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TIE Pilots were Imperial Pilots trained in piloting TIE series starfighters (such as TIE Fighters, Interceptors and Bombers). They were first introduced in 2001.

Description[]

The TIE Pilot has all black parts, and printing on the torso and helmet. They originally had helmets similar to those of stormtroopers. In 2010, a new version of the minifigure was released featuring a new helmet design, utilizing the same mould as the AT-AT Pilot's helmet (from 8084 Snowtrooper Battle Pack). In 2013 a redesigned version, featuring a new torso and new helmet printing, was released in 75008 TIE Bomber & Asteroid Field.

Background[]

The first generation of TIE pilots was composed of clones, survivors of the clone trooper pilots of the Republic Starfighter Corps from the Clone Wars. The first clone pilots were first-generation Jango Fett clones, but the best clone pilots were honored as the prime clones for newer pilot lineages, and were distinguished by their all-black dress uniforms. This early use of clones was one of the main reasons why TIE pilots were often viewed as expendable and given little protection during combat.

Even early into the Empire, however, there were several Imperial officers, among them the distinguished TIE ace Shea Hublin, who campaigned to have the various TIE fighters redesigned to protect the pilots better, largely because non-clone Human pilots from the Imperial Academy began to replace and outnumber the aging clone trooper veterans. However, these were ignored by the Imperial Navy's hierarchy, and notably were dismissed by the pilots themselves. The TIE pilots believed that their lack of protection was a testament to their skills rather than the Empire's view of them as disposable. This notoriously callous treatment of pilots was such that the TIE fighter, in addition to representing the technological might of the Empire, was also symbolic of the Empire's disregard for its own soldiers.

At the height of the Galactic Empire, the Imperial Navy had countless Academy graduates and clones at its disposal. During the time of the Imperial Remnant and the reign of a reborn Emperor Palpatine, the Empire was forced to be conservative with the lives of the TIE pilots due to their decreasing numbers, and unmanned TIE/D automated starfighters were used as support craft for living pilots. Eventually, Imperial commanders like Grand Admiral Thrawn were forced to recognize that their pilots and starfighters could no longer be treated as expendable assets, and began fitting TIE/IN interceptors with deflector shields.

LEGO.com Description[]

LEGO.com-icon-yellow This is a description taken from LEGO.com. Please do not modify it. (visit this item’s product page)

The Empire’s starfighter pilots have rarely met enemy flyers who could rival their skills, making them arrogant and cocky. This is especially true for the pilots of TIE strikers, which require incredible skill to fly without crashing at high speed into the surrounding landscape.


Appearances[]

Video Game Appearances[]

Gallery of Variants[]

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9492 TIE Pilot
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TIE Pilot 2014
LEGO-TIEPilot Rebels
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75300 TIEpilot
LEGO-TIEBomberPilot 75347
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Brown HeadReddish Brown HeadBlack Head2010 Variant2012 VariantTIE Bomber Pilot2014 VariantRebelsSolo2021 VariantTIE Bomber Pilot (2023 Redesign)TIE Interceptor Pilot

Gallery[]

See also[]

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