Hangar deck: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:Porthangardeck.jpg|thumb|Commander [[William Adama]] on the port hangar deck of ''Galactica''.]]
[[Image:Blackbird Hangar Deck II.png|thumb|Staff and crew of the battlestar ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'' (BS 75), gather on the hangar deck to celebrate the completion of the ''[[Blackbird]]''.]]
The '''hangar deck''' is where a [[battlestar]]'s fighters and support ships, such as [[Viper (RDM)|Vipers]] and [[Raptor|Raptors]], are stored and maintained between missions. It is located under the [[Landing bay|landing bay]] of each [[Flight pod|flight pod]].
The '''hangar deck''' is where auxiliary craft, such as [[Viper (RDM)|Vipers]], [[Raptor|Raptors]], [[Atmospheric shuttle|atmospheric shuttles]], and even captured enemy craft are stored and maintained between ops. They are generally situated next to, or under the flight deck of the command vessel for quick access.  


When a Viper or Raptor returns to the landing bay from a mission, it is moved to one of several elevator platforms, which lowers the spacecraft down to an airlock and the hangar deck below.


Basic repairs, fueling and munition loading take place on the hangar deck. Other special space fighters, such as captured [[Cylon Raider]]s, [[Heavy Raider]]s, and the experimental [[Blackbird]] are stored away on the hangar deck as well. During [[Action Stations|Condition One alerts]], pilots scramble to their fighters. For Viper flight, the deck crew pushes Vipers out into the [[Launch tubes (RDM)|launch tubes]], which are accessible through doors on the hangar deck. Raptors are returned to the landing bay with the landing platforms for their launches; launch tubes are designed for use by Viper-class fighters only.
=== Design and Operations ===
[[Image:Vipers Loaded.png|thumb|left|With action stations called, Vipers are moved off the hangar deck and into the launch tubes.]]
Hangar bays are designed to store and maintain auxiliary craft that a vessel may carry, however, not all hangar bays can accompany every possible type of small craft. Depending on the craft, Hangar decks will vary in size. On large battlestars, hangars are long and narrow, designed to hold dozens of craft, and quickly refit or refuel fighters and scouts that could be called upon to launch in a moment's notice. They feature numerous alcoves that are used as storage and work bays, and feature diagnostic, and maintenance equipment in each section that allow the deckhands (commonly called "''Knuckledraggers''" in military slang) to work quickly and efficiently with their assigned aircraft. Vipers stored in these alcoves can then be dragged across the slim deck and into the connected [[launch tube (RDM)|launch tubes]], when called upon ([[TRS]]: ''Various'').


If a launch is aborted, the deck crew is called upon to pull the fighter out of the tube for quick repair.
[[Image:Osiris Hangar Bay.png|thumb|right|The cramped and humid hangar bay of the "pocket battlestar" ''[[Osiris]]'' (0913), during the [[First Cylon War]].]]   
On smaller ships, the hangar decks are much more cramped, and have no structural similarities to their larger battlestar counterparts. Conditions on these ships can be less than ideal, with smaller working spaces, high temperatures, and high humidity. However, they still feature the personnel and equipment needed to maintain a healthy fleet of fighters for fleet protection ([[TRS]]: "[[Blood and Chrome]]").  


== Battlestar ''Galactica''==
Access to the above flight deck is granted by large elevators that are located at regular intervals along the length of the [[flight pod]]s. They are kept secured while in operation by airtight doors to prevent any atmospheric leaks or other kinds of serious accidents ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries]]). 
[[Image:Galactica Hanger Bay Cylon War Configuration.png|left|thumb|Galactica's starboard hanger deck's configuration during the Cylon War. The additional racks increase the viper capacity by a factor of 2-3.]]
[[Image:Starboardhangardeck.jpg|left|thumb|A service for the dead on the empty starboard hangar deck of ''Galactica''.]]


During the [[First Cylon War]], Galactica was outfitted with additional hanger racks in the bays, effectively creating a Viper storage and servicing level above the hanger deck, and allowing her to carry up to triple the amount of Vipers compared to her post war configuration (additional floor space free by racks can be utilized to store Raptors).
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Currently, only ''Galactica's'' port hangar deck is available for flight operations. The starboard hangar deck is largely empty as the whole flight pod was to become a [[Galactica Museum|museum]] on the battlestar's scheduled decommissioning ([[Miniseries]]).


Deck Chief  [[Galen Tyrol]] is responsible the overall repair and readiness of all combat spacecraft on ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]''.
=== Other Uses ===
{{mainarticle|Galactica Museum}}
{{mainarticle|Joe's Bar}}
{{mainarticle|Camp Oil Slick}}
Hangar decks have had many other uses, especially during times of combat. They have been used as temporary morgues for fallen crew ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries]]", "[[Razor]]"), meeting halls for prayer services or shipboard ceremonies ([[TRS]]: "[[Miniseries]]", "[[Razor]]", "[[Pegasus]]"), and can even be converted for use as a courtroom ([[TRS]]: "[[The Son Also Rises]]").
[[Image:Starboardhangardeck.jpg|thumb|left|A service for the dead is performed following the renewed Cylon attacks.]]   
After the decommissioning of the battlestar ''[[Galactica (RDM)|Galactica]]'', the unused starboard hangar deck was converted into a gift shop to accompany the brand new [[Galactica Museum|Museum]] set up in the above flight deck. Following the destruction of the museum during the Fall of the Colonies, the starboard hangar deck was used to house homeless civilians following the destruction of their vessels after the [[Battle of New Caprica|quick retreat]] from [[New Caprica]], and the crossing of the Passage ([[TRS]]: "[[The Passage]]"). Another section was set up by a refugee named [[Joe]] into a bar, that became a popular R&R spot in the later years of the Colonial's exodus ([[TRS]]: "[[Taking a Break From All Your Worries]]").  


