How can the Autobots Fly?

One of the most asked questions concerning the original G1 Transformers cartoon has been, "How Can the Autobots fly in the pilot and then not again?" Well I hope I can answer that one!
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[@comicjaidein1201]

C'mon, you guys. You know autobots can't fly. *Ironhide* *flying* *in* *the* *background* Nevermind.

[@Jone_V]

u reminded me about ironhide's death in transformers

[@moistedits4455]

Yazmani Carranza that’s important?

[@moistedits4455]

Yazmani Carranza how?

[@moistedits4455]

Yazmani Carranza so you’re 45.

[@moistedits4455]

Yazmani Carranza I’m at my dads house currently and I’m 14. Nice to meet you.

[@shadowdramon01]

How can the Autobots fly? First installment weirdness. “We don’t have a series bible to establish how we’re going to write this. We’ll just make sh*t up for season one, see what stick, retcon what doesn’t, and pretend it’s always been that way”.

[@dannyanderson3345]

Remember when the Autobots drove to Africa in two hours in the episode Changing Gears?

[@RodimusPrimal]

My wife pointed that out to me when I made the video. My best guess, Skyfire.

[@twintiger3663]

I must’ve watched the episode a dozen times as a kid and I didn’t catch that until watching it years ago as an adult. You guys drove from the Mojave desert to Africa in two hours. WTF?

[@fafazaj6726]

Yupp...thought that was funny..

[@rvbrexer]

Also when they fly from Cybertron to the Earth in a couple of minutes on the pilot episode.

[@shadowsnake5133]

Wait, you guys can't drive over water?

[@ash_j_williams]

Autobots: Lets all be cars and trucks Deceptions:Lets all be flying things and military weapons Autobots: Crap...

[@metal87power]

Someone gave them wrong idea about Earth's technology.

[@thebeamerdreamer]

Scrap!

[@liopleurodonthedinoman3637]

Scrap you!

[@ryvaxe64]

The autobots have an overall high intelligence and more functional organization

[@purplemantis5040]

In the original cartoons the Decepticons were mostly Cybertrons warriors/military forces anyway, and the Autobots were mostly neutrals forced to fight for their home planet. So it makes sense they wouldn't be war vehicles in the first place

[@superiongamer3834]

“Me grimlock kick butt!” This is why I love g1

[@meg-k-waldren]

Nice one. But the BEST Transformers and cartoon line of all time is "I've got better things to do tonight than die." Springer. Badass line.

[@Protosilver97]

You guys don't really know how funny is "¡Chatarra tu abuela!".

[@Blassie.P]

G1 the best.

[@theeducationofyourlife1160]

I think the best Transfomers line is this' Well that's just Prime!'. It was LOL!

[@bamaboyz8978]

My favorite has to be “Megatron must be stopped no matter the cost”

[@iamtheomnimonkey]

I see it as a combination of 3 things. 1. Continuity errors. 2. The ability to jump really far and then "gliding" or "falling with style". See The Hulk, Domesday, Buzz Lightyear, etc. 3. Some have built in rocket boosters or other similar systems that weren't visible in the cartoon. While not visible in the cartoon some had such systems included in the molding details of the toys, while others had them described in their bios.

[@lordumaruchan]

2:28 daddy look a flying cassette recorder

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

As we all thought we'd use in the future.

[@RobinSwede]

Soundwave: I must go, my people need me.

[@matthewreynoso6904]

The Smart-Casual Gamer. Unfortunately cassettes have now become obsolete lol

[@bobsav76]

Wheeljack: "I knew those invisible jetpacks would come in handy." You could always imagine that he said this offscreen.

[@TheKingofbrooklin]

G1 would not be the G1 we love without it`s animation and continuity errors. Yes :D

[@Rassenomatjutut]

Carlos Green What about Beast Era, Unicron trilogy, Animated and Aligned? 'Cause not all fans grew up with G1, and I'm the one of those.

[@natedog6808]

Carlos Green do you like the looks of the new movie bumblebee then?

[@wolfcommander12thewatching61]

HypertronDE agreed

[@jasoncentrella4602]

@@BasedVegeta there wouldn't be any Beast/Armada/Unicron or any other eras without G1. There's G1 and there's everything else. To the youngins who didn't grow up with G1 - it goes to show how killer G1 was that you guys came to love the Transformers based on later versions.

[@zookdom3347]

If you want best g1 experience, you need to check out g1 anime "Headmasters" loosely continues after Season 4 of American version. My opinion the best G1 experience, the animation is 1984 style, but more clean, and in some cases 1986 movie quality. Personally I enjoy the Japanese voice actors just as much (maybe more) than the American voice actors (think of it as an animated comic book). The Japanese villain voices are amaze. Highly recommend checking it out. The first 3 or 4 episodes are not great, but there is a build up with Skorponoku, that is Emperor Palpatine level evil. The Headmasters are just as good characters as the classic 1984 characters, classic characters are there, but not as often. Yokai!! Head on!

