Phoenix

The Phoenix aircraft cruises over Caprican Bay.

The Phoenix was a vehicle utilized by civilians as well as military personnel in the Twelve Worlds, including Caprica and Gemenon in the years before the First Cylon War. A progenitor to the Colonial Fleet's Raptor, the Phoenix was a mainstay in Caprica City where it could frequently be seen flying above the skyline. The Phoenix was driven by maneuvering thrusters and featured DRADIS capabilities (CAP: "Know Thy Enemy", "End of Line", "Things We Lock Away", "Blowback").

Following its escape from Graystone Industries' labs in Caprica City, a military Phoenix was dispatched to pursue a rogue U-87 Cyber Combat Unit robot. Ordered not to engage the prototypical Cylon, the Phoenix chased the Graystone Industries van carrying the robot out of Caprica City and into the outlying mountain region (CAP: "End of Line").

A Graystone Industries Phoenix on the company's landing pad.

Graystone Industries itself possessed Phoenix aircraft for use as private transports by the company's CEO, painted white and blue and bearing the Graystone "G" logo, the Phoenix could land atop the Graystone tower in downtown Caprica City (CAP: "Things We Lock Away").

When Doctors Amanda Graystone and Daniel Graystone were falsely accused of being members of the Soldiers of the One terror organization by corrupt Global Defense Department director Gara Singh, the husband and wife duo escaped their home in Graystone's Phoenix jet. Taking off from a landing pad at the front of the Graystone Estate, the Phoenix was piloted through Caprica City, landing in a clearing in Orpheus Park (CAP: "Apotheosis").

Notes

• The Phoenix was accompanied by a similar, though distinctly different aircraft in its pursuit of Zoe-R, however, its designation remains a mystery.

• The plane first appeared in the opening credits of Caprica. According to materials created by Doug Drexler and provided to the 2010 Emmy Awards voters:

Sleek and smart, the elegantly streamlined Graystone Aerospace business jet seen in Caprica is terrestrially rooted in the Bell Osprey V-22, and shares bloodlines with Galactica's own Raptor scout ship. The Phoenix model is an impressive construct of carefully designed compound curves including a completely realized instrumented cockpit. The model is fully functional with all flight surfaces articulated. It is a carefully considered 285877 Polygons.

• According to the same materials, the Phoenix possessed a length of 67 feet and a wingspan of 44 feet. [1]