[Lifeline 71]

IIRC Larry Hama used to call those unique aircraft "Trimpe Jets" or something similar.

[DMC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lifeline 71

IIRC Larry Hama used to call those unique aircraft "Trimpe Jets" or something similar.

That?s really cool. I didn?t know that. I definitely like the look of them.

[DMC]

The next issue is titled ?To Fail is to Conquer, To Succeed is to Die.? The Joe team is dispatched to Afghanistan to recover a downed Soviet spy plane. The first page has the original-design jets like the last issue, accompanying a transport plane we haven?t seen before.






As you can see, this is a large rear-loading cargo plane. It has a small nose-mounted radome, and 4 propeller nacelles in a pusher configuration. As far as I can tell, this is a combination of several real aircraft. The closest to it is the Convair XC-99.



This was a transport plane based off of the B-36 Peacemaker. Only one was ever built. Important differences between the XC-99 and the illustratio a high-mounted wing and a double tail, as well as the rear loading ramp. Some of these elements remind me more of the C-141 and one of the antonov transports.

The other aircraft in this issue is the Soviet spy plane, which looks more like Star Trek to me.

[DMC]

The next issue with aircraft in it is ?Code Name: Sea Strike.? On the first page is one of the cooler comic vehicles - the SRV-9.



This is a submersible catamaran with an observation plane on the back of it. The plane has the appearance of a glider with a shortened body, truncated wings, two tail-mounted jet-engines, and pontoon floats. It appears to be a unique design, not based on any real life airplane.

The issue also features some other pretty unique cobra hardware, such as giant bipedal walkers and submersible tanks. There is also a submersible Cobra helicopter:





It reminds me a little bit of a Dauphin helicopter, but it really is a unique design.

The joes arrive on the Cobra sea base in another original design, a large helicopter with pontoons:



With all of the cool unique aircraft designs, it is still good to see one of the greatest of all time- the space shuttle orbiter:

[Breakerfan]

This is currently my favorite thread on hisstank.

[DMC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Breakerfan

This is currently my favorite thread on hisstank.

Thank you, that?s very kind of you to say.

[DMC]

The next issue is titled ?The Diplomat.? Scarlet and Clutch have to escort a state department diplomat to a meeting, fighting off Cobra all the way.

There?s three aircraft in this one. First, there?s the good old 737, but his one has a cool ramp you can drive a car up! Note the early-model engines, appropriate for the time period.





Next is a very non-descript helicopter:



I?m going with a Bell 204 for this one.



Finally, there is one of the GI Joe jets from the previous issues.

[DMC]

In the issue, ?a nice little town like ours?, Scarlett, Snake Eyes, and Clutch are entering a high-rise in Manhattan from the roof. They fall through a trap door, and then the whole top of the building takes off and flies away with them in it.



Obviously the flying penthouse is not based on anything in real life, at least as far as I know!

This issue introduces some important concepts in the comics: the Cobra town of Springfield, Dr. Venom and his brainwave scanner, and Snake Eye?s past. Dr. Venom is able to view some images from Snake Eye?s brain, including the last chopper out of Saigon:



I have no idea whether this was actually the last helicopter out of Saigon, but it appears to be a H-21.

[Lifeline 71]

Looking back at these early issues, it's interesting how much they resemble something akin to SHIELD as opposed to later stories. It makes sense, given that Larry had based the Joes on his Fury Force concepts.

[DMC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lifeline 71

Looking back at these early issues, it's interesting how much they resemble something akin to SHIELD as opposed to later stories. It makes sense, given that Larry had based the Joes on his Fury Force concepts.

Very interesting. I didn?t know that.