Fans of Star Wars love the franchise for different reasons. Some people immerse themselves in the mysticism of the Force and the struggle between Jedi and Sith. For others, the gritty galactic underworld and ruthless bounty hunters capture the imagination. All these characters need a way to get around, and in a “western” set in a galaxy with interstellar travel, that means an entire universe of ships, speeders, and other ways to get around. From speeder bikes all the way to mammoth warships, we’ve scoured the galaxy far, far away for the
25. BARC Speeder
Unlike the speeder bike we saw Imperial scout troopers use (and Luke and Leia steal) in Return of the Jedi, this model features a heftier and more resilient frame. Seen in several Clone Wars episodes, its design evokes a custom bagger-style motorcycle in our own world. If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if the American Chopper crew wound up in the Star Wars universe, wonder no more.
24. AT-AT
When it comes to Imperial walkers, the AT-AT’s imposing bulk gives it the edge over the smaller AT-ST, the latter apparently. From its first appearance lumbering into battle on Hoth to the scenes of larger cargo-carrying variants in Rogue One, the four-legged combat vehicle epitomizes the Empire’s strength and lack of subtlety. In DVD commentary for The Empire Strikes Back, George Lucas credits the alien tripods in the H.G. Wells novel The War of the Worlds for inspiring the AT-AT.
23. Sea Skiff
Equally stout and nimble, these hand-made seagoing craft enable Jannah’s group of First Order deserters to fish and salvage in the waters of Kef Bir. Though she picks a rough day for sailing, the sea skiff Rey commandeered sees her safely to the second Death Star’s wreckage in The Rise of Skywalker. It marks the first live-action watercraft since the Gungan bongo in The Phantom Menace, and unlike the submarine, it does not expose the antagonist to the risk of becoming an appetizer.
22. Cobb Vanth’s Speeder
Before he even conceived of Star Wars, George Lucas developed a love for speed and things that went fast, which we can see in some of his other work, like American Graffiti and THX 1138. He carried that into his far away galaxy, and his successors have followed his lead. Take the speeder that Cobb Vanth uses as the marshal of Mos Pelgo in The Mandalorian, for example. Befitting Tatooine’s austere nature, he rides a custom speeder comprised almost entirely of a podracing engine. That makes for both a fitting tribute to Lucas’s gearhead streak and a nice nod to the racing scene in The Phantom Menace.
21. Mon Cal Cruiser
Before we saw Admiral Ackbar’s flagship in Return of the Jedi, most of what we saw in the Star Wars universe had a spartan or even brutalist aesthetic. From Luke’s beat-up speeder to the Millennium Falcon’s missing panels and carbon scoring to the Imperial Star Destroyers’ harsh lines and the Death Star’s gray uniformity, the Original Trilogy’s ships and other vehicles give off a distinctly utilitarian vibe. These ships, however, present us with a completely different design philosophy, with long curving lines that lend them an organic feel.
20. B-Wing
Though you could make a case for any of the Rebel Alliance’s starfighters on this list, the B-Wing gets extra points for the sheer audacity of its design. Unfortunately, its thin cross-section posed problems in production and tended to make the ship blend into the background, limiting its on-screen appearances. Nevertheless, its cruciform design and rotating cockpit (an early concept for the Millennium Falcon) leave a distinct impression.
19. Night Buzzard
The preferred transport for Kylo and the Knights of Ren, the Night Buzzard started out as a prison ship. Even so, the Knights felt it necessary to modify the ship’s appearance and cover it in armor, making it even more menacing. They had the engines upgraded for both thrust and stealth, which resulted in the ship trailing a dark cloud of exhaust everywhere it flew. If this ship lands at your local spaceport, you should probably have a bad feeling.
18. Soulless One
The personal ship of General Grievous during the Clone Wars, the Soulless One features reinforced armor, sensor jammers, and upgraded cannons. With its centerline cockpit and outrigger engine pods, the design resembles the P-38 Lightning, which seems fitting given Dave Filoni’s expressed interest in World War II aircraft.
17. T-6 Shuttle
A popular transport for Jedi during the Clone Wars, the T-6’s wings rotate around a central section in a similar manner as the B-Wing’s rotating body. The shuttle’s semicircular wings, however, give it a symmetry and a degree of elegance. In the TV series Ahsoka, the titular character uses it to get around the galaxy and beyond.