Launching spacecraft there is problematic since many of its facilities were stripped for the expected museum. The expanse of the empty starboard hangar deck has been used as a temporary morgue as well as an assembly hall for speeches to the crew at large. After the exodus from [[New Caprica]] a [[Camp Oil Slick|refugee camp]] and a [[Joe's bar|bar]] are established there.
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== Notes ==
== Notes ==
*The area usually seen on screen is not the entire hangar deck. It runs nearly the entire length of each flight pod. But because of limited set space only a relatively small part of it can be realized during filming. To balance this, one wall can be turned into a green screen and used for CGI set extensions when necessary. This can be seen in the Miniseries or during Cain's arrival on ''Galactica'' in "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]", for example ([[:Image:Bsg-zoic-2.jpg|behind the scenes photo]]). Wayfinding signs on each dividing wall are also often changed to give the impression that viewers are seeing different, though virtually identical sections of the deck.
*The area usually seen on screen is not the entire hangar deck. It runs nearly the entire length of each flight pod. But because of limited set space only a relatively small part of it can be realized during filming. To balance this, one wall can be turned into a green screen and used for CGI set extensions when necessary. This can be seen in the Miniseries or during Cain's arrival on ''Galactica'' in "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]", for example ([[:Image:Bsg-zoic-2.jpg|behind the scenes photo]]). Wayfinding signs on each dividing wall are also often changed to give the impression that viewers are seeing different, though virtually identical sections of the deck.
* Commander [[William Adama]] tells Tyrol to create a temporary morgue for those lost during the initial attack on ''Galactica'' in "hangar bay 'B'" ([[Miniseries, Night 1]]). However, ''Galactica'' only has two hangar bays: Hangar Bay 1 and Hangar Bay 2.
 
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== See Also ==
== See Also ==

Revision as of 20:41, 16 July 2013

Staff and crew of the battlestar Galactica (BS 75), gather on the hangar deck to celebrate the completion of the Blackbird.

The hangar deck is where auxiliary craft, such as Vipers, Raptors, atmospheric shuttles, and even captured enemy craft are stored and maintained between ops. They are generally situated next to, or under the flight deck of the command vessel for quick access.


Design and Operations

With action stations called, Vipers are moved off the hangar deck and into the launch tubes.

Hangar bays are designed to store and maintain auxiliary craft that a vessel may carry, however, not all hangar bays can accompany every possible type of small craft. Depending on the craft, Hangar decks will vary in size. On large battlestars, hangars are long and narrow, designed to hold dozens of craft, and quickly refit or refuel fighters and scouts that could be called upon to launch in a moment's notice. They feature numerous alcoves that are used as storage and work bays, and feature diagnostic, and maintenance equipment in each section that allow the deckhands (commonly called "Knuckledraggers" in military slang) to work quickly and efficiently with their assigned aircraft. Vipers stored in these alcoves can then be dragged across the slim deck and into the connected launch tubes, when called upon (TRS: Various).

The cramped and humid hangar bay of the "pocket battlestar" Osiris (0913), during the First Cylon War.

On smaller ships, the hangar decks are much more cramped, and have no structural similarities to their larger battlestar counterparts. Conditions on these ships can be less than ideal, with smaller working spaces, high temperatures, and high humidity. However, they still feature the personnel and equipment needed to maintain a healthy fleet of fighters for fleet protection (TRS: "Blood and Chrome").

Access to the above flight deck is granted by large elevators that are located at regular intervals along the length of the flight pods. They are kept secured while in operation by airtight doors to prevent any atmospheric leaks or other kinds of serious accidents (TRS: "Miniseries).


Other Uses

Main article: Galactica Museum
Main article: Joe's Bar
Main article: Camp Oil Slick

Hangar decks have had many other uses, especially during times of combat. They have been used as temporary morgues for fallen crew (TRS: "Miniseries", "Razor"), meeting halls for prayer services or shipboard ceremonies (TRS: "Miniseries", "Razor", "Pegasus"), and can even be converted for use as a courtroom (TRS: "The Son Also Rises").

A service for the dead is performed following the renewed Cylon attacks.

After the decommissioning of the battlestar Galactica, the unused starboard hangar deck was converted into a gift shop to accompany the brand new Museum set up in the above flight deck. Following the destruction of the museum during the Fall of the Colonies, the starboard hangar deck was used to house homeless civilians following the destruction of their vessels after the quick retreat from New Caprica, and the crossing of the Passage (TRS: "The Passage"). Another section was set up by a refugee named Joe into a bar, that became a popular R&R spot in the later years of the Colonial's exodus (TRS: "Taking a Break From All Your Worries").


Notes

  • The area usually seen on screen is not the entire hangar deck. It runs nearly the entire length of each flight pod. But because of limited set space only a relatively small part of it can be realized during filming. To balance this, one wall can be turned into a green screen and used for CGI set extensions when necessary. This can be seen in the Miniseries or during Cain's arrival on Galactica in "Pegasus", for example (behind the scenes photo). Wayfinding signs on each dividing wall are also often changed to give the impression that viewers are seeing different, though virtually identical sections of the deck.


See Also