[@good7bad13]

I think at one point all transformers could fly but slowly it was seen as a waste of energy for robot mode. But the Decepticons kept it realizing the military applications and modified themselves for less energon consumption while flying. But in the pilot, the Autobots kinda remembered they could but realized afterward just how much they go through and with the limited medical supplies needed to fix that couldn't upgrade themselves.

[@pp3k3jamail]

Good7 Bad13 nah they just made a mistake. Simple as that.

[@alphatrion100]

No. Other way around. No transformer could fly untill the first decepticons

[@alphatrion100]

MICOLE WHYTE yeah they made a mistake. Like when the constructicons build megatron. But in the first aperance of the constructicon megaton says he built them.

[@JonCombo]

Good7, yea, I assumed they couldn't do it aswell, too costly on energy. The Decepticons were always looking for more, Autobots, not so much.

[@JonCombo]

Alpha, I saw that as there could've been 100's of Constructicons made, like Seekers. They just made new ones/bodies on Earth. Fallen allies could've been stored for later use.

[@michaelharris7445]

I've always justified it, in my own mind, with the lack of energon. The decepticons constantly stole energon so therefore retaining their robot mode flight capabilities. The autobots played by the rules and took what resources the humans allowed them to have and suffered for it. This was how I also justified the easy deaths of the autobots in the movie. Their energon levels were so low that they couldn't compete and therefore died vs shielding off the blasts like on the cartoon. My way of making my favorite cartoon make sense.

[@SuperGodzilla2]

does anyone else think its ironic that in Prime the only bot who can fly in robot mode is the only who turns into a truck. this was a fun vid dude

[@issackaiser]

ZEADPOOL1991 he’s the prime. If anyone can what he does,it wouldn’t make him stand out I guess.

[@ethanontheinternet9415]

The answer to all the g1 mistakes... Production schedule

[@CardboardBots]

It's simple. They can fly. But it uses up vast amounts of energy. The Decepticons don't care about conservation or rationing energy. When they need more, the take more, by any means necessary. They are the villains because they are the takers. The autobots have different strategy for survival. They live on less. They are the sharers. They live a different way and draw those that are weaker to there ranks... which are probably larger, but not as powerful/wasteful. This fits in with the aerial bots time travel story, the five faces of darkness story, and that the concept that future transformers were smaller to conserve energy a la Beast Wars. Perhaps most bots don't have this flight ability, but it's up upgrade that comes with draw backs. Loss of intelligence, roid rage, power consumption needs that go into overdrive.

[@michaelharris7445]

Man that's exactly the conclusion I always went with. I just replied that same theory before reading this one. I also figured that's why tuff guys like Brawn and Ironhide ect. died so easily in the movie. Their energon supplies were critically low. Where as the decepticons stole to keep their energon supplies up.

[@ZorillaMyrid181]

Cardboard Bots and the first season was messed in the first place. If you watch it, the dinobots have a tendency to lose their mouth.

[@pizzaruby5140]

Energy conservation...that's a smart theory!

[@TheStainlessSteelCat42]

Yes I totally agree. I was going to say something similar. I think the Decepticons did have access to better more efficient flight tek as well. In addition I think things like POWER CHIP RECTIFIERS (from heavy metal war S1) effect flight powers. Some flight 'Chips' are better than others. Sometimes they wear out, sometimes they are destroyed in battle and sometimes they are swapped between Bots off screen.

[@toyoscio]

Cardboard Bots The Decepticons had to conserve as well.

[@Abbie-Apel]

12:53 all blue optimus 12:57 did soundwave betray megatron 12:59 did shockwave create a cloning machine

[@TheHylden]

I definitely think for G1 that they have to have rocket packs on in the pilot episodes. Just in general, imagine if most of the Autobots could never fly anywhere. It would put them at a severe disadvantage in stopping the Decepticons if they could never get anywhere that they could with flight. So, even though we don't see them don the packs, they had to have in the pilot episodes. From a real world perspective, I am sure because it was a pilot, they just didn't get all of the rules in place that they would later have, like Autobots can't, mostly, fly. One huge moment you missed (that I have to point out because it's so great) from G1 with an Autobot flying using a jet booster is of course from the movie: the amazing scene with Optimus Prime shooting up over the Deceptions out of his vehicle mode into robot mode and blasting them to bits to The Touch. Optimus clearly integrated a rocket booster into his design by that time. It's probably why Otimus Primal in Beast Wars has his, as a homage.

[@RodimusPrimal]

Gotta admit, that rocket boost jump Prime did in the Movie was awesome.

