XJ-6 airspeeder/Legends

"That speeder is one of my most prized possessions."

- Simon Greyshade

The XJ-6 airspeeder was a custom-built airspeeder fashioned to Senator Simon Greyshade's elitist and performance-driven tastes. Using a prefabricated kit produced by Narglatch AirTech, the senator's personal mechanics designed and built the custom airspeeder. The XJ-6 airspeeder was constructed with exotic materials and incorporated advanced systems into the design, including an inertial compensator. Two prominent, oversized turbofan engines at the fore of the craft provided immense power to the XJ-6, making it a very capable airspeeder. The souped-up speeder also sported a custom yellow paint job. Greyshade used the speeder both as a luxury transport as well as a racing vehicle in Coruscant's airspeeder races.

The airspeeder gained attention in 22 BBY after its apparent theft outside of the Senate Apartment Complex by Jedi Padawan Anakin Skywalker. Skywalker used the speeder to rescue his Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, as the latter plummeted through the Coruscant skylanes. Once Kenobi was saved, the two Jedi took turns piloting the XJ-6 airspeeder as they pursued the bounty hunter Zam Wesell through the cityscape following her failed assassination attempt on Senator Padmé Amidala. After the chase had ended, Coruscant authorities tracked the XJ-6 to Vos Gesal Street, over a hundred kilometers from its original parking spot in the Senate District. Reymet Autem, son of a Senate Guard who worked with Greyshade, was initially charged with the theft; however, before charges could be filed, the airspeeder was clandestinely returned to its spot in the lot of 500 Republica. The authorities never discovered the true thief, much to Greyshade's disdain, and he vowed to find the party responsible.

Characteristics
"It took my mechanics years to perfect it. It's a gonzo color."

- Simon Greyshade, referring to the yellow paint scheme

Senator Simon Greyshade commissioned his mechanics to build a hot-rod airspeeder using a prefabricated kit produced by Narglatch AirTech. The resulting craft, designated as an XJ-6 airspeeder, was heavily modified and contained a number of custom features. The two-seater design of the XJ-6 catered to the Senator's desire for privacy while escorting others, ranging from fellow senators and influential politicians to his latest female companion. The low profile of the windscreen forced passengers to sit low, and a powerful sound system occupied a space on the dashboard for the senator's enjoyment.

Exotic metal alloys, condensed-matter composite, and a number of other metals made up the main body of the craft, which measured 6.23 meters long, 2.66 meters wide, and 1.4 meters tall. The front bumper was specifically designed to distribute forces evenly across the craft to prevent any harmful structure vibrations. Due to this structural composition, the XJ-6 had a relatively low mass&mdash;1,600 kilograms&mdash;which allowed it to move quickly and reliably maintain the momentum that the massive engines created. The design of the aircraft itself was similar to Greyshade's B69 Elektra airspeeder, including the structure and placement of the forward-mounted engines.

A set of piloting controls sat above the port-side seat; this control suite contained two joysticks to control direction as well as an eight-speed combination thrust control and gear selector. Electrogravitic gyro flywheels located toward the rear of the XJ-6 airspeeder allowed the craft impressive feats of maneuvering at sharp angles uncommon to air vehicles of its class. These flywheels also allowed the XJ-6 airspeeder to turn without traction or aerodynamic influence. An inertial compensator, generally only found in space-bound craft, was utilized to keep pilot and passenger safe from the effects of these harsh maneuvers. In addition to the inertial compensator, riders were held in the craft's seats by a pair of miniature tractor units.

Dual low-beam lights flanking the engines lit the speeder's path, and a combination longer-range widebeam light and collision scanner mounted on the front bumper kept the pilot aware of obstacles in the flight path. An electric field system ensured that oncoming objects, such as flying insects and debris, were repulsed from striking the craft. It was possible, however, for objects to pass through this field; items that breached the field posed a risk to the exposed turbofan engines. In addition, the construction of the XJ-6 airspeeder allowed it to pass through the discharge of two power coupling prongs unscathed, though riders were not as well protected. To ensure the vehicle's protection from theft, movement sensors were installed; if tripped, an alarm would go off, notifying Greyshade and any bystanders of the illegal action. However, this security system was vulnerable to a technologically adept thief. Communications gear sat behind the driver and passenger; the high-power antennas in the communications suite allowed Greyshade to communicate with fellow lawmakers and other contacts while in the airspeeder.

Greyshade had his airspeeder painted yellow, which both its owner and Jedi Padawan Anakin Skywalker described as gonzo. This yellow scheme was customary to all of the senator's craft and, according to Greyshade, took years to design. Dull green and orange accented the yellow and were scattered throughout the craft's paint scheme. Both rear fins of the craft sported racing stickers; these revealed racing venues Greyshade had visited during his after hours activities.

