"Careful now, Swann. My old Vulture saved my skin more times than I care to remember. I ain't gonna listen to you trash talk a classic piece of engineering like that."
"Classic?! I suppose you could call 'em that. 'Course most folks like a bike that don't explode on them when the repeller seals freeze up, or when the fuel cells start leaking radioactive waste - but hey, who cares if it's a 'classic,' right?"
"No one likes a smart-ass, Swann."
- Rory Swann and Jim Raynor discussing the vulture(src)
The vulture-class hover bike (a.k.a. vulture hover cycle)[1] is a terran hoverbike used mainly for scouting. Despite its reputation as a deathtrap, it is still considered a classic piece of engineering by enthusiasts.[2]
Overview[]
(src)
The vulture is a lightly-armored one-man hoverbike primarily used for scouting and patrol.[1]
Design[]
A vulture during the Guild Wars
The vulture is designed with speed and reliability in mind.[3] Its limited gravity hover technology allows the bike to travel over rough terrain with little loss of traction or speed, and reach speeds up to 230 miles per hour.[1] Three men could overload a bike.[4] Their magnetic frequency can also be adjusted to make it easier to cross some obstacles (e.g. the tracks used by maglev trains).[5] An onboard computer and sensors mounted in the "nose" of the craft keeps it at a steady pace for most of the time[6] and a navigation system is present.[5] These features make the vulture suitable for patrolling the vast wildernesses typically found around terran colonies.[3] They produce a humming whine as they move.[7] Vultures can operate in low gravity or zero gravity through built in gravity accelerators that allow them utilize artificial gravity.[8]
A vulture c. 2496
The bike can catastrophically fail if the repulsors freeze up, or the fuel cells begin leaking radioactive material.[9][10] The vulture's driver seat can be enclosed depending on model, customization, or operating environment[11] and can be configured for someone to ride shotgun.[6][12] A C-14 rifle can be holstered on the side of the vehicle's nose.[13]
Technology similar to that found in the vulture is available in civilian hoverbikes, such as the 428 hoverbike.[14]
Armament[]
A vulture during the Great War
Originally, the standard vulture armament was an anti-personnel[1] grenade launcher.[15] Since the Brood War however, vultures may instead be equipped with a mounted laser cannon.[16] Other optional equipment includes spider[3] and cerberus[17] mines, ion thrusters[3] and a microfabricator.[17]
A vulture c. 2504
Vultures are ill-suited for heavy combat, given their light frame.[3][11] However, they make excellent skirmishers, especially against lightly armored targets.[3] In the Confederate Armed Forces, vultures operated as cavalry-style vanguard units, speeding ahead of military columns, scouting and wreaking havoc on resource operations behind enemy lines.[18] In some occasions, vultures were formed into small squadrons, usually attached to mechanized infantry. Given the speed at which the bikes move however, it was difficult to maintain cohesion.[11]
Vultures are also tasked with scavenging ("scavenger hover bike" is a term occasionally used).[7]
History[]
A vulture c. 2505
The vulture was in use by 2478,[19] In the Confederate Armored Vehicle Corps, aspiring vulture pilots had to pass a minimal physical fitness exam before becoming a pilot.[20]
The vulture remained in use by the Dominion Armed Forces.[21] Dominion Ghost Program trainees begin training in the use of vultures in their second year.[14] Their role was diminished when the Dominion turned to the hellion to meet its military scouting needs.[18] However, even after the End War, vultures can still be found in use by the Dominion Armed Forces.[13] They also continue to be used by rebel and mercenary groups,[22] and are especially popular with pirates and raiders.[18] Prospectors also continue to use vultures.[23]
Game Unit[]
StarCraft[]
- For StarCraft gameplay information see: Vulture (StarCraft)
- For StarCraft in-game quotations see: StarCraft I Vulture Quotations
StarCraft: Ghost[]
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This article or section contains information about StarCraft: Ghost, which has been declared non-canon. Elements may be taken as 'flavor lore' however.
The content may be significantly out of date. Please do not add speculation to this article, and remember to cite a published source for details. |
Nova riding a vulture
The vulture unit in StarCraft: Ghost is still a lightly-armored fast-moving vehicle. It is armed with either an AGP-2 "Thumper" Grenade Launcher[15] or a laser cannon.[16] Capable of being used by ghosts and light infantry, it is nevertheless vulnerable to enemy attacks, including having the vehicle stolen from underneath the driver.
StarCraft II[]
- For StarCraft II gameplay information see: Vulture (StarCraft II)
- For StarCraft II in-game quotations see: StarCraft II Vulture Quotations
Heroes of the Storm[]
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The following section contains information from Heroes of the Storm and is not canon to StarCraft continuity
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Jim Raynor on the vulture mount
The vulture appears as a mount in Heroes of the Storm. Its color schemes correspond to Raynor's Raiders, the Terran Dominion, and Project Shadowblade.[24]
Known Vulture Pilots[]
A vulture pilot
A vulture pilot
- Captain Punder
- Captain Jim Raynor
- Second Lieutenant Shivani Singh
- "Sergeant"
- Aios Karnage (mercenary leader)
- Tychus Findlay
- Grom
- Hogan
- Jakk
- John Rosenberg
- Nova Terra
417th Confederate Marine Platoon
- Corporal Smith-punn
- Private Bowers
- Private Fu
- Private William Peaches
- Private Amy Windom
Trivia[]
Jim Raynor's vulture on sale
The vulture's unit portrait in StarCraft II is based on Jason Huck.[25] A large Horde logo can be seen on his left arm.
References[]
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