|
Information in this article may not be canonical to the storyline of the games or any other Sonic continuity. |
The Turbo-Prop[1], also spelled Turboprop[2], is an object that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog comic series and its spin-offs published by Archie Comics. It was an jet plane piloted and treasured by Antoine D'Coolette, which saw usage by the Knothole Freedom Fighters during several missions throughout the First Robotnik War, until it was shot down and destroyed by a patrol of SWATbots during Operation: EndGame.[3]
Description[]
Appearance[]
The Turbo-Prop's original design, from Sonic & Knuckles.
In its original design, the Turbo-Prop was a gray airplane with a long body and two large wings, each with a forwards-facing propeller attached to them, and a multicolored emblem decal on their topside. At the back of the plane's body was a small vertical fin, with two horizontal fins attached to the left and right sides of it, respectively. This version of the plane also featured an interior divided into a back section and a front section, divided by a metal door. The front section featured only three yellow seats, one for the pilot, an two for passengers, plus a series of controls for the plane, and a windshield to look out of. The back section was slightly larger than the front one, and featured a door on its right side which would slide open to let passengers out.[1]
The updated Turbo-Prop featured many notable changes, both to its interior and exterior. Although retaining its general shape from the pervious iteration, the updated model featured a white color scheme instead of a gray one, and sported jet engines instead of propellers. The emblem designs were also removed from the wings in the updated design, although a red wing-like symbol was added to the back fin. The front of the plane was also edited to resemble a face, with a painted black nose and smile being prominent features. The interior also received updates, becoming more spacious, and featuring a larger windshield compared to its previous counterpart.[3]
Features and traits[]
While capable of both flight and evasive areal movements, the Turbo-Prop appears to be vulnerable to laser blasts, and features no offensive capabilities of its own.[1][3]
History[]
Panic in the Sky![]
The Turbo-Prop soaring around the Floating Island, from Sonic & Knuckles.
The Turbo-Prop first saw use when the Floating Island began drifting towards Knothole Village as a result of Operation: Flying Destroyer. Wishing to investigate, Sally Acorn dispatched Antoine to transport Sonic and Tails aboard the Turbo-Prop to the island.[1]
Upon reaching the island, the Turbo-Prop came under fire by a series of hidden turrets Dr. Robotnik had installed into the base of the island. Thanks to Antoine's piloting skills, however the plane evaded the blasts, and, at Sonic's suggestion, was flown above the island, an area where the turrets were unable to fire upon. At another suggestion from Sonic, Antoine flew the Turbo-Prop back to Knothole, while the hedgehog and Tails ejected from the plane to explore the island.[1]
Black and Blue and Red All Over[]
Sonic and Sally boarding the updated Turbo-Prop, from Sonic the Hedgehog #44.
The Turbo-Prop was later be redesigned with jet engines and a new appearance, and was stored in Knothole Village's 18th hanger until usage of it was required again when the Freedom Fighters learned of danger on the Floating Island. Upon reaching the island, the plane was landed on a runway by Antoine while Sonic, Tails, and Sally located Knuckles for information on the situation. After the Freedom Fighters learned of Anti-Sonic and O'Nux's invasion, Knuckles boarded the Turbo-Prop, which Antoine somehow piloted into and through the Cosmic Interstate to reach Anti-Mobius.[4]
Upon arrival at the alternate Zone, the Turbo-Prop was landed in a lush green forest, allowing for Knuckles and the Freedom Fighters to exit it, while Antoine stayed behind, presumably to guard it. After the Freedom Fighters had successfully thwarted the hidden efforts of Dr. Robotnik in the Zone, made peace with O'Nux, and incapacitated Anti-Sonic, they apparently flew back through the Cosmic Interstate to the Prime Zone aboard the Turbo-Prop.[4]
Endgame[]
The Turbo-Prop crashing, fromSonic the Hedgehog #48.
During Operation: EndGame, the Turbo-Prop was piloted by Geoffrey St. John's trained soldiers, and used in an attempt to escort the traitorous Sleuth "Doggy" Dawg and a falsely-accused Sonic to the Devil's Gulag, much to the annoyance of Antoine, who feared the soldiers might damage his "beauty" in the process. These fears came to pass, as during the flight, the Turbo-Prop ran into a patrol of SWATbots aboard hovering pods, who shot down the plane, causing it to plummet downwards and crash on the outskirts of Angora Falls. This knocked all the passengers unconscious (Sonic excluded), and left the plane in a severely damaged state where it could not be repaired.[2][3] Two SWATbots subsequently attempted to investigate the wreckage of the Turbo-Prop, but were swiftly destroyed by an ambushing Sonic, who burst out the wrecked plane in anger.[3]
Trivia[]
- According to a post on the now-defunct official Sonic Universe blog, the Turbo-Prop was originally a passenger plane owned by the Kingdom of Acorn, which was salvaged and repurposed by the Knothole Freedom Fighters for usage in missions.[5]
The possible Anti-Mobius Turbo-Prop, from Sonic the Hedgehog #44.
- In Sonic the Hedgehog #44, the vessel used to reach the Sunken Island appears to be the in Anti-Mobius counterpart to the Turbo-Prop. This is evidenced by its similar color scheme, and sharing of certain design traits, specifically, the black "nose". Additionally, in the same issue, the Knothole Freedom Fighters use the Turbo-Prop to reach the Floating Island, creating a narrative parallel between the two separate crafts being used to travel to counterparts of the same region.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Sonic & Knuckles, "Panic in the Sky!"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ian Flynn (July 26, 2011). Sonic The Hedgehog. archiecomics.com. Archived from the original on July 29, 2011. "Jack L.: Whatever happened to Auto-Fiona and the Turboprop? / Ian Flynn (as Antoine): Ze Auto-Fiona rusted in ze ocean and has most probably been washed out to sea, forever gone... Az for my beautiful Turboprop, ze fine aircraft that she was, was shot down by ze SWAT Bots and could not be repaired."
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Sonic the Hedgehog #48, "Sonic The Fugitive"
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sonic the Hedgehog #44, "Black and Blue and Red All Over"
- ↑ Ian Flynn . Sonic The Hedgehog - Forgotten Flyer (dead link). archiecomics.com.
External links[]
- Turbo Prop at Mobius Encyclopaedia, the Archie Sonic wiki.