Jetfire / Skyfire

Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Air Guardian

"Among the mysteries of 
science lies the key to victory."

skyfire.jpg (41791 bytes)
jetfire.jpg (82280 bytes) Profile:  With a reckless daring that comes from being the swiftest of all the Autobots, Jetfire is the most eager of his comrades to plunge into battle.  But his bravado is tempered by one overriding thought: he sincerely believes that victory over the Decepticons can only come through advancements in Autobot technology.  As the first of a new generation of Autobots such a credo is perhaps only natural.  Also, because he was created on Earth, Jetfire is one of the few 
Autobots who have no memory of his home planet.  His allegiance to his cause is matched only by his devotion to scientific research.   <Note: Jetfire was made on earth in the comics.  In the cartoon his origin was quite different.  Skyfire, as he was known in the cartoons, was a galactic explorer with Starscream before the war between the Autobots and Decepticons began.   He crash landed on Earth and was frozen in the Arctic North until he was found by Megatron and the Decepticons in the first season episode "Fire in the Sky," shown below: 
Abilities:   In Jet fighter mode, Jetfire's unique swing wing design allows him to take off like a normal jet and then, pulling his wings back,  reach speeds of up to Mach 4.2.   Adding twin supersonic combustion ramjet engine modules along with twin liquid hydrogen fuel tanks allows  Jetfire to achieve orbital velocities, or to even escape Earth's gravity altogether.  With this capability, he can launch like a missile, shoot up above the atmosphere, and at a speed of Mach 29, dive down like a blazing meteor (hence his name) half a world away only 30 minutes later.  In robot and jet mode, he is equipped with four independently targetable particle beam cannons around his head and eight heat seeking armor-piercing missiles. skyfire2.jpg (55798 bytes)
skyfire3.jpg (37415 bytes) Weaknesses: Jetfire's range is limited by his fuel consumption; any trans-atmospheric trip requires his refueling when he lands.  Since he is newly constructed by the ark <comics only>, he is prone to numerous mechanical failures as the bugs in his system are worked out.  Anything from a malfunctioning radio to an engine stall in deep space have been known to happen.
Other Appearances:
Ther were several "Jetstorm" characters in Beast Wars/ Machines, but clearly different name, differnt name,. different individual. 

The next Jetfire that I recall appeared in came some 18 years later in 2003Armada Jetfire and Powerlinx Jetfire, may or may not be different individuals with the same name.  The following year 2004, Energon Jetfire came next!

skyfire4.jpg (60465 bytes)