16. Hammerhead Corvette
Introduced in Star Wars Rebels, the Hammerhead Corvette made an especially unforgettable impression in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. In addition to the ship’s unique design, which dates back to a design used in the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic video game, one example played a critical role in the Battle of Scarif. It makes for one of the most iconic scenes in many fans’ favorite Star Wars film.
15. Anakin’s Podracer
Perhaps no other scene in the first six Star Wars films channels George Lucas’s fascination with speed and his roots in racing than the pod racing scene from The Phantom Menace. The field of racers put the talents of the film’s designers on full display, but the one Anakin built and raced to victory occupies a special place. After all, thanks to Qui-Gon’s wager, it also marks a pivotal moment in the franchise by bringing young Anakin Skywalker to the Jedi Order.
14. Supremacy
Star Wars has a history of ridiculously sized ships (Executor) and space stations (both Death Stars). The Sequel Trilogy is no exception, first with an entire planet turned into a star-sapping super weapon and then with Supreme Leader Snoke’s flagship (and the First Order’s nomadic capital). More than 8 miles front to back and almost 38 miles across, the behemoth almost strains credulity. Then again, in a universe like Star Wars, does anything really strain credulity?
13. M-68 Landspeeder
Before he brought Han Solo to life, Harrison Ford had a role in American Graffiti, Lucas’s 1973 coming-of-age flick that celebrated early 1960’s car cruising culture. Whether an intentional nod to the older film or not, the opening scene of Han’s origin story featuring the Star Wars version of a car chase feels poetic. Lucasfilm’s prop department drew inspiration from classic muscle cars and chase scenes in films like Bullitt. The resulting vehicle wouldn’t look too far out of place at your local cruising club’s car show!
12. Skyblade-330
Enfys Nest used a swoop bike (think speeder bike, but more powerful… and more dangerous) as the leader of the Cloud-Riders. The bike has an unrefined look that matches nicely with the Cloud-Riders’ intimidating appearance. The visually interesting design, coupled with Erin Kellyman’s performance as Nest and the twist that reveals the Cloud-Riders’ true motives, make for a compelling addition to the mythos. If you haven’t checked out Mur Lafferty’s novelization/expanded edition of the film, add it to your list; Nest gets even more interesting in a fascinating epilogue.
11. Y-Wing
It might not get the attention of the sleeker-looking and more maneuverable X-Wing fighter, but the Y-Wing still managed to find a spot in many fans’ hearts. More fighter-bomber than pure fighter, its bulk and its role in the Rebel Alliance mirrored that of the P-47 Thunderbolt in World War II, the heaviest plane of its class at the time with a reputation for packing a punch and taking a ton of punishment. From a design standpoint, the Y-Wing features a degree of external detailing that helped establish the franchise’s visual signature from the start. According to Industrial Light and Magic model maker Paul Huston, everything from commercial model kits to pantyhose containers went into making the filming models.
10. Snowspeeder
Appropriately enough for a scrappy underground group, the snowspeeders we see on Hoth in Empire Strikes Back started out as rather basic light utility craft that the Rebel Alliance heavily modified for combat in diverse environments, including Hoth’s debilitating cold. Not only do we owe the safe return of Luke and Han from their chilly overnight stay in an emergency shelter, but the image of the small speeders toppling Imperial walkers against all odds neatly symbolizes the Alliance’s struggle.
9. TIE Fighter
While perhaps impractical to our earthbound eyes (if nothing else, cockpit visibility seems suspect), the TIE fighter’s unmistakable profile and iconic sound make it an instantly recognizable symbol of the Star Wars franchise. The TIE’s minimalist design reflects an Imperial preference for a fast fighter cheap enough to procure in large numbers to facilitate swarm tactics. Accordingly, most TIE variants lack both hyperdrive and deflector shields. The fact that the Empire considers highly trained starfighter pilots expendable speaks volumes about its values.
