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06-02-2023, 12:55 AM | #1 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,424
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I got the 25th one recently, and while I never had it as a kid, it's become my favorite Cobra air vehicle. I guess it just never "clicked" until I actually had one... but I gotta wonder, how would it be used?
Forgetting the cartoons, where everyone flew everything and everyone had the same rifle and Mutt could fly a space shuttle, mostly going by the File Cards and toy schematics and maybe the comics... The GI Joe Fandom page shows that it has a 7.62mm minigun, which would make it good for strafing infantry and maybe shooting up unarmored vehicles, but that's not suitable for air combat. They also list the inventory as 4 "air mines" and 2 500 lb bombs, so maybe "air denial" weapons, and 2 nice bombs for destroying hard targets, maybe tanks depending on the type of bomb. But the 25th blueprint sheet shows two 25mm coaxial firing cannons. So, yeah, on an aircraft this size, that would definitely be suitable for dogfighting jets and shooting helicopters out of the sky. But it shows 6 bombs rather than 2 bombs and 4 missiles. So, yeah, I'm overthinking it, but would this fast, relatively unarmored, nimble crotch rocket be used primarily for air combat, ground support, or a combination of both? Also, while it can be launched vertically from a Terrordrome, the artwork on the 25th shows them lined up in a hangar, so I'm guessing it can take off vertically from any location, and just rolled around? Seems like, if they had enough of these, Cobra could retire the FANG and Rattler. They could strafe infantry, bust tanks and bunkers, and even fight G.I. Joe's jets in sheer numbers (think: TIE Fighters swarming superior X-Wings). Yeah, it's late and I'm bored... Last edited by Cobra Agent 66; 06-02-2023 at 01:00 AM.. Reason: sp. |
06-02-2023, 01:17 AM | #2 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Florida
Posts: 4,072
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Quote:
I'm guessing the one that launches from the Terrotdrome playset is more for play purposes where in the canon they usually get stored in hangars. |
06-02-2023, 01:26 AM | #3 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,424
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Maybe in my head-canon I'll just pretend that it can be fit with miniguns or 25mm cannons, depending on the mission, and can carry a variety of missiles, bombs and aerial mines!
Same goes for the ASP. In my head-canon, it's primarily used for air defense, but can be deployed from a HISS or Stinger for ground defense against soft vehicles, infantry, or low-flying helicopters. I do remember the Marvel comic where they were guarding an island and trying to hit the WHALE, unsuccessfully! While researching this stuff, I've also come to the realization that the HISS has "Diablo" 30mm guns on the turret, which is kind of disappointing to me! I always pretended they were laser weapons as a kid. So it was a fast and maneuverable tank that could shoot holes in Army tanks without having to have a big "main gun" or carry a magazine full of shells. Cobra next-gen stuff. Last edited by Cobra Agent 66; 06-02-2023 at 01:28 AM.. Reason: sp. |
06-02-2023, 02:04 AM | #4 |
Iron Grenadier
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: ON
Posts: 522
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I had the Terror drome when I was a kid... I used mine as part of a defense system for the base. When the neighbor kids were coming over I was ready.
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06-02-2023, 02:15 AM | #5 |
Commando
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Britain
Posts: 3,813
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In the comic, the Firebat was shown to be capable of landing at a regular airfield when it did so in Springfield. I assume it can therefore take off normally too.
There's also a scene in an issue where Serpentor is selling Terrordromes to the military junta of Sierra Gordo and they're explicitly stated to be after air defence equipment and want something capable of knocking down an F-4, F-15, F-14, F-16, SR-71, F-18, F-111 or B-52. The Firebat's then shown dogfighting the Conquest X-30, so to me, it's an interceptor. When I was writing my fan-fic, I studied the OG blueprints on Yo Joe and made the Firebat Cobra's primary air defence fighter since the Rattler, Hurricane and Condor are all ground-attack aircraft and the Night Raven is a very expensive plane they don't have many of. |
06-02-2023, 08:57 AM | #6 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Houston
Posts: 2,424
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That makes sense. I was reading on the Joe page that the Night Raven is very fast and designed primarily for recon and high-level bombing, and not maneuverable enough for dogfighting. With the Condor also being a bomber, I guess the Hurricane is Cobra's best vehicle for air-to-air combat, even though it was a latecomer.
I always figured the Stellar Stiletto would be the best thing to knock Joe aircraft out of the sky, aside from ground weapons like the ASP. It does like Mach 20 in the outer atmosphere and is armed with missiles and laser weapons. It could just walk down a Skystriker, but I guess the Phantom still give the Joe team air supremacy with it's stealth capability. No wonder Cobra was happy to get their hands on a Conquest for Python Patrol! |
06-02-2023, 01:44 PM | #7 |
Commando
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Britain
Posts: 3,813
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The Stellar Stiletto is a rocket plane. I don't think that's dogfighting anything. ISTR it did in one story in the latter issues of Special Missions, but I thought it was a bit daft when I read that story in the trades. For me, it's more of an anti-satellite single-stage-to-orbit space plane.
The Liquidator is also a dogfighter. |
06-02-2023, 04:45 PM | #8 |
That Ruined Face
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: magical mid-tn
Posts: 4,715
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Below radar ultra-fast attack craft. Faster than anything it's size and the pilot would have to be virtually insane to fly one. The jet engine is directly behind his head. But Cobra has never been one for OSHA regs.
It's one of my favorite Cobra vehicles. I hope we get one in Classified VERY soon.
__________________
Complete and Total Classified Super Fan |
06-02-2023, 06:40 PM | #9 |
One Man National Asset
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: PA
Posts: 611
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I don't care so much for the Firebat but I had the pilot as a kid and it was one of my favorite coolest looking characters. Like the Stiletto, I am not sure it is suited for air to air combat.
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06-03-2023, 12:34 AM | #10 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Iowa
Posts: 4,245
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I go with short range interceptor. It's the terrordrome's primary anti-air defense. Or any other Cobra bases.
I wish the Rise of Cobra "Sky Sweeper" had been a straight repaint in season 1 colors (or upgraded with working landing gear). As is I consider it a ground attack version of the Firebat and not a GI JOE vehicle. |
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