Storm IV Twin-Pod cloud car/Legends

"If you can bribe a member of Bespin's Wing Guard into taking you on a spin around Cloud City, you won't regret spending the credits. The views are stunning"

- Excerpt from Ullok's Underground Guide to Bespin

The Storm IV Twin-Pod Cloud Car was an atmospheric vehicle known as a cloud car which was designed and manufactured by Bespin Motors on Bespin's Cloud City.

Characteristics


This high-atmospheric aircraft consisted of two armored pods connected by a strong engine block that housed the small yet powerful Quadex Kyromaster dual ion engine system and the secondary repulsorlift systems. The ion engine operated as the cloud-car's main propulsion system and allowed it to attain speeds of 1,500 kph while the repulsorlift drive was used for difficult maneuvers and increased the car's speed. Much of the engine area was exposed to reduce engine heat and to allow maximum air-cooling. As it was designed solely for atmospheric flight, the vehicle also had a system of flaps, jets, vanes, and rudders to improve control.



The cloud car's pods had a cockpit each with pilot seated in port pod on the left side and the gunner manning the starboard pod on the right. The pilot's pod was equipped with advanced navigational systems and a communications array while the gunner manned a pair of twin blaster cannons. Although not outfitted for advanced life support, the vehicle had pressurized cockpits for high-altitude flight and it was able to achieve low orbit using its repulsorlifts system.

Though the weapons emplacements could hold a wide range of weapons, most of the original vehicles had a small power generator which limited it to supporting blaster cannons. Although inferior to the more powerful starfighters, the cloud car's cannons allowed it to take on starships such as the Millennium Falcon.

History


The Storm IV Twin-Pod Cloud Car was the first high-atmospheric aircraft to be categorized as a cloud car. It was designed and produced by Bespin Motors to patrol the skies surrounding the floating mining colony and gambling resort Cloud City. The Storm IV was originally employed by the Bespin Wing Guard, who were responsible for the security of Cloud City.

When the Galactic Empire occupied Cloud City in 3 ABY shortly after the Battle of Hoth, Bespin Motors began selling the vehicle to other markets. Eventually rival starship manufacturers adopted the cloud car design and began producing similar-looking vehicles. Thus, the Storm IV and other cloud car designs could be found across the galaxy on other worlds such as Taloraan as both civilian and military vehicles.

Behind the scenes

 * The Storm IV Twin-Pod cloud car seems to resemble real-world aircraft with the twin fuselage design like the American P-82 Twin Mustang which saw some action towards the end of World War II and the Korean War, and the cancelled German Messerschmitt Me-609.

Appearances



 * Star Wars Republic 64: Bloodlines
 * Jedi Trial
 * Star Wars: Battlefront
 * ''Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
 * Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike
 * Lady Luck
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back novel
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars Infinities: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Thank the Maker!
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
 * Recovery
 * Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen

Notes and references
Wolkenwagen