8. Fulminatrix
The dreadnought seen bombarding the Resistance at the beginning of The Last Jedi not only gives us the memorably cantankerous Captain Canady but also one of the more unique ship names in Star Wars. Design supervisor Kevin Jenkins cites original trilogy designs as well as World War II-era warships such as the Imperial Japanese Navy’s Yamato, the most heavily armed battleship ever built, as influences. More than two-and-a-half times the length of the First Order’s normal Star Destroyers, Fulminatrix carries on the tradition of vessels with nearly mind-boggling proportions.
7. Naboo N-1 Fighter
Easily the sleekest-looking fighter in the Star Wars universe, the Naboo N-1 starfighter has a certain elegance to it. The streamlined design contrasts with the grittier look of fighters in the original trilogy in a way that underscores the difference between the Republic and the Empire that took its place. Noting that Naboo had many bodies of water, design director Doug Chiang based the fighter’s memorable lines on Formula 1 racing boats, both of which he knew George Lucas liked. As a testament to Chiang’s success in coming up with an iconic design, the N-1 returns to the screen in The Book of Boba Fett when Din Djarin needs a replacement for the Razor Crest.
6. Ghost
Sometimes, a ship becomes more than a ship and evolves into a character of its own. Star Wars features several of these, including the Ghost. Hera Syndulla’s modified freighter serves as both transport and home for her small band for all four seasons of Star Wars Rebels. The ship also appeared in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story during the Battle of Scarif and, along with Hera, her son Jacen, and her droid Chopper, in Ahsoka. The Ghost is also one of the many ships that answer the call to Exegol for the fight against the First Order in The Rise of Skywalker.
5. TIE Advanced x1
Over the years, several TIE fighter variants appeared in Star Wars media, but only one of them served as Darth Vader’s personal fighter. Vader flew a version of the x1 during the Battle of Yavin, nearly ending the Rebel Alliance’s threat to the Death Star. Despite the Empire’s lack of special paint jobs or tail numbers, the fighter’s distinct, bent-wing design makes it easy for the viewer to keep track of Vader during the trench run.
4. Razor Crest
Unveiled in a panel for The Mandalorian during 2019’s Star Wars Celebration Chicago, the Razor Crest had a regrettably short lifespan. The ship’s cockpit canopy and high-slung engine nacelles evoke the A-10 attack plane, which designer Ryan Church says formed the totality of series creator Jon Favreau’s direction to him. Regrettably, the ship meets an ignoble end thanks to Moff Gideon, so we’ll have to hold out hope for some flashbacks or a prequel to The Mandalorian to see more of the Razor Crest.
3. Gauntlet Starfighter
It looks sleek and fierce and has enough room for your entire raiding party. No wonder, then, that Bo Katan uses it as her personal ride in The Mandalorian. Fittingly for the Mandalorians, the design doesn’t resemble anything the Empire or Rebel Alliance uses. Plenty of Star Wars spacecraft feature wings or other components that reconfigure (including a couple on this list), but the Gauntlet’s rotating wings/engines take this concept to a new and striking level.
2. X-Wing
Few things serve as a symbol for the entire Star Wars franchise like the X-Wing fighter (aside from perhaps our next entry). From the streamlined profile to the signature wings (or S-foils) that give the fighter its name, the X-Wing just plain “says” Star Wars. Of course, the fact that the original trilogy’s hero flew it to destroy the first world-killing Death Star doesn’t hurt the X-Wing’s place in pop culture. Though it more closely resembles fighter planes seen in our own world since World War II, designer Colin Cantwell (in a Reddit ask-me-anything thread, no less) says darts like those thrown in pubs around the world also inspired the iconic design.
1. Millennium Falcon
The spaceship so iconic that it inspired Mel Brooks to make a film with a Winnebago-based knock-off. The spaceship so iconic that a trailer snippet with the line “Chewie, we’re home” brought down the house at a fan convention. The Star Wars universe, and science fiction/space fantasy in general, feature plenty of fascinating and memorable ships, but we’ll put the Falcon up against any of them. Narratively, the “hunk of junk” serves as a key vehicle (no pun intended) for the plot in fully two-thirds of Star Wars theatrical releases. The ship not only became the centerpiece for Galaxy’s Edge, it may or may not have also inspired part of a whole other sci-fi franchise and a space vehicle here in our own universe. Not bad for an old Corellian freighter (and as a bonus, the Millennium Falcon makes great waffles, too).
This article originally appeared at wealthofgeeks.com.