Viper (1980)

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For the version of the Colonial fighter in the Original Series, see: Viper (TOS).

Viper
Race	Colonial
Type	Military
FTL	No
Propulsion	three sublight aft-mounted engines
Crew	2
Capacity
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XO	{{{xo}}}
Role	Space superiority fighter
Weapons	{{{weapons}}}
Armaments	{{{arm}}}
Status	{{{status}}}
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The Colonial Viper is the primary space superiority fighter and attack craft deployed by the Colonial military. Capable of both atmospheric and long-range spacial flight, the Viper is a single-to-two-pilot craft with two-forward mounted laser-torpedo guns as standard.

The Viper is capable of rapid acceleration in the form of a rapid acceleration feature (called "turbos"), which results in greater fuel usage (Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I).

Apparently in use as early as ten-yahren into the exodus from the Twelve Colonies (The Return of Starbuck), the Vipers have a large storage compartment in the undercarriage in which a lone turbine can be stored (Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I) as well as an energizer powerful enough to render the Viper invisible for 24 Earth hours (Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II).

Also, a device capable of time warping, the time warp synthesizer, is outfitted in at least three Vipers: Dillon's, Troy's and one that Xaviar steals (Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II).

Cockpit layout

While the ship can be piloted by one pilot, a second person in the back seat can run scanners and other on board computron equipment. The first seat is typically the flight seat, although the second person can assume piloting duties as well, since a second set of flight controls is also available^[1] ("Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III", "Spaceball", "The Night the Cylons Landed, Part I").

An on board compartment accessible through the cockpit contains space suits, which can be used when extra-vehicular activity is necessary (Spaceball).

Related Imagery

A Viper in the process of becoming invisible (Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I).	A Viper cockpit with both seats occupied (Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II).	An external view of the Viper in space, undergoing field repairs (Spaceball).	The Viper panel being repaired (Spaceball).
A Viper escape pod, complete with deployed parachute (The Return of Starbuck).

Notes

• None of the single-seat variants of this craft are seen in use, although they are in many of the special effects scenes in the series -- as these scenes are extensively reused from the Original Series.

References