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Indeed, the official info is that they are solar panels to provide the craft with auxiliary power.
Maybe they're unusualy efficient? But I agree that they aren't the smartest design ever.

The Empire is researching alternative fuels to hypermatter.

They are?

They are?

Monroe wrote:The Empire is researching alternative fuels to hypermatter.

After the big G4,568 conference, right?

Actually, I think that that design, and many like it, are because the people who design these things for TV a/o film are a little bound to being Earthmen. We have an innate expectation to see wings on something that flies, no matter how ridiculous it actually is to require airfoils on a spaceborne fighter.

Earthmen!

Whoops...It apears that joke went right over my head...

I got the joke.

For artistic reasons I'm actually fine with "wings" they add some flavor, but at least spend a couple minutes thinking of a reason for them.

Trek ships need (or benifit) from having Nacelles out from the main body, so wings are needed to hold them. X-wings get to have their weapons spread out, conceivably increasing the odds you'll hit with something when throwing shots all over.

The "solar panel" explanation is stupid - there's no way those things would produce enough to heat a decent cup of tea, let alone power a starfighter.

What does make sense, however, is that they're radiators. A TIE fighter is too small to carry to big neutrino radiators larger ships use, so the wings are there way of getting rid of waste heat.

I believe the ICS actually identifies them as radiators.

That certainly makes a great deal more sense.

sunnyside wrote:I got the joke.

For artistic reasons I'm actually fine with "wings" they add some flavor, but at least spend a couple minutes thinking of a reason for them.

Trek ships need (or benifit) from having Nacelles out from the main body, so wings are needed to hold them. X-wings get to have their weapons spread out, conceivably increasing the odds you'll hit with something when throwing shots all over.

The X-wing also flies in the atmosphere. Same with the TIE, actually.

Ah, the TIE Fighter... no shields, hyperdrive life support, minimal armor and only two little laser cannons for offense. Gimme the Defender variant, at least!

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:Ah, the TIE Fighter... no shields, hyperdrive life support, minimal armor and only two little laser cannons for offense. Gimme the Defender variant, at least!

But fast as a MF... yeah, the TIE has some major drawbakcs, but those kind of make an odd bit of sense. We're talking about a ship that is, and must be, built in staggering numbers. We're also talking about a ship whose pilots do not get to decide if they want to join the cause or not, and who are considered generally expendable by their command structure. And since they are ship-borne, hyperdrive is mostly a moot point.

Mikey wrote:

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:Ah, the TIE Fighter... no shields, hyperdrive life support, minimal armor and only two little laser cannons for offense. Gimme the Defender variant, at least!

But fast as a MF... yeah, the TIE has some major drawbakcs, but those kind of make an odd bit of sense. We're talking about a ship that is, and must be, built in staggering numbers. We're also talking about a ship whose pilots do not get to decide if they want to join the cause or not, and who are considered generally expendable by their command structure. And since they are ship-borne, hyperdrive is mostly a moot point.

Oh, don't get me wrong. I know why the Empire designed them that way. For every TIE the Rebel Alliance shot down, ten more appeared. Still a bad design, though.

Although X-wing vs. TIE fighter is a pretty good example of quality vs. quantity.

the ugly Star Trek kitbashes. Nebula, Miranda, Centaur and Shelley classes aren't kitbashes, but good reliable designs.