Viper (TOS)

The Colonial Viper is the primary space superiority fighter and attack craft deployed by the Colonial military. Capable of both atmospheric and long-range spacial flight, the Viper is a single-pilot craft with two-forward mounted laser-torpedo guns as standard.
The Viper is capable of rapid acceleration in the form of a "turbo boost" feature, which results in greater fuel usage . Vipers are also able to abruptly stop forward acceleration by using their reverse thrusters and braking flaps .Captain Apollo describes to Lieutenant Zac on how to allow the Cylons to overshoot them, so they can dispatch the pursuing s. 
:Apollo: When I hit three, you hit your reverse thrusters and maximum braking flaps.
Vipers are equipped with an onboard computer which contains a warbook, an electronic reference of ships which, in conjunction with scanners, can give the pilot information on a ship and identify whether or not there are life forms onboard the said ship . 
In addition, Vipers' computer is capable of recording messages, which can be played back by Warriors or other persons who happen across an unoccupied Viper .
== Variants and Modifications==
* A "Recon Viper" variant has been developed, possessing greater (i.e. 2 x) speed and range than a typical Viper, but lacking any armament due to the removal of the laser pumps. It also possesses an advanced voice interface. Starbuck is the only warrior known to have flown this variant .
* On missions where Vipers must endure extreme heat or other environments that could endanger the pilot, specially designed shielding can be applied to the cockpit canopy. This extra layer of protection was used in the Madagon star cluster and prevented pilots from being hurt by the incredible heat and light in the region .
==Re-imagined Series Crossover==
This Viper model is briefly seen in the Galactica Museum exhibition in the Miniseries and later in "Daybreak, Part II." 
As the Original Series Viper uses weaponry and features not seen in the Re-imagined Series, its appearance in the museum is more a homage to the Original Series itself than to suggest that these specific Vipers (and their technical abilities) existed in the Re-imagined continuity. However, the Original Series Raider, basestar and landram appear in the Re-imagined Series with updated weaponry. Given their real world status as the original Vipers, the known design of the Mark III and their more 'primitive' design; this model is perhaps erroneouslyCaprica demonstrates that the "Viper" terminology extends into pure aircraft, namely the Vintage Viper and the Air Force Viper. assumed to be the Viper Mark I.
== In the separate continuity ==
The Viper is the primary space superiority fighter of the , often deployed by s.
These craft are prevalent and are relied on for the defense of through the various and divergent continuities offered, starting from Marvel's comics through to the present-day Dynamite Entertainment comic book adaptations. 
Variations of the Viper include:
* A variant outfitted with stealth drives, tested in a mission to Maytoria in .
* A time travel variant created by Dr. called the Temporal Viper in .
===Notes===
Often the Dynamite Entertainment comics will often swap the visualizations of the Original Series' Viper with the Re-imagined Series' Mark II Viper, either in full or in part, including the colorization of the striping (the Re-imagined Series' red versus the Original Series' orange).
==Related images==
Image:ViperCanopy.jpg|A Viper with specially fitted heat shield as it is launched from Galactica in "Saga of a Star World".
File:LL1 - Viper Technical Readout.png|A scan of a Viper, by another Viper, from "The Living Legend, Part I".
Image:Vipertos.jpg|A lone Original Series-style Viper on display next to Viper Mark IIs in the Miniseries.
File:Viper (TOS) stick goof.jpg|A goof seen in "Saga of a Star World" where the main stick is actually a video camera command stick....
File:Viper (TOS) original stick.jpg|...compared to the correct prop stick seen a few seconds earlier.
==Concepts==
A variety of concepts were created by Ralph McQuarrie for the Viper, some of which ended up in Glen A. Larson and Leslie Stevens' Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
BSG Viper - McQuarrie - 1.jpg
BSG Viper - McQuarrie - 2.jpg
==Blueprints==
Blueprints for the construction of the "full-size" mockups:
Battlestar Galactica - Classic Viper Blueprints - 1.jpg
Battlestar Galactica - Classic Viper Blueprints - 2.jpg
Battlestar Galactica - Classic Viper Blueprints - 3.jpg
Battlestar Galactica - Classic Viper Blueprints - 4.jpg
Battlestar Galactica - Classic Viper Blueprints - 5.jpg
==Notes==
* In Galactica 1980, some Vipers are outfitted with stealth technologies that render the Viper craft invisible to the eye .
*A two-seater version of the Viper is seen throughout Galactica 1980. However, despite its appearances in this series, this variant may be hinted at as early on as "Saga of a Star World", when is flown to Caprica in Apollo's Viper after the destruction of the Colonies. However, this variant is never explicitly seen during the Original Series' run.
* There is a scale difference between the mock-up/model kit Viper and the actual on screen SFX Viper as can be seen in this SFX-mockup overlap.
==References==
Category:A to Z
Category:Colonial
Category:Colonial Craft
Category:Colonial Craft (TOS)
Category:Colonial Military
Category:Colonial Military (TOS)
Category:Ships
Category:Ships (TOS)
Category:Technology
Category:Technology (TOS)
Category:TOS
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