J-type 327 Nubian royal starship

Naboo Royal Starship "This is not a warship! We have no weapons. We're a nonviolent people." "That is why the Trade Federation was brave enough to attack us."

- Captain Panaka to Qui-Gon Jinn

The Naboo Royal Starship was a J-Type 327 Nubian Starship that transported Queen Amidala and the Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi to Coruscant during the Invasion of Naboo.

Characteristics


The craft was reserved for use only by the Naboo sovereign and is a shining example of the marriage between art and design. The starship was designed to embody the glory of Naboo royalty which represented the noble spirit of the citizens of Naboo.

Naboo engineers claimed that the Royal Starship was actually composed of two major components: the spaceframe and all the other components. This spaceframe, created by the skilled engineers of the Theed Palace Space Vessel Engineering Corps was a single, long supple hull. The frame was covered in chromium, formerly used to shield starships from radiation, but later used as a time-honored tradition.

The rest of the ship's component's were provided by Nubian Design Collective including the impressive T-14 hyperdrive which was powerful enough to take the ship from Naboo to Tatooine in a single jump even when damaged. The T-14 hyperdrive was compact and accessible, unlike most other hyperdrives. It could also be raised from a compartment in the floor to allow easy repairs, checks and even complete replacement.



It had no weapons since it was designed as a peaceful ambassadorial ship. The Headon-5 sublight engines, which had been modified by the Naboo to be environmentally friendly, could exceed the speed of most starfighters. Its powerful deflector shields could withstand large amounts of damage, including bombardment by turbolaser emplacements. Intricate sensors built into the craft reported damage instantly, allowing the crew to locate trouble spots immediately. When the starship was damaged, 8 astromech droids rushed to make repairs. These droids would even venture onto the ship's surface, braving the vacuum of space and enemy fire to protect the ship.

Whenever the starship traveled, it was accompanied by a small wing of Naboo N-1 Starfighters. This elite squadron, known as Bravo Squadron,was handpicked from the most dedicated and talented pilots in the Royal Naboo Security Forces. During Queen Amidala's term in office, the Royal Starship was piloted by Ric Olié and a well-trained crew of technicians, engineers, navigators and diplomatic aides.

The ship was furnished to accommodate the Queen's entourage, including handmaidens and bodyguards. The vehicle also had large climate-controlled wardrobes that provided Padmé with clothes for all occasions.

History
This ship was used to carry Amidala on formal state visits to other planetary rulers and to the Galactic Senate in Coruscant. After Amidala retired her position, the Royal Starship was decommissioned and another craft was handcrafted for her successor Queen Jamillia.

By 25 ABY, it was described as "quite the collector's item".

Behind the scenes


The design of this starship was inspired by the chrome hood ornaments of 1950's automobiles.

The ship was also inspired by the Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" reconnaissance jet.

In the original drafts of Star Wars, the first space ship seen is described as follows:
 * A small silver spacecraft emerges from behind one of the Utapau moons.
 * Interestingly, neither of these concepts appeared in the original trilogy, yet both were used in the prequels.

Appearances



 * Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds
 * Star Wars: Galaxies
 * Star Wars: Starfighter
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace comic
 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace game
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game
 * LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
 * Episode I: Qui-Gon Jinn
 * Episode I: Obi-Wan Kenobi
 * Episode I: The Phantom Menace ½
 * Star Wars Republic: Twilight
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * "Chapter 16"
 * The Artist of Naboo
 * Vader's Quest
 * Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial



Notes and references
J-Typ 327 Nubian Königliches Raumschiff