[@toyoscio]

The Hylden i think he did a high jump

[@TheHylden]

(this just became a lot harder. KZbin isn't letting me paste anything in this comment) toyoscio, just take a look. Unless his high jumps cause fire to shoot out from him and a jet engine sound... kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmiqlpyph8acl9U I guess Prime could be that awesome though :p RodimusPrimal, it's amazing that this cartoon movie is far more cinematic (and definitely more emotional) and feels more grounded in the sense of animation than the Bayformers with its hundreds of millions of dollars per film. Like most CGI action, it's overused and things are over-designed. His action sequences feel more cartoon-like because things are just mashing all together, between the excessive fireballs to the amalgam of parts in their bad designs, to the constantly sweeping camera moves, to all of the wild debris. I just watched Dawn of the Planet of the Apes again last night. I haven't seen the third one, but I like the first two a lot. Though the end sequence on that huge human tower thing stands out from the rest of the movie. Most of it feels like things have weight and there's a gritty feel to the action. Then you get to that sequence with Koba and Caesar fighting and everything feels like it's gone a little too CGI Hollwood. Everything's crumbling, slowly, parts start flying everywhere, etc. Less could have been more there, I think.

[@toyoscio]

The Hylden Thanks for the link. Prime is awesome, it looked like the anger gave him a boost when he transformed from truck to robot. If you notice he sort of does a spin in the air while still being able to fire.

[@HerbstaMagus]

I remember being bothered by this issue since I was a child watching Transformers. Thanks for clearing some stuff up.

[@Eer4000]

take a shot every time he says "fly"

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

Aaaaaand, I'm on the ground...

[@tfallspark5104]

Good god. The liver damage will be fatal

[@Koontah]

My theory is that when the Quintessons opened the time window in 'Forever is a Long Time Coming', there were changes to the timelines that remained permanent. So, the Autobots at one point were able to fly. But the time storm that took place thereafter, altered the reality and no one remembered they could fly. What can I say? Playing with time is like playing with a bomb.

[@RodimusPrimal]

Wow. There's a theory that I never thought of.

[@patrickcarney6674]

4:18 Ironhide "I can't move." OP "At least you can still talk old buddy." yeah way to support the newly paraplegic, Prime.

[@Redstar2613]

2:28 lol @ Soundwave flying off in his alternate mode

[@SKULnBONZ]

Redstar2613 I had to back it up & see that again.. flying Walkman

[@themarylandgoatman4475]

FLYING CASSETTE PLAYER

[@cadsux]

In the original toy, Soundwave's battery compartment was also a backpack with sculpted exhausts. His blaster and rocket launcher were 2 AA batteries which can be stored inside.

[@JunkionMarnot2005]

😂😂😂

[@zestybagels930]

what if they remade G1 and fixed all of the mistakes, I'd like that

[@atlekristiansen4975]

One of the mistakes being to kill off Optimus Prime in the movie? And another to focus on Cybertron rather than Earth thereafter? This is what I consider being the two biggest mistakes in the show's history. The animation errors always had it's charm, in my opinion. Even if it was Sideswipe standing beside Megatron, instead of Soundwave...

[@ArtKingjr]

lol I still don't understand how these errors happen. I mean having the wrong color is one thing. But to draw the wrong robot in a scene is just stupid.

[@atlekristiansen4975]

It's clearly not fans doing the drawing...

[@ryanalegre6910]

Perhaps something like DBZ Kai?

[@katmore9]

I KERMITTED SUICIDE I'm still reserving judgment.😐

[@ryanthompsonthompson820]

Your videos are awesome. I have been a fan of generation 1 Transformers since 1984 When I was 9.

[@RodimusPrimal]

Thank you so very much! Roll Out!

[@wingedbluj1674]

I always figured they used the rocket packs, but because they both take up energy and could be damaged, the Autobots used them sparingly, only saving them for when they need them.

[@Vipermecha]

Can you make a video about transformers' "super powers" ie: robot teleportation, invisibility, starscream's ghost, junkion's part swapping (probably easy), and others that mostly appears in G1?

[@RodimusPrimal]

I'll add it to my list. The Power Chip Rectifier.

[@Me-wx1mt]

Or combiner powers? Or is that not anything specific to a certain group of transformers? Like any transformer can combine? Idk, rodimus probably has a video in it lol

[@BladeCrossEXE]

Reminds me of how Superman first got flight. Originally, he COULDN'T fly, just jump really far. He gained flight due to miscommunications between writers and artists, and it just stuck eventually. But if I had to justify it, minus characters with built-in flight abilities, I would say it either has to do with energy consumption, but moreso about using a finite energy source and not just Energon or Cybertonium. Remember, the Autobots were workers, and the Decepticons were warriors and gladiators. It makes sense for the Decepticons to naturally fly, so maybe the Autobots had to install flight tech separately, and said components eventually ran out of fuel/energy, or were damaged. The next episode takes place months after the pilot, so maybe these hypothetical components just ran out of juice.

