Batplane 1939

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. Daniels, Les, ''Sixty Years of the World's Favorite Comic Book Heroes''. Virgin Books, 1995. p78. 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. Previously in ''Batman'' #300 the name Batwing was used in reference to a spacecraft. The 2012 film '' The Dark Knight Rises'' also adapted the Batplane to film, however, this time 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.

Batplane II was a retooled needle-nosed Wayne Aerospace 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 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. The Joker launches a deadly Smilex gas attack through large parade balloons at the Gotham City founding anniversary celebration. Batman arrives in the Batwing, steals the balloons and lets them loose in the atmosphere at a safe distance from the city.

Batman then returns to the city to confront the Joker directly. He fires off several missiles and two miniguns, killing many henchmen but narrowly missing his target. The Joker shoots the Batwing down with one bullet from his long barreled revolver. The Batwing crashes into a flaming wreck on the steps of Gotham Cathedral but a bruised and battered Batman survives, leading to the final climactic confrontation in the Cathedral's belfry.

After this, it was rebuilt and upgraded by the time of the events of '' Batman Forever'' and is used 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 submarine. Both models of the plane are roughly bat-shaped, and were created with miniature effects. In the comic book adaptation of ''Batman Forever'', the Batwing actually folds up into the Batboat.

In ''Batman'', the Batwing was designed by Anton Furst

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