Batplane

Not to be confused with Batwing (DC Comics).

Batplane
The Bat-gyro as it appeared in Detective Comics No. 31
Publication information
Publisher	DC Comics
First appearance	Detective Comics #31 (September 1939)
In story information
Type	Vehicle
Element of stories featuring	Batman Robin

The Batplane, Batwing, Batjet or Batgyro is the fictional aircraft for the DC Comics superhero Batman. The vehicle was introduced in "Batman Versus The Vampire, I", published in Detective Comics #31 in 1939, a story which saw Batman travel to continental Europe. In this issue it was referred to as the "Batgyro", and according to Les Daniels was "apparently inspired by Igor Sikorsky's first successful helicopter flight" of the same year. Initially based upon either an autogyro or helicopter, with a rotor, the Batgyro featured a bat motif at the front. The writers gave the Batgyro the ability to be "parked" in the air by Batman, hovering in such a way as to maintain its position and allow Batman to return.

The Batgyro was soon replaced by the Batplane, which debuted in Batman #1, and initially featured a machine gun. The vehicle was now based on a fixed wing airplane rather than a helicopter, with a propeller at the front, although a bat motif was still attached to the nose-cone. The Batplane has undergone constant revision since its first appearance, and has even been depicted as having the capability to traverse underwater. With the launch of the Tim Burton directed Batman film of 1989, the Batplane became known as the Batwing, a name which was carried over into the comics. The 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises adapted the Batplane to film, this time however the vehicle was referred to as "The Bat".

Background

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 and the Bat-Rocket favored Batman's signature look over sleek aerodynamics.

The origin of Batplane II

Batplane II was a retooled Wayne Aeropsace W4 Wraith fighter that married style with substance. 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.

Batplane III

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.

Technical specifications

The aircraft's specifications are:

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

In other media

Live-action films

Batman ('89) and Batman Forever

The Batwing appears in the movie Batman, used to combat the Joker. When the Joker launches a deadly Smilex gas attack through balloons, Batman came in the Batwing and destroyed the balloons, angering Joker. Batman then fired off several missiles and two miniguns, killing many henchmen but missing Joker, who in turn shot it down with one bullet from his long barreled revolver. After this, it was rebuilt and upgraded by the events of Batman Forever to combat the Riddler. As demonstrated when Riddler shot him down with a powerful green laser, the Batwing actually has an ejection pod which also doubles as a mini sub. Both models of the plane are roughly bat-shaped. In the comic book adaptation of Batman Forever, the Batwing actually folds up into the Batboat.

The Dark Knight trilogy

"The Bat" in the set of The Dark Knight Rises 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. Fox notes that the Bat's autopilot function does not work but suggests that Bruce might be capable of fixing it. The vehicle is armed with machine guns, cannons and a variation of the EMP device he used chasing Bane's men. Batman first uses the Bat to escape pursuing police officers after being cornered in a dark alley. Immediately after, he uses it to rescue Selina Kyle from Bane's henchmen. Later in the film's climax, Batman uses the Bat in the fight to retake Gotham City from Bane and he uses the Bat to haul a fusion bomb away from Gotham City where it detonates over the ocean and presumably kills him. Later, while completing work on the Bat, Fox discovers that Wayne had fixed the autopilot function months before and may have escaped before the bomb detonated.

Production process

In designing the Bat, Nathan Crowley approached it as if it were an actual military project, emphasising the need for it to "fit into the same family" as the Tumbler and the Batpod. The final version of the Bat takes its design cues from the Harrier Jump Jet, Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey and the Boeing AH-64 Apache. Chris Corbould described the Bat's size and shape as presenting a major challenge for filming given Christopher Nolan's emphasis on practical effects over computer-generated imagery. In order to make the Bat "fly", it was variously supported by wires, suspended from cranes and helicopters, and mounted on a purpose-built vehicle with hydraulic controls to simulate movement.

Animation

The Batplane has appeared in the Super Friends cartoon series, where it was revealed to be a jet, and it was most often referred to as the Batjet, except for in season one. The classic Bat-Plane appears frequently in Batman: The Brave and the Bold. In The Batman, the Batwing is created in the episode "Thunder" to defeat Maxie Zeus. In the episode "Artifacts", Nightwing uses it to save a plane and crashes it on Freeze.

The Batwing briefly appeared in the Young Justice episode "Revelation", where Batman used it to help combat a giant plant monster created by the Injustice League. The Batwing is later seen again in the episode "Coldhearted", where Batman is using it to fly to a fortress in the sky.

DC Animated Universe

Main article: DC Animated Universe

The Batwing also appears in Batman: The Animated Series, shaped like a stylized bat with very long wings that jut out past the "head" of the plane. The Batplane in The New Batman Adventures takes on a smaller, sleeker design shaped like a rocket with a curved wing on each side which also appeared in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. In Batman Beyond, flying cars are commonplace and thus the Batmobile used by Terry McGinnis doubles as a plane.

Video games

Batman: Arkham

Main article: Batman: Arkham

The Batwing makes brief cameos in Batman: Arkham Asylum, Batman: Arkham City and Batman: Arkham Knight, dropping off Batman's Batsuit, gadgets and upgrading the Batmobile.

A Batplane-like vehicle can be seen hanging from the ceiling and covered by a tarp inside the hidden Batcave under Arkham Island. Later in the game, Batman remotely pilots the Batplane to his location and has it drop off one of his gadgets, the Line Launcher. At the end of the game, Batman calls it again to leave for Gotham and apprehend Two-Face. When unlocked, the character trophy is called 'Batwing'. It also makes a cameo in the Batcave DLC. The Batwing has a more important role in the prequel Batman: Arkham Origins, where Batman is able to get to a section of Gotham City quicker. However, in certain areas he needs to dismantle enemy towers that block the summoning.

Other appearances

Lego: Batman

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.

A vehicle largely reminiscent of the one seen on screen in the 1989 Batman film is also seen in Batman: Revenge (2003).

Attractions

In the Batman-themed motion simulator ride Batman Adventure – The Ride 2 in Warner Bros. Movie World, riders seemingly follow the Batplane in pursuit of the Joker, Mr. Freeze, and Catwoman.

At Six Flags America, there is a roller coaster named "Batwing" and themed after Batman's personal flight vehicle. As riders enter the station, announcements are played welcoming them to test pilot Wayne Enterprise's newest vehicle. Batman then interrupts and explains that he needs help saving Gotham City from the Joker. Guests then board the train and ride the ride.

See also

• Batboat
• Batcopter
• Batcycle
• Batmobile

External links

• Action Figure Insider :: View topic - Which Batplane is the best?
• Batman: Collected Issues of the Dark Knight - Batman #203
• Batman: Yesterday, Today, & Beyond
• History of the Batplane
• A History of Other Batplanes - The Elseworlds