[@samuelmeyer1024]

(*Sees Megatron as a purple dinosaur wearing v-tol fans and rollerskates*) A reminder of how these cartoons came to be truly ridiculous...And that's why we love them.

[@andrewgan557]

Luckily later he turns into a red cyborg dragon for a change.

[@williamt.sherman9841]

I love you... you love me

[@themarylandgoatman4475]

@@williamt.sherman9841 SHUTUP BARNEY

[@eu29lex16]

"How can autobots fly?" Lack of consistency, the lore one.

[@amethyst7084]

Let's not forget the Autobot Tracks, who could fly in car mode.

[@MaraAlis]

Yeah but that was a sort of different configuration than just a car.

[@Wreckedftfoxy]

He can transform into a flying car thar is okay it's like James bond sub car but for air

[@BBBB-qv6rb]

8:18 ) SHAKE DEM HIPS

[@charlesm.7573]

Lol, my favorite line is on here, when Megatron welcomes Starscream back to earth. welcome home, noble voyager!

[@elel.]

I m waiting 30 years for this! Thnx, my friend!

[@justSTUMBLEDupon]

That Autobot can't fly thing was so dang weird. And again that intro music is dope!

[@irotaino]

Good video. It's a cartoon from the 80s. Mistakes were made. It's all good. Still love my G1 since I was little.

[@ArtKingjr]

Mistakes or lazy writing? lol

[@juanc1328]

The writing staff didn’t talk to each at the storyboard meetings!🤔

[@zookdom3347]

They were working on so many projects can't blame them, they never thought Transformers would become so iconic when they were making a Saturday morning kids show :p

[@chandlerscaringia5260]

Art In The Dark Yeah ok they were writing lazy for a 80’s cartoon. Did you read that after you wrote it hardo😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂.......... 80’s cartoon hardo............ you can’t make this stuff up.

[@Swindlerformers]

Wait so you watch g1 transformers I don’t watch it but did you watch transformers the movie?

[@belldn3]

Some people call it lazy 80's writing. Don't know if you remember me but I'm the one or one of many to suggest doing a video about this subject.

[@RodimusPrimal]

You are one of many. I've actually got a list of topics that I want to cover.

[@superroboted]

I have questioned this to since I was a child. Now that I am older I can say that when the first 3 episodes aired they just did not follow the story from the comic book. I guess the animators wanted to keep the idea of linking flight to vehicle mode but that didn't work either. As I got older I just chalked it up to the many mysterious inconsistencies of the world of Transformers lol

[@silverdustengine9230]

" Welcome home, noble voyager!"😈😈😈

[@chrismc410]

Megatron. I thought you were...i mean everybody was sure you...i uh.....hey Prime. What do you think Megatron's gonna do to Starscream? Prime: Nothing gentle, I would say. Prime's thoughts: I know he's going to take his aft. I know he is. Would it kill you to use lube and loosen hin up first. Megatron: i like it dry, Prime. His energon will be the lube.

[@solusquatro3448]

Make sense that the seekers could fly in robot mode, because their thrusters are located on their feets, and their wings are located on their backs :v

[@JerryHarway]

Autobots, with some exceptions (particularly the later entries to the factions) have limited flight capability and cannot fly long distances at very high speeds because they were not initially designed for warfare like the Decepticons were.

[@samt5911]

I have always understood this idea that, "Autobots can't fly," is more of a pejorative or derogatory term. That is to say, flying is not part of their primary function. It is an upgrade. So it isn't something they can just do easily or as well as Decepticons. It's the difference between a small single engine airplane and a fighter jet. I think when Autobots do fly is when their power cells are fully charged but it drains their energy faster. Something that is consistent in the Transformers cartoons is that the Autobots never have aerial maneuverability as good as the Decepticons. When they are losing in battle or after a long hard fight they tend not to fly. I think there are many G1 episodes that show this. Therefore, "Autobots can't fly," is akin to that old movie title, "White Men Can't Jump," White men can indeed jump but the old movie is suggesting that they can't jump as well as black men in basketball. Autobots recognize their limitation. They should never, and rarely ever, attempt to take on Decepticons in aerial combat because they "can't fly"...as well as Decepticons. They are out of their element. This is why Optimus has to use a Jetpack in the finale of the original mini series. They just finished a hard battle. Their energy is low and his limited flight capabilities are not enough to catch that shuttle. The Decepticons, on the other hand, have stocked up plenty of energon and have a big advantage.

[@RodimusPrimal]

Not to mention that certain Autobots are better equipped at Aerial combat even if they are cars. This includes Sideswipe and Sunstreaker.

[@deestttone791]

It's simple: a prototype anti-gravity device, worn by Optimus, and generating an antigrav field around that allows any Autobot within 800 feet to hover in the general direction that Optimus is heading. Such a shame the Wheeljack could never get it to work again after their first Earth adventure!

