Turbine

The flying motorcycles on a highway.

Turbines, also known as flying motorcycles and turbocycles due to their similarity to the Earth bike, help Warriors like Troy and Dillon to get around quickly, and escape quickly if necessary.

The machines are built to resemble motorcycle bikes exemplified in Earth's transmissions. The motorcycles appear normal and are usually operated as wheeled ground vehicles, but can also be used as aircraft if the situation requires it. They can also be rendered invisible by pressing a hidden switch located between the left handle and the seat, in order to avoid detection when parked ^{(1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I")}. Additionally, the motorcycles are outfitted with forward mounted laser weapons, which Troy and Dillon use to strafe the Nazi train station, thus allowing the Jewish prisoners to escape from the boxcars in Peenemunde ^{(1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III")}.

At several points during the Galactica 1980 television series, Troy and Dillon are forced to engage the flying mode of the turbines in full view of civilian Earth people who have never seen the technology. This leads to looks of amazement from Willy's assorted bikers and law enforcement personnel who witness the bikes soaring into the skies ^{(1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I", "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III")}.

The turbines are stowed in a compartment under the Viper's engine mounts ^{(1980: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I", "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part II", "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III")}. Shuttle Alpha appears to have at least two turbines onboard following their flight to Earth, as Troy and Dillon use the bikes when acquiring supplies for the Super Scouts ^{(1980: "The Super Scouts, Part I", "The Super Scouts, Part II")}.

Following the settlement of Galacticans at Hector Alonzo's farm, Troy and Dillon head out on their turbines, marking the last time these were seen on screen ^{(1980: "Space Croppers")}.

Notes

• The bikes are modified from the Yamaha MX 175 bicycles; there were only two of these machines modified. A third was being produced as a functional dummy but was chopped in half in order for it to have been suspended from a helicopter, thereby creating the realistic lift-off effect for "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part I".
• A Battlestar Galactica script for "Showdown" makes mention of land probes that are, for all intents and purposes, strikingly similar to the turbines.
• In a version of the script for "Galactica Discovers Earth," the turbine is described as a hovercraft without wheels. For reasons that are likely practical and cost-effective, the turbines became wheel-driven in the production.
• In the Galactica Discovers Earth novelization, the turbines do not have flying capabilities.
• The turbines make an appearance in the fourth issue of the re-imagined Galactica 1980 comic book release by Dynamite Entertainment.

Related imagery

• 
  The left switch activates the flying mode.
• 
  The back bumper and lights to the turbocycle.
• 
  The front wheel of the turbocycle, as it prepares to land. Note the wings on the side of the wheels.

External Links

• Flying Motorcycles page at UniversalHartland.com