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B ATWING |
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The Batwing, built by Visual Effects Supervisor Derek Maddings, made its maiden flight in Gotham City just to be shot down by the Joker. Although there were five different models of the sleek craft, it was never built in its entirety - had it been it would have had an approximately 35 ft (7,5 m) wingspan. There was an 8 ft. automated model, a 2 ft. model and a 1'' model for the various lenses covering the action. In addition, there was a full-size segment of the cockpit for blue screen shooting with Michael Keaton as Batman in close-up during his climatic diving attack on Gotham main street and The Joker. |
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Finally, there was a damaged and burnt-out cockpit section for the aftermath of the crash on the Cathedral Steps. The larger Batwing model was built by Peter Aston, an experienced outside contractor. As with all the other artifacts, designs and blueprints emanated from the studio Art Department. The batwing boasts machineguns, laser rockets, and a pincer-like tool in its nose section (the one that was used to catch the Joker's balloons). |
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The cockpit was state-of-the art technology, not dissimilar to the Batmobile interior with necessary tracking, homing and targeting devices. Comments Anton Furst: ''It's a jet aircraft. A fighter aircraft. Again, pure expressionism… the Batwing is actually developed from the Bat-Symbol, the sickle wings and all. So it's actually a component of the whole image of Batman.'' |
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Batman had always flown an aerial assault vehicle, although in the comics it was called the Batplane. As a prelude to the Batman/ Joker final confrontation in Gotham Cathedral, the Batwing ''crash dive'' sequence was a memorable climax. |
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