[@CaptainFrost32]

I have an older answer... the idea of Legion flight rings from DC Comics. Every member of the Legion has a unique power, yet they are equipped with a ring that provides life support and flight. The group moves at the speed of the fastest member, makiing that character the flight leader. If your fastest flier can go 200 mph, the group en masse holds the same flight speed. Basically, it creates a convoy effect. One of the perks of choosing a faction.

[@MisterEvvvSymphoenix]

8:17 You're telling me. Never in my wildest dreams did I picture THAT. By the way, great video. It clarifies some things. I was rather confused about them flying in G1.

[@Skybaby79]

A lot of love went into this video, and it is greatly appreciated. 'Till all are one'

[@RodimusPrimal]

Thank you!

[@albertoa.ramirez5156]

I'm reacting a few years late but the Transformers G1 intro had the Autobots flying after the Decepticons at the end as well!

[@jase7474]

Only one that can be explained is Orion Pax since it looks like he had a boost jumping at Megatron. As for the Dinobots maybe it is just something Wheeljack and Ratchet built into them to have some fliers on the Autobot side. Same can be said for the Technobots since Grimlock built them he could of just gave the ability to fly. Maybe they just thought of it after the fact that they flew in the pilot episodes making them mostly not fly to separate the sides a little more. Trying to make you think of the Decepticons as fliers and most Autobots non-fliers.

[@chrisedwards3214]

Grimlock flew in dino mode too once

[@shadowdramon01]

Honestly, I’ve always been a sucker for the factions having diametrically opposes transformations (such as Autobots=cars/Decepticons=planes or Maximals=mammals, aquatic animals and birds/Predacons=reptiles, amphibians and bugs). So I prefer flight be a rare special ability for certain Autobots and the rest have emergency jet packs. I mean, that’s the whole reason we got the Stunticons and Aerialbots in season 2; so Decepticons can have a few cars and Autobots can have a few planes as a counterbalance.

[@wolfram07]

My take on it: Autobots do have the ability to fly. However, they are predominantly known for not being able to do so due to their flight capabilities being highly draining on their personal energon supply. This is due to Decepticons having better flight tech as part of their cyber-biology than Autobots.

[@orzen_the_orzo933]

My thought is that in the first episodes when the autobots flyed, (sorry, I mean flew, well, anyway, as I was saying,) I think that they flew because they had built in rocketpacks, but then eventually, the rocketpacks got destroyed when fighting the decepticons, so they can't fly anymore. (Also, in the intro for season 1 of the G1 show, I think that at the end, the autobots are seen flying with their invisible rocketpacks!)

[@juliana.lymond2622]

I Say The Animators Forgot To Add Their Jetpacks While They're Flying.

[@liopleurodonthedinoman3637]

Guess all the Decepticons from G1 had auto-built jet packs that aren’t present

[@Greenkitten45]

Umm, anti-gravity stabilizers? Anti-gravitational fields? I'm not great at coming up with psudoscience terminology. I'm not Star Trek. 😂😂

[@TheSmart-CasualGamer]

"Jets and everything else." What a great army.

[@DarkStrider]

Hey Rodimus! I might be showing my age, but back in the 80s on the Commodore 64, we had a Transformers game. The whole point was to obtain 4 Energon Cubes, and return them to the base to form the Autobot Insignia. Aside from the Gen 1 show where the Autobots were flying, this game also showed them flying which blew my mind at the time.

[@RodimusPrimal]

That was the good game. Pointless but fun. I had that and the second game, which was not good at all.

[@DarkStrider]

LMFAO I had the second game as well! Still do, and my son has an appreciation of today's loading screens after seeing what we went through lol. I remember back then that there was a rumor where if you played enough as the Autobots, you could play as the Decepticons and do the same sort of missions. Man, I miss the word of mouth rumors before the internet lol

[@yagamijubei28]

Convoy no Naze? That game is as hard as altered beast

[@The-kr9rb]

no they are talking about 2 commodore games Convoy no Nazo is for the Nintendo Famicom

[@DarkStrider]

I’ve played the convoy game for the famicom as well. I found it hard, but I know people that can play it easier than MARIO Bros! Blows my mind!

[@benjamintownley9913]

If the autobots had some kind of anti gravity system built in there bodies that can only activate after a certain recharge time, that could be an explanation

[@comicjaidein1201]

The only way the Autobots can fly, is the power of liquid nitrogen.

[@slappybio1686]

Or energon beans

[@captainbensooftheoil4391]

*ironhide intensifies*

[@KingGoldMod]

you know a vid on transformers is gonna be good when it starts with an irl history lesson i'm partly serious

[@person14876]

Science Wheeljack joke

[@Hektols]

In the comics only those transformers who flying vehicle modes or "flight" as special ability could fly. In order to travel Megatron had to transform into gun and go inside one of the flying decepticons.

