The Batwing,[1] also known colloquially by Gothamites as the "Batplane" on Earth-1,[2] is Batman's personal aerial assault vehicle and a secondary mode of transportation. It is a powerful flying winged aircraft packing a vast arsenal of weapons, gadgets, and sophisticated technology.
History[]
Sightings of the Batwing[]
At some point, sightings for the Batwing led locals to dub it the "Batplane". Gotham locals were known to say that the best chance of getting a glimpse of the "Batplane" was via at night, looking in the direction of Blackgate Penitentiary.[2]
Rescue of Martha Kent[]
After he promises Superman to rescue Martha Kent after their fight, Batman boards the Batwing to begin his search. Upon entering, Alfred Pennyworth, having heard of Kent's abduction through their communication network, informed Batman that he'd tracked Anatoli Knyazev's phone to a warehouse district where Knyazev was keeping Martha hostage. After scouting the area, several armed trucks opened fire upon the Batwing. In turn, Batman returned fire at the trucks, causing them to explode with the men still on board. As he approached the warehouse, Bruce requested that Alfred take control of the Batwing, initiating its drone mode. Alfred then identified 24 hostiles on the third floor using the aircraft's thermal imaging and proceeded to deploy Batman into the building's second floor.
Afterwards, Batman delivered Martha to safety, where a nearby police unit retrieved her and marveled at the aircraft as it took off.[3]
Showdown in Gotham Port[]
- "Did you find the spear?"
"I've been a little busy." - ―Batman and Superman during the fight[src]
Batman witnessing Doomsday preparing a thermal blast
Afterwards, Batman used the Batwing to fly to Metropolis, witnessing Doomsday unleash a wave of energy following his creation from atop LexCorp Tower. Later, as Superman and the creature's fight is taken into orbit, Batman watches as a nuclear missile detonates above Metropolis, apparently killing Doomsday and Superman. However, Doomsday crash-landed on Stryker's Island and unleashed another stronger wave of energy as he adapted further from the failed attack. As the Batwing passes over Stryker's Island, Doomsday's thermal blast narrowly misses the craft as Batman flew above, deducting that Doomsday was Kryptonian. As he spoke with Alfred, Batman explained he'd attempt to lure Doomsday back to Gotham to kill him with the Kryptonite spear, as it was the only hope to defeat the creature.
Returning to Stryker's Island, the Batwing opened fire on the creature, who quickly leaped after it in pursuit. Upon arriving back at the port of Gotham, Doomsday's blast clips the Batwing, severely damaging it and causing it to crash to the ground. With Batman seemingly at its mercy, Doomsday quickly fired another blast at the downed vehicle, with Batman defenseless against the monster, but the arrival of Wonder Woman saved the Dark Knight as the Amazonian absorbed the attack into her gauntlets, followed by quickly delivering a powerful energy pulse of her own.
With the creature driven back, Wonder Woman looked to Batman, asking why he brought it back to the city. As he rose from the ruined aircraft, he retrieved his last Kryptonite gas grenade, explaining that the only weapon that could kill Doomsday was somewhere in the port. Superman, having barely survived the nuclear missile's attack, arrived, quickly knocking away the creature. Annoyed, Superman asked if Batman had located the spear, to which he stated he'd been 'a little busy'.[3]
Alternate timelines[]
Flashpoint Timeline[]
Rescue of Supergirl[]
In an alternate timeline, where Bruce Wayne retired from his crime fighting career, he had the Batwing concealed in the Batcave, where it's wings remained folded, much like an actual bat. When 2 versions of Barry Allen arrived at the manor in hopes he would aid them, only for him to initially refuse. Eventually however, Bruce comes to his senses, suits up and preps the Batwing for departure to Siberia in hopes of locating Superman. Taking both Barry's with him, they arrived above Russia, where they were ejected from the vehicle, with only the Barry's strapped to their parachutes and Batman using his glider to make his descent. Following their liberation of Kara Zor-El from the facility, they return to Wayne Manor via the Batwing.[4]
Battle at Edwars Air Force Base[]
The Batwing explodes agaisnt the mothership.
After joining the Justice League, Batman took the two Flashes to the Edwards Air Force Base via the Batwing to fight Dru-Zod and the Sword of Rao. As they arrive, the Batwing is nearly destroyed by a missile shot by a jet which is destroyed by Supergirl. The Batwing would later leave the two Flashes on the battlefield while Batman would head to fight the kryptonian dropships, destroying two and attacking the mothership with missiles but it was protected by a shield, it did not receive any damage and instead shot the Batwing, deteriorating it.
Batman sees as the Batwing fall agaisnt the ground with Nam-Ek.
Batman, seeing that he could not eject while the Batwing was going down, sacrifices himself by sending the Batwing towards the mothership to break its shield, failing. Flash would look at the burning remains of the Batwing before traveling with his younger self back in time to save Batman and Supergirl. After traveling, Flash warns Batman not to shoot at the mothership, to which he obeys but instead attacks Nam-Ek, who jumps on the Batwing and breaks its window. Fortunately, Batman manages to escape from the Batwing through the broken window as the Batwing falls to the ground and explodes.[4]
Capabilities[]
Earth-1[]
The Batwing is an advanced fixed-wing aircraft with VTOL capabilities, enabling precise maneuvering at low altitudes, designed by Bruce Wayne to aid him in his crusade on crime as the Batman. The development of the craft exceeded millions, leading people to question the actions of Wayne Enterprises, especially because of their R&D department developing advanced defense technologies, despite their lack of military contracts. The aircraft is capable of traveling at supersonic speeds utilizing its twinjet engines and is mounted with two gatling guns on its nose. The Batwing is also capable of being operated remotely, and possesses a surveillance system with thermal imaging for effectively manage surveillance activities, locate and apprehend suspects, and investigate crime scenes, even from the Batcave, if Batman ever needs to leave the Batwing.
The Batwing's exterior body is composed of reinforced armor plating to easily withstand sustained gunfire and is equipped with an armament of homing missiles.
Flashpoint Timeline[]
To be added
Gallery[]
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice[]
Justice League[]
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The Flash[]
Trivia[]
- Earth-1's Batwing is said to cost $97,000,000, along Batman's Armored Batsuit, in the Wayne Enterprises R&D.
- Interestingly, despite being destroyed in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the Batwing makes a brief appearance at the ending of the theatrical cut of Justice League.
- Coincidentally, both Batwings were destroyed by a Kryptonian hybrid, with Earth-1's Batwing being destroyed by Doomsday (A kryptonian-human hybrid) and Flashpoint's Batwing being destroyed by Nam-Ek (A kryptonian-rondor hybrid).
References[]
- ↑ Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: Tech Manual p. 78.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Time Out Shortlist Gotham and Metropolis (Gotham City) p. 33.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Flash
External Links[]
- Batplane on DC Database
- Batplane on Wikipedia
