<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

The X-wing starfighter is a type of ship in the Star Wars "universe"

The X-wing starfighter has become a symbol of the Rebellion's starfighter corps. The typical Alliance X-wing shows the scars from previous engagements, though the fact that it still performs as an advanced vessel of space superiority is indication of the ruggedness of the craft. The long, narrow spaceframe is flanked in the aft quarter by four massive realspace engines. Each engine has an aerodynamic S-foil mounted on it. The wings not only serve as stabilizer surfaces in air travel, but serve as weapons mounts. The surface of each S-foil bears squadron and fighter markings. Located midway through the ship is the X-wing's cockpit module. Behind the X-wing's cockpit is an astromech socket. The astromech droid provides astrogation data for the fighter's hyperdrives, and serves as a co-pilot and technician during flight. Three landing gears extend for landing.

Trivia

The shooting models for "hero" fighters (such as Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles) have some subtle differences in not only the markings. The most noticeable difference in markings are the hash marks along the trailing edge of each wing, intended to indicate the call number of each pilot (Wedge, as Red 2, has two hash marks, Luke, as Red 5, has five.)

Originaly the models were to be given blue markings (in the original script, & the 1976 tie-in novel, Skywalker's squadron is identified as "Blue Squadron") but it was found that with limitations of bluescreen photography blue areas would show up transparent, and so a quick decision was made to change the markings to red.

For the Special Edition, all of the digital models of X-wings for enhanced shots were based on the shooting model for Wedge's fighter, & have the "Red 2" markings. Luke's fighter retains the Red 5 markings throughout all three films.