[@geeboysgamesandmore49]

I remember as a kid I always imagined that weird box on the back of Optimus being a jet pack that let him fly. I never came up with an excuse for the other bots though.

[@fennekin1750]

I think autobots can fly only with rocket packs and to explain in the episodes that have them not wear visible rocket packs, it’s probably just the animators forgetting to animate them with packs. Great vid!

[@JelaniWood]

Keep these videos coming man. Youre doing the Lord's work.

[@RodimusPrimal]

Thanks!

[@JelaniWood]

RodimusPrimal I love your channel cause I grew up with the G1 Transformers and fell into all the lore and thought about and discussed the things you've covered on your channel for decades with friends and total strangers alike. If I ever do a Podcast or something where we need a Transformers expert I'm gonna holla for sure.

[@mrf19741]

Thank you for finally addressing this!

[@unstoppableExodia]

When I watched G1 as a kid in believed it was either autobots needed a jet pack or inbuilt thrusters to fly or that autobots could fly in robot mode like decepticons but chose not to because doing so is costly in some way like maybe due to pollution or being energy intensive. The early episodes of G1 I can write off as an animation mistake. G1 has loads of them.

[@ziobarion2262]

7:24 Cheetor's transmetal cheetah mode always reminds me of G1 Ravage.

[@KilosFoxo]

The robot mode reminds me of ravage

[@ziobarion2262]

transfactory I can kinda see that.

[@KilosFoxo]

Cheetor in robot mode shared the same model as ravage apart from the head and hands

[@ziobarion2262]

transfactory I must've not noticed it when I watched Beast Wars. DECEPTICONS FOREVER!!!

[@KilosFoxo]

this video should help kzbin.info/www/bejne/pnm5dmigaa5jgpo

[@omez23]

I LOVE your awesome videos! Best channel in youtube history!

[@RodimusPrimal]

omar rana thanks! Till all are one!

[@primetime3422]

2:30 who saw soundwave transform and fly as a cassette player

[@rickycuevas6479]

It's a cartoon and I love the way it is 😄👍🏽 awesome video by the way.👍🏽

[@RodimusPrimal]

Till all are one!

[@youwayo]

5:37 That’s interesting how the Dinobots’ kibble are their “wings”.

[@maskedriderweaver4122]

Another of my college days round table discussions, we did manage to explain this one, to a degree. Can Autobots fly in robot mode? Yes and no. During the golden age of Cybertron, before Megatron met Orion Pax, a new kind of robot was being developed, one that could fly in robot mode. These were the Decepticons and they used this ability to outmaneuver Autobot forces, who at that time could not fly without a jet pack of some kind, whether integrated (like Sideswipe) or external (rocket packs). Our theory was that the Autobots, many of whom are scientists, attempted to replicate the flying ability of the Decepticons. They were able to do this, thus enabling the battles seen in the beginning episodes. However, they discovered that the process was extremely draining energy wise, so had to deactivate it to conserve energy. The Decepticons were created with the ability integrated into them, and had probably refined it over time to make it more efficient, but even in that case, they would always be hungry for more energon. The Autobots would forego robot flight mode to keep their energon cost down, remember there were a lot more Autobots than Decepticons, so that was a lot more individuals to support. The only Autobots who would be scene flying would be those that had special features that enabled them to do so. In the cases of the later Autobots and Decepticons, the Dinobots were much larger than standard Autobots, so probably had the system integrated into them so they could keep up with the faster vehicle forms of the standard Autobots. The Insecticons were designed with flying or gliding forms, so could do so in either form. For the Arielbots, who as far as I know are only scene flying in jet mode or as Superion, they were constructed in a hurry on Cybertron. Superion was given a flight ability by combining the powers of his components. There are scenes with Menasor and Bruticus flying, which makes sense as the Decepticons knew the advantage of flight and would build it into Combiners. As far as space flight goes, as far as I can remember, this is primarily only seen when they are traveling through space, not taking off from a planet which would cause problems with gravity and air friction. Still, its only a theory. Please let me know what you think.

[@fighterbrony]

I always went with the r2d2 explanation In the star wars prequels r2 had thrusters but after many strenuious battles with the rebellion, he lost the thrusters and was never able to get them replaced. I think the same goes with the autobots, they used to be flight capable but after fighting on earth, their thrusters wore down and they never got them replaced or repaired

[@vivimariefedorov7374]

They must've had jets built within them. Ones with translucent fire. Unfortunately they would inevitably be damaged every now and then during battle.

[@spanishsupafly]

My theory is that Cybertron as a planet is much denser than earth since it looks to be almost completely metallically formed, so I would assume that the gravity is much, much greater than that of earth. I also assume that most of the transformers have some sort of basic thrust capability or boosters, much how Optimus displayed in the TF Movie to gain lift during the attack on Autobot city. Coupled with earth's lighter gravity I assume they have the ability to at least glide/hover within the lower atmosphere, but in the case of Optimus if he wanted to break orbit he would need additional propulsion in the way of Sideswipe's rocket pack as opposed to true fliers like Starscream whose form is naturally equipped and capable.

