The Energon Pub

Hi guys,

It's been a very long time since I've watched any Transformers cartoons and somehow along the way I've always had the impression that Autobots can't fly (I'm talking about those whose alt modes aren't some sort of flying machine obviously, like Powerglide or Cosmos).

However I'm rewatching some very old episodes and in Season 1 Episode 2, Bluestreak and Ironhide actually do, Superman style, after Thundercracker and Skywarp!

So what's the deal here? Any definitive answer: can Autobots actually fly or not?

Some of them can... I think... I don't know...

Ignore those few first episodes where it shows them flying. It has been determined as an initial pilot episode idea, but dismissed from being canon.

Basically, In G1 anyone with a plane for an alt mode could also fly in robot mode. On top of that most guns could fly in both modes too, so they could at least move themselves around a bit. Soundwave could fly too, don't know why.

The Autobots, as none of them are guns & few are planes (save Skyfire & others), generally cannot fly, but as I said, those with gun or plane alt modes can.

Thanks guys! I was thrown off because it was Ironhide and Bluestreak. Especially Ironhide, which I would have voted least likely to be able to fly!

Predaprince, I hope that if the first episodes have stuff that isn't cannon, that doesn't mean that things like Energon weapons like the axe, the morning star, or the ability to change robot hands for tools are also not canon.

Oh wait... just right this moment watching episode 3 Prime asks Sideswipe for his rocket pack. So maybe some have this rocket pack and others don't.

My Magic 8 Ball says yes.

Don't worry about it too much. Their ability to fly just changed with the whims of the writers. Sometimes they could fly, sometimes they couldn't. They sometimes contradicted themselves within episodes. For example, in "A Plage of Insecticons" the Autobots state to Skyfire that they won't be able to help him from the ground. About 5 minutes later, Wheeljack decides Skyfire needs help and flies into the air to assist him in fighting off the Insecticons.

Some can fly some can... SURF!

i remember an epidose where sunstreaker and sideswipe fly too..

Sure they can all fly. But there are certain requirements, for example Ironhide can only fly when he's really pissed at the Decepticons. Whereas Bluestreak can only fly when he's really worried about Ironhide.

Ironhide can fly.


Cos he don't play by no rules


No, unless they have a flying alt mode, the bots can't fly.

Excluding also one's with jetpacks, like Sideswipe.

What everyone said before is correct.

In the "Pilot" episodes(first ones animated to sell the show) all bots could fly. However, either Hasbro of someone else said that if everyone can fly, why don't the always chase down and finish off the . So all subsquent eps have the grounded.

I always took it as the can fly/jump in low altitudes, but sustained flight is only for the .

Bonecrusher27 wrote:Thanks guys! I was thrown off because it was Ironhide and Bluestreak. Especially Ironhide, which I would have voted least likely to be able to fly!

Predaprince, I hope that if the first episodes have stuff that isn't cannon, that doesn't mean that things like Energon weapons like the axe, the morning star, or the ability to change robot hands for tools are also not canon.

Oh wait... just right this moment watching episode 3 Prime asks Sideswipe for his rocket pack. So maybe some have this rocket pack and others don't.

My statement was on the idea of that all TFs can fly not on all that is seen in the first three episodes.

Well you see, what happened was, Megatron killed the Autobots' pixie. So afterwards, no matter how many happy thoughts the Autobots had, they just couldn't fly any more.

JazZeke wrote:Well you see, what happened was, Megatron killed the Autobots' pixie. So afterwards, no matter how many happy thoughts the Autobots had, they just couldn't fly any more.

Awwwww, poor Tinkertron...

Justicity wrote:

JazZeke wrote:Well you see, what happened was, Megatron killed the Autobots' pixie. So afterwards, no matter how many happy thoughts the Autobots had, they just couldn't fly any more.

Awwwww, poor Tinkertron...

autobots cant fly, as stated by Galvertron in the season 3 ep return of optimus prime. the exception to this is bots with flying alts. the rest can only fly when aided by jet/rocket packs

I would say that they can fly but their speed is limited to a slow running pase and that would be a liability in a fight.

It's really just inconsistent. It's not like the G1 cartoon is known for it's rock-solid continuity. Yeah, they flew in the 3-part pilot which isn't totally canon. But Wheeljack flies in "A Plague of Insecticons," Sideswipe flies in "City of Steel," etc.

Maybe Autobots can fly, but don't for two reasons:

1. They suck at it.
2. They don't like doing it.

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:I would say that they can fly but their speed is limited to a slow running pase and that would be a liability in a fight.

Your statement makes sense and causes me to change my opinion on this matter.

All or most Autobots can fly, but few can do it in such an efficient matter that they do it (i.e. those who have alt. modes with flight and others with flight accessories such as Sideswipe's rocket pack).

Early on in the cartoons all the Transformers could fly in Robot mode. It was later decided that if they could both fly when the Decepticons retreated there wasn't anything stopping the Autobots from chasing them. So only a few Autobots were given the ability to fly. Amoung them the Dinobots, Sideswipe (with his jetpack), and anyone else when it was deemed convient for the story. Ironically the Aerialbots can't fly in robot mode. As proven by Silverbolt nearly falling to his death in Key to Vector Sigma part 2.

In the comic books flight in robot mode was a rariety for both sides. The Seekers couldn't for some reason. None of the bots could except for a few. Hell Megatron and Soundwave had to be toted around in the canopies of the Seekers or inside a ground based vehicle to travel faster!

Predaprince wrote:

sto_vo_kor_2000 wrote:I would say that they can fly but their speed is limited to a slow running pase and that would be a liability in a fight.

Your statement makes sense and causes me to change my opinion on this matter.

All or most Autobots can fly, but few can do it in such an efficient matter that they do it (i.e. those who have alt. modes with flight and others with flight accessories such as Sideswipe's rocket pack).

I'm glad I've opened 1 mind out there

Goribus wrote:As proven by Silverbolt nearly falling to his death in Key to Vector Sigma part 2.

Nope, he was falling due to his initial fear of great heights that he later overcame.

Goribus wrote:Ironically the Aerialbots can't fly in robot mode. As proven by Silverbolt nearly falling to his death in Key to Vector Sigma part 2.

Sure they could and it was seen on many ocations.Silverbolts problem was that he was afarid of hights.Thats why Optimes Prime made him leader.so he would have somthing else to worry about other then his fear.