The Royal Talon Fighter is a Wakandan aircraft.
History[]
Murder of N'Jobu[]
T'Chaka departs in the Royal Talon Fighter
In 1992, King T'Chaka traveled in the Royal Talon Fighter to visit his brother, Prince N'Jobu, at his apartment in Oakland, California. T'Chaka intended to arrest the prince for aiding Ulysses Klaue's theft of Vibranium. However, when N'Jobu attempted to kill the War Dog Zuri for exposing and betraying him, T'Chaka killed the prince, but left his body in Oakland to sell the lie that the prince disappeared. Across the street, N'Jobu's son, Erik, witnessed the Royal Talon Fighter flying away from the apartment before discovering his father's body inside.[1]
Incoronation of T'Challa[]
T'Challa uses the Royal Talon Fighter
In the weeks following the death of his father at the bombing in 2016, T'Challa and Okoye used the Royal Talon Fighter to travel to the Sambisa Forest to extract Nakia from a convoy of traffickers. Arming himself with several EMP Beads, T'Challa jumped from the Fighter and disabled the convoy's vehicles before landing, where he took down the traffickers before explaining his father's death to Nakia. As they flew back to the Golden City, Okoye piloted the Fighter while Nakia consoled T'Challa until they arrived at the city's center. Later that evening, T'Challa was transported in the Fighter to Warrior Falls to face the Wakandan Tribes' challengers for the title of King of Wakanda.[1]
Arrest of Ulysses Klaue[]
T'Challa inside of the Royal Talon Fighter
T'Challa, Okoye and Nakia took the Royal Talon Fighter to Busan, South Korea in a mission to arrest Ulysses Klaue, one of Wakanda's greatest enemies for his role in stealing Vibranium years earlier. The mission ultimately failed, and the Wakandans returned home with Everett Ross, a CIA operative who was shot in the spine, in the Royal Talon Fighter.[1]
Battle of Mount Bashenga[]
Everett Ross remotely controls the Royal Talon Fighter
During the Battle of Mount Bashenga, Shuri planted a Remote Access Kimoyo Bead on the Royal Talon Flyer so that Ross, who remained in Shuri's Lab, could remotely control the aircraft and chase two ships carrying Vibranium weapons sent by Erik Killmonger and escorted by Dragon Flyers. Ross successfully took down the first two ships, which caught the attention of the Dragon Flyers. Despite being attacked both with damages caused directly on the ship and with one Dragon Flyer attacking the lab from which Ross controlled the Royal Talon Fighter, Ross was able to take down the two Dragon Flyers restraining the Royal Talon Fighter by using the aircraft's sonic overload. He then flew the Royal Talon Fighter right into the last transport ship, destroying both aircrafts.[1]
Journey to Oakland[]
Shuri showing the Royal Talon Fighter to boys
Another Royal Talon Fighter was built and taken by both T'Challa and Shuri to go to Oakland, California where T'Challa planned on building the first Wakandan International Outreach Centre. Before they departed from Oakland, T'Challa deactivated the ship's cloaking while it was landed, revealing to the eyes of nearby children who expressed their amazement after seeing the advanced aircraft.[1]
Battle of Earth[]
Royal Talon Fighters used in the battle
In 2023, Wakandan warriors flew Royal Talon Fighters during the battle against an alternate Thanos and his alien army at the ruins of the Avengers Compound.[2]
Arresting Helmut Zemo[]
Helmut Zemo is transported to the Raft
In 2024, Ayo, Nomble and Yama flew a Royal Talon Fighter to Sokovia where they arrested Helmut Zemo at the Sokovian Memorial and took him to the Raft.[3]
Alternate Universe Versions[]
Owned by Collector[]
In an alternate universe, the Collector stole a Royal Talon Fighter and put in his museum on Knowhere. When T'Challa found it, he explored it and found mannequins of Dora Milaje inside and an old message from his father telling him that he was missed. Later, T'Challa, Yondu Udonta, and Cosmo used the fighter to escape Knowhere and meet up with the rest of the Ravagers on the Mandela.[4]
Design and Capabilities[]
The Royal Talon Fighter is an advanced aircraft with a triangular shape with round angles. The aircraft is capable to fly at high velocities. It also features a cloaking technology rendering it invisible to the naked eye. Moreover, the Royal Talon Fighter is extremely resistant, with the hull being able to withstand shots from Dragon Flyers.
The Royal Talon Fighter is equipped with several weapons, including dual cannons and the ability to unleash a sonic overload powerful enough to destroy nearby aircrafts. However, this particular weapon triggers the reboot of the flight systems, causing the aircraft to be uncontrolled and free falling for a few seconds.
Like other Wakandan vehicles, the Royal Talon Fighter can be remotely piloted using Remote Access Kimoyo Beads.
Alternate Versions[]
| Origin | Status | Builder | Owners | Users | Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravager T'Challa | Active | - | Wakandans Taneleer Tivan (formerly) |
Dora Milaje T'Challa |
Yondu Udonta Cosmo |
| Black Panther: The Junior Novel | Active | Wakandan Design Group | Tribal Council | - | - |
Appearances[]
In chronological order:
Black Panther (flashbacks)- What If...? | Episode 1.02: What If... T'Challa Became a Star-Lord (alternate universe)
- Black Panther: The Junior Novel (alternate universe)
- Black Panther
- Avengers: Endgame
- The Falcon and The Winter Soldier | Episode 1.05: Truth
- She-Hulk: Attorney at Law | Episode 1.09: Whose Show is This? (footage)
- Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