[@RodimusPrimal]

Interestingly enough, it's explained that the Decepticons were built with innate capabilities of flight, so your theory might hold some weight but not completely.

[@spanishsupafly]

@@RodimusPrimal Well... When theorizing, almost no one ever has the full picture. But it can be frustrating when the creators themselves seemingly don't have it as well. lol. P.S. I know I'm late to the party but I'm really enjoying your videos. Great stuff, really well done. 👍

[@MatthewCaunsfield]

I really liked how the G1 comics handled flight, by far my favourite. Your solution for the G1 cartoon is simple, but effective! Does it open up the floodgates to explain away other seemingly contradictory elements of TF lore though?

[@RodimusPrimal]

Not necessarily. This one in perticular just happens to fall into this category since for the most part, Autobots themselves do not fly.

[@Natalia-jb7vv]

In space, they can probably fly without jetpacks by using reaction wheels they normally use for balance. And in the 3 part episode, their newly repaired bodies may have been given a temporary boost as whatever allowed their wheeless cybertronian modes to float over the ground began to fade and boosting power to this component allowed for some flight capabilities.

[@Bigshark9000]

I ask you this question a year ago and you did it.😁

[@RodimusPrimal]

I get this one asked a LOT. It just took me this long to finally get to it!

[@retroradiationkingofvideog8526]

I think they can fly in gen 1 is that they became too much dependent on skyfire,Omega Supreme, and sky lynx to transport them too different places.however when they don’t have them they can use water skis to travel on water ( they appear in the ultimate doom part 1, and city of steel) Or they are trying to reserve power for just in occasions.let me explain every time when the autobots use the ability to flight (excluding more then meets the eye ) the Decepticons always get counterattacked when the autobots use the ability. so this could imply that they use it when the Decepticons won’t suspect it happening because they suspect autobots who has an alternate mode that can fly such as the Aerialbots,powerglide, and tracks (can fly in alternate mode apparently) so when the Decepticons drop there guards then the autobots will take the opportunity and take them down

[@luedog]

i noticed that you forgot the episode attack of the autobots when optimus prime and ratchet flew out of the crater that rumble had made

[@RodimusPrimal]

True. But I think my solution might be applied there too.

[@NemesisHero123]

My answer: "Don't worry about it..."

[@MayanPudding]

i'm gonna say it's just an animation error. pretend they had jetpacks

[@codekhalil6437]

Once again, you cover the topics the true Transformer fans want to talk about. Thank you oh Primal one. p.s - great editing with the old clips here.

[@RodimusPrimal]

Thanks!

[@ziobarion2262]

I say that the autobots can fly just because.

[@Kryojenix]

Well, _More Than Meets the Eye_ is really where it starts. I think superheroes were just expected to be able to fly in that era, for fear of otherwise being kind of lame. In my mind, I had this kind of technological trade-off in mind where Decepticons could only function for a few hours before needing to sit in a charger, whereas Autobots had much better battery life - as long as they weren't flying around all the time...

[@DominusTecum316]

As always very well researched articles, manuals, videos, comic books, etc. went into creating the video. As always RodimusPrimal, Mrs. RodimusPrimal, and RodimusPrimal Jr. doing a lot for us the fans to enjoy. Thanks alot and God bless.

[@RodimusPrimal]

Thank you so much!

[@Slyarno2795]

I was wondering when I was younger Could they ever fly and than I fought no they can't fly if they need jetpacks or need rockets like Sideswipe and Sunstreaker so for the Autobots they don't need to fly only those who need too. P.s no wonder why the animators can't handle animation error only to screw up on the show and becoming jokes on the internet.

[@RodimusPrimal]

It was difficult to correct mistakes with such a short time to make each episode.

[@Slyarno2795]

RodimusPrimal Tbh The episodes feel a bit rush I think because they couldn't go through the problems in time for the episode aired

[@stephaniemckeever7092]

RodimusPrimal cool video but do you realise you said about the autobot toys being from the diaclone and microman lines....there were NO vechiles from the microman line...they all transformed into 1 to 1 scale objects and NOT toy vechiles...sorry for the nitpick.

[@rodimusunicronus2089]

Slyarno. Rj atleast we all have a great laugh in these error and kinda show the development of animation in tf when compare to the original and current series like prime, animated, rid... Etc

[@polskillz]

2:28 That's just awesome, Soundwave is a flying radio

[@nytrodralyg5268]

6:02 what the heck? Spider-Man?

[@RodimusPrimal]

Yes that is. Initially, the G1 comics were part of the Marvel 616 universe. I actually covered that in a video last year.