Engines
In addition to its distinct paint scheme, the yellow hot-rod airspeeder was also recognizable due to the dual turbofan engines fitted in the front of the craft. These two engines, running on Deuterium fuel and capable of producing thirty megawatts of power, were originally built to be used in groups of 50 for the colossal seventh-stage bank-courier repulsor-trucks of Aargau. Eventually they would be acquired by Greyshade, who had his mechanics install them into the XJ-6 airspeeder and modify the already-powerful engines to further utilize their potential. The immense weight of the engines required a dedicated repulsorlift engine. The original cowlings were removed to allow easy modifications, repair, and tweaking. A cold-start generator allowed the XJ-6 to start up almost immediately without the warm-up period standard in vehicles of its class. The oversized engines could reach speeds up to 720 kilometers per hour with an acceleration of seventy G; they operated much like two Podracer engines in function and ability due to their stance on the craft. This stance also minimized the craft's width, allowing for good clearance. The pair was expensive, gaudy, and displayed Greyshade's tastes in expensive and overpowered devices. In appearance, the engines were common to another speeder, a customized B69 Elektra, owned by the senator.

The twin engines functioned by drawing air into the forward turbines, which fed into the compression chambers. This air was over-pressurized due to the exposed turbofans, and was then forced through ignitions and narrow ducts situated in the sidewalls and undercarriage of the craft. The air continued to travel to the rear thrusters after passing through another set of afterburner centrifuges. An internal shutter system acted as a braking mechanism, to stop, slow, and precisely maneuver the craft, working in conjunction with the flywheels in the aft of the aircraft. Debris, such as a flag, proved a possible hazard to the engines by dropping the power output, as the turbofan assembly was highly exposed.

Creating a hot rod
Simon Greyshade lived on Coruscant some time prior to 23 BBY after replacing his assassinated cousin as senator of the Vorzyd sector in the Galactic Senate. An airspeeder hobbyist and racing enthusiast, the senator used his position's power and wealth to commission the construction of a luxury personal transport for use while on Coruscant. Using a kit produced by Narglatch AirTech, Greyshade's personal mechanics took months to perfect the resulting craft, the XJ-6 airspeeder, to Greyshade's exacting specifications. Additionally, its coloration, unique to Greyshade's vehicles, had taken years to develop. The speeder incorporated an array of exotic metals and components, two oversized engines providing the XJ-6 with incredible power, and a flywheel system responsible for the quick turns and sharp ascents and descents the craft's profile called for. The mechanics even installed an inertial compensator to shield both pilot and passenger from the craft's harsh maneuvers and blinding speeds. After construction, the speeder was painted Greyshade's customary yellow&mdash;common to all of his vehicles.

Greyshade used the custom hot rod in after-hour races through the streets of Coruscant with his legislature colleagues; he showed off his prowess with the racing stickers plastered on the rear fins of the craft. In fact, his constant use of the XJ-6 airspeeder convinced fellow senator Bail Prestor Organa of Alderaan to purchase and construct the Narglatch Airtech XJ-2 airspeeder kit for Organa's personal use. Greyshade often parked the vehicle in a speeder dock of the Senate Apartment Complex, where he was believed to take residence.

Chase through Coruscant
"Oh you know Master, I couldn't find a speeder that I really liked, with the open cockpit and the right speed capabilities&hellip; and then you know I had to get a really gonzo color&hellip;"

- Anakin Skywalker

Shortly before the outbreak of the Clone Wars in 22 BBY, Simon Greyshade's airspeeder became an instrumental part in the pursuit of fugitive bounty hunter Zam Wesell whose failed attempt on the life of Senator Padmé Amidala prompted investigation. After the discovery of the presence of an ASN-121 assassin droid outside the window of Amidala's apartment in the Senate Apartment Complex, Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi attempted to pursue the then-unidentified attacker by grabbing hold of the droid as it exited the premises. Rather than follow his master out the window into the Coruscant skylanes, Padawan Anakin Skywalker opted to retrieve an airspeeder from a speeder dock located mid-level outside the building. Assessing the available options, Skywalker chose Greyshade's XJ-6 airspeeder, as it was the only convertible speeder on the lot. Using a combination of technical knowledge and the Force, Skywalker disabled the security countermeasures installed by Greyshade's mechanics and took off in pursuit of Kenobi, still hanging from the escaping assassin droid.

Breaking Jedi policies on airship piloting, Skywalker pushed the craft's engines to catch up to his Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, who was now plummeting through the skylanes of Galactic City, as Wesell had shot the ASN-121 droid in an attempt to lose the Jedi investigator. Skywalker relied on the XJ-6 airspeeder's impressive speed and maneuverability as he placed the craft into a near-vertical dive in order to approach the free-falling Kenobi. Once Kenobi was safely aboard the speeder in the passenger seat, Skywalker piloted the craft to follow Zam Wesell's own airspeeder.

