Editing TIE fighter (section)

== Analysis ==
In 2018, a number of ''Star Wars'' starfighters had their aerodynamic abilities tested using the [[Autodesk]] Flow Design virtual [[wind tunnel]] program.  Of those studied, the TIE Fighter scored the worst with a [[drag coefficient]] of .98, which is only slightly better than a brick.  Of the other TIE variants tested, the TIE interceptor was slightly better with a coefficient of .78, while the TIE Striker had the best at .48, though this did not compare favorably to the .02 drag coefficient of an [[F-4E Phantom]].  These poor results were rationalized with the in-universe explanations that drag coefficient plays no role in space travel, and that ''Star Wars'' fighters can use [[repulsorlift]]s and [[Technology in Star Wars#Force fields|deflector shields]] to give themselves better flight profiles.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pockross|first=Adam|title=Testing the Aerodynamics of Star Wars Ships in a Virtual Wind Tunnel|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/testing-aerodynamics-star-wars-ships-virtual-wind-tunnel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620025609/http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/testing-aerodynamics-star-wars-ships-virtual-wind-tunnel|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 20, 2018|website=SyFy Wire|date=June 19, 2018|access-date=September 9, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Limer|first=Eric|title=Which Star Wars Ships Have the Best (and Worst) Aerodynamics?|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/movies/a21615163/star-wars-ships-aerodynamics/|website=Popular Mechanics|date=June 19, 2018|access-date=September 9, 2020}}</ref>

Kenneth Wong of the [[online magazine]] ''Digital Engineering'' enlisted several [[computational fluid dynamics]] experts to model the aerodynamics of the TIE Fighter and offer suggestions to redesign it.  While their models found the design could fly in an Earth-like atmosphere, excessive drag and lack of lift would require lots of thrust to keep it airborne and to maneuver.  Their models also found the exposed mechanical features on the fuselage and solar panels created turbulent flows, which ideally should be covered with a smooth skin.  Among their other suggestions to improve it were replacing the cockpit's spherical shape with a teardrop design, making the solar panels' leading edges smoother and more streamline, and incorporating [[vortex generator]]s to keep the airflow attached to the surface. <ref>{{cite web|last=Wong|first=Kenneth|title=How Would You Redesign the Star Wars TIE Fighter?
|url=https://www.digitalengineering247.com/article/how-would-you-redesign-the-star-wars-tie-fighter|website=Digital Engineering|date=29 September 2022|access-date=14 May 2025}}</ref>