[@ratbat1072]

It was a crossover

[@Grillenheimer]

Issue 3 of a 4 issue limited series if I remember correctly. 😜

[@nicholasdickens2801]

To paraphrase a great scientist; There aren’t always roads where they’re going? It’s plot expediency? It’s cool? Whatever way, great video :)

[@COREcasual]

beast wars is the worst thing ever made.

[@MatthewCobalt]

CasualSpooner Visually, yes. In story and plot, no where near as Energon. edit: I'm adding the Micheal Bay movies as well.

[@zilvertron]

CasualSpooner have you SEEN beast wars? Yes, first season might feel abit boring but i assure you, 2nd and 3rd is way better when they start to understand their own premise. Transformers energon on the other hand....

[@MatthewCobalt]

zilvertron Yeah, it was just confusing to literally everyone. Is it a new series or a continuation of Armada?

[@seatspud]

drcoxyourewrongsong.wav

[@thedude9941]

CasualSpooner Why?

[@TheCyberAlianMonkey]

possible answer is that, all transformers have the fly capability developed and built-in since the war on cybertron. The differences btw autobots and decepticons are the energy efficiency in flight mode and some other related capabilities (e.g., flight speed/distances, flight fights, etc). When the fly capable alternative modes are adopted, the internal engines route the energy through the flight modules by default while the non-fly capability alternative modes are selected, the engines skip the energy routines through out the flight modules by default. The transformers could push the energy routines through the flight modules which grants them temporarily flight capabilities.

[@byrondeleon3231]

Hey rodimus you forgot to mention that prowl in the transformers animated series could fly with booster and later with a sidecar

[@serveaux]

Red bull brand energon cube gives you wings?

[@Darthyen]

I suggested this theory before for some other "oddities" about the transformers G1 series and to me this makes the most sense. I believe that all transformers have abilities to do a lot of different things, like flying or changing their size BUT the amount of energy (or energon) varies depending on the Transformers model and transformation. For example it takes an extreme amount of energy for a non flying alt mode Autobot to fly vs a Decepticon however Autobots seem to have better reserves and an ability to "power up/ super mode" better than Decepticons. Also the changing of size for Soundwave, Reflector, Magatron and Blaster seem to be easier and burn less energy then it does for some of the combiners to grow beyond their initial combining mode. Like how Devastator was bigger in some episodes vs others. It appears he was a lot smaller when beaten versus when he was dominating and appeared very large compared to other transformers.If you watch G1 again with this "idea/concept" it seems to make some sense for the most part .......except when the animators screw up and make even this theory impossible.

[@chrisvellner3922]

2:00 Due to a Letterist error, causing a colorist error, on this Marvel Comics page, ironically predicted the Lambo brothers Sunstreaker and Sideswipe would be mouldmates in the Generations toyline. I immediately thought of this panel when I first saw the two Lamborghini Autobots back in 2007-ish.(They found a way to fix it) But you can plainly see that Sunstreaker is just a yellow Sideswipe in the comic. The two G1 toys were completely different. Did anyone else notice that back in 1984?

[@erichmizuki5189]

The initial episodes the autobots had jetpack but were much compact and had the ability to blend in with their robot form. Thats why you cant see it. but it takes alot of energon and need specific fuel like cybertronium which is rare and they had to manufacture earthlike jetpacks later in the season but not as reliable as their cybertron jetpacks. The decepticons all had built in reason why they need more energon compared to autobots. The technobots had evolved to same physiology as decepticons when they were created.

[@mitchduros]

Great video! Very well put together!

[@dcspidey1218]

Decepticons: you can fly?! Autobots: no, jump good

[@AlbertLara]

I like how many people are doing mental acrobatics to explain why some robots could fly and other robots couldn’t in a 1980s cartoon series which was a glorified commercial to sell toys.

[@dutch_asocialite]

I once remember hearing somewhere that Autobots can, in fact, fly but choose not to very often because it's incredibly fuel intensive. The Decepticons can afford it because they don't care about pillaging fuel whereas the Autobots are too benevolent for that and so only fly in extreme circumstances; thus, the pilot episodes can be explained away by the fact the Autobots are in unfamiliar territory and need to fly to get to places quickly, and Optimus asks Sideswipe for his rocket pack because he's either out of fuel or needs more power to catch up to the Decepticons, especially since he himself tries to dissuade Ironhide from puruist by saying, "they're faster than us in the air," or something like that. It may also explain the whole "Autobots can't fly" meme as a taunt at their inferior flying ability, unless I'm forgetting a time when an Autobot said it.

[@lady1venus]

I've always suspected that when each Autobot, during the pilot, was damaged, they lost their ability to fly and then only could fly through use of jetpacks.

[@dtester]

Mostly production skrew ups....but I can buy that newer Autobots could fly being newer models like the Dinobots and Techno bots which where built by a genius Grimlock. It would make sense to include that ability in new gen Autobots.