The chase grew more intense as the two speeding craft made their respective ways through traffic and the maze of buildings. At some point during the pursuit, Skywalker hit a flag, which caught in one of the engines. Kenobi removed the flag so that the XJ-6's engines would not be adversely affected; this action caused Kenobi a deal of displeasure. Both Skywalker's piloting skills and the vessel's integrity were tested as the speeder made its way into The Works, a large industrial area of Coruscant near the Senate District. The XJ-6 airspeeder was able to pass through the discharge of two power coupling prongs, attesting to its craftsmanship and ability. However, the tight passageways of The Works took a toll on the young Jedi, and he lost control of his maneuvering briefly enough for the airspeeder to graze a number of objects and stall. Skywalker managed to restart the speeder&mdash;now smoking slightly, with flames coming out of the dashboard&mdash;and again pursued the assassin. Once out of The Works, Skywalker left the safer confines of the speeder to confront the assassin by free-falling through the skylanes to land directly on Wesell's airspeeder.

With Skywalker and Wesell wrestling for control of Wesell's craft, Kenobi took over piloting of the XJ-6 airspeeder, trailing the Koro-2 airspeeder closely enough to catch Skywalker's lost lightsaber. Eventually, Kenobi parked the speeder near the Outlander Club on Vos Gesal Street and disembarked, as the skirmish between his Padawan and the assassin resulted in a crash landing nearby. The pair would later disable and apprehend their quarry. However, before Wesell could be brought back and questioned, her employer Jango Fett killed her.

Aftermath
"I never fully trusted that kid. He was always protective and envious of my speeder."

- Senator Simon Greyshade on Reymet Autem after the latter's arrest

Coruscanti officials found the vehicle shortly thereafter over 100 kilometers from its original position in the Senate District. Reymet Autem, son of a senate security guard employed by Greyshade, was initially charged with the theft of the speeder. However, before any charges could be filed against the 20-year-old, the XJ-6 left the crime scene. It reappeared in the senatorial speeder barn at 500 Republica, where Greyshade held residence. While passed off as a "rookie error" by Coruscant Security Force officer Wets Tranoj, it was actually Skywalker and Kenobi who returned the speeder. Simon Greyshade never discovered who had stolen his airspeeder, a fact which left the senator fuming. Some time later, he relayed the events to Anakin Skywalker at a state dinner, vowing that he would find the thief. Skywalker only commented that the thief was skilled to have evaded detection. The XJ-6 airspeeder was later made available to spacers during the Galactic Civil War.

Behind the scenes
The XJ-6 airspeeder made its first appearance in the video game Star Wars: Obi-Wan, where it appeared on a billboard in-game. The speeder's first proper appearance was in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, where it received a prominent role in the movie during the chase scene that would start Obi-Wan Kenobi's quest to locate Zam Wesell's assassin and his eventual discovery of the forming Republic clone army on the planet Kamino. The airspeeder's features were first elaborated on by Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: The Visual Dictionary reference book; Attack of the Clones: Incredible Cross-Sections reference book, released a day later than the Visual Dictionary, provided much more information and detail to the form, function, features, and history of the XJ-6 airspeeder.

The XJ-6 airspeeder parallels the form and function of Anakin Skywalker's Podracer from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. This speeder and, ultimately, the chase through Coruscant, are based on George Lucas's love of classic vehicles. By Lucas's own admission, it also bears a strong resemblance to the character John Milner's car in Lucas's 1973 film American Graffiti. A full-scale model of the XJ-6 was made for the part, which was then attached to different rigging to recreate the banks and pitch of the craft in flight.

The cover of Star Wars: Republic 47: Honor and Duty, Part 2, collected in Star Wars Republic: Honor and Duty, shows a speeder that looks similar to the XJ-6 airspeeder. This alternate craft features five seats rather than the two seats of the XJ-6 and a paint scheme uncharacteristic to Senator Greyshade's standard. This craft changes appearances in the actual comic; however, in a retelling featured in the StarWars.com article Viva Space Vegas! The History of the Marvelous Wheel, the speeder shown is the similar-looking model featured on the cover of Republic 47.

There is some conflict surrounding the accusation of Reymet Autem in the theft of the speeder, due to the Autem family's departure from Coruscant one year prior to the HoloNet article.

The MMO video game Star Wars Galaxies offered players a chance to pilot the craft, as an XJ-6 airspeeder was available through the Star Wars Galaxies trading card game prior to the game's shutdown. In the non-canon video game LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga, the XJ-6 airspeeder is provided with laser cannons.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: Obi-Wan
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones comic
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones novelization
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones junior novelization
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga