. In 2020, Lego produced the set 1989 Batwing, re-creating the vehicle from the 1989 film.

The Gotham City section of Six Flags Over Texas includes a child-focused ride called "Batwing", which consists of two passenger seats that go in circles while moving up and down.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sixflags.com/overtexas/attractions/batwing|title=BATWING - Six Flags over Texas}}

• Batboat
• Batcopter
• Batcycle
• Batmobile

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.actionfigureinsider.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4349&sid=8f7baa30e43623bf063bfc5108f42490 Action Figure Insider :: View topic - Which Batplane is the best?]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150911220122/http://www.rasalghul.co.uk/comics_details.php?id=4072 Batman: Collected Issues of the Dark Knight - Batman #203]
• [http://www.batmanytb.com/bios/gadgets/batplanebio.php Batman: Yesterday, Today, & Beyond]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070717135720/http://ourworlds.topcities.com/batman/batplane/history-batplane.html History of the Batplane]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070501184620/http://ourworlds.topcities.com/batman/batplane/elseworlds-batplane.html A History of Other Batplanes - The Elseworlds]

{{Batman}}

Category:Batman vehicles

Category:Fictional elements introduced in 1939