Air scoop

Air scoops were components that could be used in the construction of podracers. The scoops acted as wind brakes and gave additional control when cornering in a vehicle. The slave Anakin Skywalker modified his custom podracer by adding triple yellow air scoops ranged around both the primary turbine intake on each of its 620C racing engines.

Skywalker had to wait a long time before finding metal plates and a hydraulic system that would be strong enough to make the scoops work. He eventually acquired hydraulic struts of Tyrian make from a military surplus lot that his owner, the junk dealer Watto, purchased from an Outer Rim arms dealer. He then used the scoops in the Boonta Eve Classic podrace that took place in 32 BBY.

Behind the scenes
Air scoops first appeared in the 1999 prequel trilogy film, Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace. In the new Star Wars canon they were first identified in the 2018 reference book Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles, which was written by Landry Q. Walker. The name originated in the Star Wars Legends continuity, where it was first used in the 1999 reference book Star Wars: Episode I The Visual Dictionary, which was written by David West Reynolds.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace
 * The Phantom Menace Read-Along Storybook and CD
 * Star Wars Journeys: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Journeys: Beginnings
 * Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 25: Fortress Vader, Part VII
 * Darth Vader: Dark Lord of the Sith 25: Fortress Vader, Part VII

Non-canon appearances

 * LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales Episodes I-III
 * LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales Episodes I-III