posted
I'm too lazy to run upstairs and check my Encyclopedia, but I'm pretty sure that the dialogue was something else. The Voltaire rings a bell.
As per a footnote in the TNGTM (I think) that shuttlepod exterior model was labelled "Pontiac" as a dig at Patrick Stewart, who was doing voiceovers in Pontiac commercials at that point (since then he moved on up to doing Porsche voiceovers and not only piloted the shuttle but directed the episode.
-------------------- "I was surprised by the matter-of-factness of Kafka's narration, and the subtle humor present as a result." (Sizer 2005)
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
Well, I don't have to run upstairs because, for one, I don't have an upstairs, and also because I keep my Encyclopedia on my computer right next to me. And the shuttlecraft in "In Theory" was, in fact, the Voltaire, shuttle #3.
Registered: Mar 1999
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posted
Considering the age of the notes, I think I may be answering my own questions. The convention is held after the third season had ended. By this point, we had seen four shuttlepods-the El Baz NCC-1701-D/05 , the Onizuka NCC-1701-D/07 , the Pike NCC-1701-D/12 , and the unnamed fourth pod of "The Price", registry NCC-1701-D/09 . I am thinking this could be the Ley . Can we confirm this? I know that we were able to see the shuttlepod's side. Could we also see its name?
Registered: Sep 1999
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quote: That's the generally accepted explanation for the Aerowing, Reverend. Voyager's saucer basically has a giant plug to simulate the shuttle, but the real thing was never put in.
I'm aware that this is one of the theories, but that bit in the TNGTM is the first bit of official info to support it...well maybe not official, but its almost offical, I guess it depends on how you regard the tech manuals. My stance is that they are a fair guide...until they are contradicted, but not the DS9TM thats just a load of dingo's kidneys.
quote: I don't buy the bit about the yellow paint. adding that much paint would add a bit of mass to that ship. I remember reading a bit about how the refit Ent-A was not painted white in order to save on the mass.
Where did you hear that?
quote: Adding a whole other coat of paint, doesn't seem very bright. Unless they removed it again afterwards.
I thought that was the idea, that the yellow stuff was just for the initial warp stress testing dooblar, to see if the hull is sound and all that malarkie. It shouldn't be too difficult, a bit of thinner and some elbow grease...or if you must have a technical explanation then I'm sure a correctly modulated wide angle phaser beam could sort it.
quote: Um, I assumed that they meant the paint was on the models and used for simulations.
Nope, its in the bit about the ship's construction history. Besides, I can't see a 12" plastic model being painted yellow and shot off at warp 7.
posted
I think I read the thing about the paint on the refit Enterprise in "Mr. Scott's Guide to the Enterprise", but I could be wrong.
As far as the Aerowing theory, there really is no official explanation because it was never mentioned on the show. I think it was addressed in an interview in Star Trek The Magazine, but I don't remember for sure. But officialk or not, it does make sense. More so than the "they just forgot they had it" theory
posted
It's also possible the Aerowing (or is it Aeroshuttle now?) was cannibalized for parts to keep other systems, or perhaps shuttles, running.
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quote: I think I read the thing about the paint on the refit Enterprise in "Mr. Scott's Guide to the Enterprise", but I could be wrong.
I haven't seen that book in years but I'd love to get my hands on it. The yellow paint thing may be a relatively new practice, as the NCC-7100 (I think that's it) registry is probably 24th century, plus if we believe that the TNG manual has any credence at all then its safe to say that this was certainly done on the Galaxy-class.
The point I was trying to make with the Aerowing shuttle (better safe than sorry) is that we have a source predating Voyager that says that they install these non-flight test articles in place of hard-docked auxiliary craft. So its not just some extraneous excuse for a producer's lack of initiative, which lets be honest, is the real reason it was never used.
Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
Member # 343
posted
I dunno...I mean, your hull's got some warp stress fractures, but you can't see them well because the hull is greyish. Yellow sure as shit stands out against grey.
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OnToMars
Now on to the making of films!
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posted
quote: Nope, its in the bit about the ship's construction history. Besides, I can't see a 12" plastic model being painted yellow and shot off at warp 7.
Oh. Well. But it's not entirely unreasonable to have some sort of "warp wind tunnel" to test starship designs. If there is a 'subspace drag' which acts similar to fluidic drag in that greater forward profile in a starship = bad, then a warp wind tunnel would serve a useful purpose.
Incidentally, wasn't there a big grey, featureless Galaxy class ship in the holodeck scenes in "Booby Trap"? Anybody figure out what the nature of that thing coulda been?
-------------------- If God didn't want us to fly, he wouldn't have given us Bernoulli's Principle.
Registered: Jun 2001
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quote: I dunno...I mean, your hull's got some warp stress fractures, but you can't see them well because the hull is greyish. Yellow sure as shit stands out against grey.
I think thats basically the idea.
quote: Oh. Well. But it's not entirely unreasonable to have some sort of "warp wind tunnel" to test starship designs. If there is a 'subspace drag' which acts similar to fluidic drag in that greater forward profile in a starship = bad, then a warp wind tunnel would serve a useful purpose.
I'm pretty sure they're supposed to use computer simulators for that.
quote: Incidentally, wasn't there a big grey, featureless Galaxy class ship in the holodeck scenes in "Booby Trap"? Anybody figure out what the nature of that thing coulda been?
I think that was supposed to be the skeleton of the Enterprise in spacedock.
[ December 27, 2001: Message edited by: Reverend ]
OnToMars
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Member # 621
posted
Computers are not all powerful. And the day they are is the day the future more resembles 2001: A Space Odyssey than Star Trek.
There is something to be said for having a physical model that a human can hold and look at. Recreating a starship with a model would allow engineers to put it in a wind tunnel and see how unknown variables of the design affect the performance. A computer simulation is incapable of finding variables and factors based on a computer simulation.
That would be why ships still go on shakedown cruises and the NX is alive and well.
-------------------- If God didn't want us to fly, he wouldn't have given us Bernoulli's Principle.
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted
OK...OnToMars, you've gotta show me where you found that quote from MajorBarclow or whatever his name is....
Oh, and I agree...they probably test these designs in every way they can. Physical models, computer sims...everything. But I also think that the bit in the Tech Manual was certainly refering to the actual starship.
Of course, if we believe Voyager, the holodeck computers can predict variables in untested slipstream experiments down to where the hull will breach and, probably, which crew members are likely to be blown into space at that time.
posted
Ok, have we seen any ships with an NX registry painted yellow? Nope...and the NX-01 does not count since it's more copper-ish.
As for the Aeroshuttle, maybe the components of the test article version were used to create the Delta Flyer...which would somewhat explain why the crew never even thought of using the thing.
-------------------- "It speaks to some basic human needs: that there is a tomorrow, it's not all going to be over with a big splash and a bomb, that the human race is improving, that we have things to be proud of as humans." -Gene Roddenberry about Star Trek
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OnToMars
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![[Smile]](smile.gif)
and not only piloted the shuttle but directed the episode.
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