TIE Pilot

TIE fighter pilots were an elite class within the military of the Galactic Empire. They piloted the TIE/ln space superiority starfighters, one of the Empire's most recognizable symbols of power. There were two nicknames for TIE pilots: the vac-heads, who operated in space for the Empire's Imperial Navy, and the ground-hogs, who operated in planetary atmosphere for the Imperial Army. Because the vac-heads had better public recognition through propaganda posters and the HoloNet News reports, the ground-hogs were often resentful of them. The rivalry between ground-hogs and vac-heads was so intense that most Imperial flight bases had separate bars for the two groups, with the notable exception of the Bright Jewel Oversector Flight Base.
The precision and streamlined design of the TIE fighter was a source of pride for those pilots, who prided themselves for usually not needing deflector shields or hyperdrives, which they viewed as tools for the cowardly. Since TIE fighters were identical and interchangeable, TIE pilots might never fly the same ship twice and, as a result, rarely developed emotional ties to their craft. Nonetheless, they tended to be very protective of their vessel of the day, and loved to push around lower-ranked stormtroopers. Very dedicated, TIE pilots were willing to surrender their lives for the greater glory of the Empire's New Order.
== Equipment ==
TIE fighter pilots wore a blackjumpsuit with pockets and zip-front, a reinforced helmet reminiscent of the stormtrooper design, and chest armor featuring an emergency atmospheric unit control boxattached to two flexible gastransfer tubes plugged into their helmet. On TIE pilot belts to their right of their buckle was a comlink/transponder in a shockproof case. TIE pilots also wore positive-gravity pressure boots.
Some helmets had white stripes below the eyes, and some elite pilots such as Baron Valen Rudor and Captain Vult Skerris had red or yellow stripes going down the middle of their helmets and sides.
== Gallery ==
=== Movies ===
Astpdigital_38029720164.png
=== TV Series ===
TIE_Fighter_Pilots_Rebels.png
=== Merchandise ===
100294_press08.jpg|Tie Pilot as a Hot Toy
Lego-star-wars-75082-tie-advanced-prototype-tie-fighter-pilot.png|Tie Pilot in Lego
Category:Stormtroopers
Category:Stormtrooper Variants