Growing up a ‘Latch-Key Kid’ in Orlando, FL, my brothers and I spent a great deal of time watching TV.
And, not unlike many other kids our age, we watched a lot and I mean A LOT of TV. One of the my
all-time favorite cartoons was G-Force or as it is known in Japan, Gatchaman. Of
course, none of us here had ever heard of Gatchaman growing up, we only knew it
as G-Force or Battle of the Planets.
The picture above is ‘borrowed’ from a great website featuring the Gatchaman or G-Force called Veronika’s Gatchaman Page can be found at http://www.gatchaman.com/. When I first began mining the web for G-Force sites, this was one of the first I encountered.
Before there was…Pokemon, Power Rangers or Ninja Turtles, there was…BATTLE OF THE PLANETS!
If you’re interested in buying some Gatchaman
Merchandise, this a place to see some of what’s out there.
Another really cool Gatchaman site is the design of Total Image Specialists in Columbus, Ohio. Be sure to check out the graphic intensive version, it’s worth looking at because they’ve done an outstanding
job.
Don’t forget to check out Gatchaman: Home of the White Shadow, this is an extensive site with great graphics and here are some excerpts and pics from it:
Type:
The Godphoenix (Hovercraft)
Chief Weapon:
Bird Missiles (approx. 20), Super Bird Missiles (2), Kagaku Ninpo Hinotori (otherwise known as the “Fiery Phoenix”).
These weapons can only be used when G-1 through G-4 are aboard.
Top Speed:
(G-5 Only) 80 knots above water, 40 knots under water; When assembled, top airspeed is Mach 5
Operational Ceiling:
30,000 meters (90,000 feet)*; underwater depth of 2,000 meters (6,000 feet); heat tolerance limit 3,000
degrees (Centigrade?)
Notes:The Godphoenix is the only vehicle that doesn’t have an alternate disguise. It is hidden in an underwater hangar beneath
Ryu’s marina or on base when not in use. Its only handicap is that all five vehicles must be aboard before the ship can use its weapons or perform at top capacity. The only exception to the rule is the Kagaku Ninpo Hinotori Kage Bunshin in which the firebird is powered up, then all five vehicles split into individual firebirds for a short period of time.
The exact mechanics of the firebird transformation aren’t clear, but evidently take place when special generators are pushed to the “Red Zone.” It’s possible that the four smaller vehicles are used as poles to effect a dimensional shift.
Powered by jet engines above water, and electric engines underwater (jet intakes close for underwater
travel). The main cargo area can carry approximately 200 people (episode #42)
* Some sources state that the operational ceiling of the Godphoenix is 90,000 feet; however, in Gatchaman #9,
“Demon from the Moon,” the Godphoenix traveled into space to intercept the enemy mech. This is the only instance where the ship did not appear to have an operational limit.
Type:
Jet fighter
Chief Weapon:
Twin laser cannon
Top Speed:
Mach 4
Operational Ceiling:
90,000 feet (30,000 meters)
Located:
Within tail section of the Godphoenix
Disguised As:
Single-engine racing plane
Notes:
G-1, as well as the other machines, is made of a special plastic composite that alters shape at a special frequency (3,600 mhz)–the same frequency that causes the Kagaku Ninjatai to “transmute” from civilian style to “Bird-Style.”
According to several sources, G-1 has a top underwater speed of 50 knots and switches to special electric motors for underwater travel. However, I don’t recall any instances where the plane was flown underwater.
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Disclaimer:
Everything dealing with Gatchaman belongs to Tatsunoko.
This is a page for fans by a fan and does not intend to infringe on any copyrights.
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