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E-Wing was around a LOOONG time before NJO. Wasnt it in the X-Wing novels?

*wookieepedias*

Okay, Thrawn campaign.

That's way before NJO.

i think the biggest problem with the e-wing is that it has a fricking laser cannon right over the fricking cockpit.

but that aside, each fighter is made to fill a certain role. when it's outdated, it's replaced.

for instance

Y-Wing: successor, K-wing
X-Wing: successor, E-Wing

the A-Wing and B-Wing apparently are new enough to not deserve "mk. IIs"

the X-Wing's weakness? it's a jack of all trades. its speed is good, but not /that good/ (A-Wing). its firepower is good, but not /incredible/ (B-Wing, K-Wing). its shields are good, but not uber-tough (Y-Wing).

it's kinda like marines in starcraft. good all around, but no specialization. the other fighters are made with special roles in mind. 'themes' even, if you will.

A-Wing: speed an maneuverability. i think one of the designers must have had hit-and run in mind, and don't believe that crap about them being designed for escort duty. it's fast, and its power is in its payload. plus it's got a sensor jammer. it's perfect for hit and run, but not much else besides that role.

B-Wing/Y-Wing: weapons/toughness. hence, relatively low speeds. armor and weapons create mass, which don't fascilitate speed. hence, slow.

My point was why doesn't anyone let it end its career, rather than adding stealth, faster, stronger, and more capable with every new book?

When does the E-wing really take over?

I'm sure that someone could downgrade an e-wing's systems so R2 could fly it... or upgrade R2 in the first place. I mean, his graphics card kinda sucks...

i meant a successor. and i never heard of the T-wing. =/

and why not end its career? because it's so versatile. we're still using 20+ year old fighters, we just update them. same with the X-wing.

Not within the next decade.

The Armed forces is trying to go to a 2-fighter air force. Both Navy and AF will use the F-22 for stealth and quick strikes, and teh replacement for the harrier will do cleanup.

That is, if all goes to government plan. the only reason why our present fighters will still be used is because we're talking aobut the government, who spent 3.2 billion on a pressurized ballpoint pen.

Even we upgrade our fighters.

I mean, we used to use A-9's. We don't anymore. We used to use Harriers and F-4's. We used to use F-15s. We dont' anymore.

Even if the new fighters are not DRASTICALLY different, doesn't mean they don't come up with better designs and stuff.

All this stuff is confusing me.

I'm just gonna order a really suped-up A-Wing MK9000, where it's got the strongest of every craft. ( A's speed, Y's shields, etc. )

I always liked the F-15, meself. 3nodding