i have a question about "return of the jedi"

[datasuspect]

if the rebel alliance contains the remnants of the republic (and one would assume their funding sources) and they maintain a whole starfleet, how can han solo seriously make the claim that the millenium falcon is the fastest ship in the fleet?

i know, i know, he made the kessel run in a ridiculously short amount of parsecs, but the fastest ship?

bragadoccio?

[taterguy]

1. His ship goes faster than other ships

Hence the claim that it's the fastest ship

[datasuspect]

5. do you think han and chewie get lonely out there in space

do you like gladiator movies?

[taterguy]

6. At this point, we don't know

[Radical Activist]

8. lol

what are you suggesting here?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. illegal and dangerous modifications.

Millenium Falcon = George Lucas's nostalgia for his hot rod days.

[Aristus]

9. Keep in mind, the Empire is a totalitarian state.

It makes sense that they would regulate the sale, installation and maintenance of hyperdrive engines. Just so no ship, especially a smuggling ship) could be faster than the Imperial Fleet.

Han Solo, already an outlaw, wouldn't balk at illegal modifications to the Falcon.

[datasuspect]

14. list of star wars corporations

not all are under imperial control

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreiTek%2C_Inc

[Richardo]

3. I would not believe anyone who uses parsecs as a unit of time.

:eyes:

[Dukkha]

11. the parsec distance is correct in the race

There has been much speculation regarding the Kessel Run comment. On his audio commentary of A New Hope, George Lucas finally commented on the oft discussed misinterpretation. Lucas explained that, in the Star Wars universe, traveling any distance through hyperspace requires careful navigation to avoid stars, planets, asteroids or any such obstacles. Since no long-distance journey can be made in a straight line, the "fastest" ship is the ship that can plot the most direct course through space, thereby traveling the least distance. This depends on the skill of the navigator and the sophistication of the ship's navigational computer.


So winning the Kessel Run is attributed to Han Solo's navigational skills not the speed of the ship. So one could not make the claim of the Millennium Falcon being the "fastest ship" based on the Kessel Run.

So the correct answer to the OP is...it's just a movie dammit! :P

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

22. I heard something interestering re: the Kessel run.

This might be part of the "expanded" universe, so I'm not quite sure it's canon. But it completely makes sense based on your comment above.
The Kessel Run is inhabited by a large number of black holes, and thus, navigating the run would rely on how fast your ship is because you have to cut around various gravity wells, thus adding distance to your trip. If you have a faster ship, you can get closer to the black holes on the run, thus shortening your trip. Thus, the Falcon could make the trip in under 3 parsecs because it's so damn fast, it can skip right near the event horizon of the black holes on the run, whereas other slower ships would have to plot a longer course around the black holes so as not to be sucked in (and then end up in a crappy Disney movie with Anthony Hopkins).

[Cobalt-60]

16. that did kind of snag didn't it

parsecs is distance.
If only he had said "3 parsecs in an hour".
But I've learned over the decades that I have to tolerate rickety science to get any science fiction on the screen.
Take two viewings of Destination Moon and PM me in th morning.

[Cobalt-60]

18. It could be fastest.

OFC I don't have the Imperial Naval Architect's book in front of me.
But if speed is proportional to engine power and engine power is proportional to engine size,
it is reasonable to guess that the Falcon has most of its hold filled with extra hyperdrive motor.
Think of a small automobile with a very large engine.

Forgive the mis placement everyone, I didn't mean to reply to myself.
I plead intoxication.

[idgiehkt]

4. it runs on nitro?

:shrug:

[jobycom]

7. Exactly the same way the Black Pearl is the fastest ship in the Caribbean?

:shrug:

[RedStateShame]

10. Um, Han Solo's a bad-ass, duh?

[unpossibles]

12. Because Chewie and R2D2 - the real owners of the Falcon

are also some of the highest ranking rebels.

damn revisionist history.

[RedStateShame]

13. Legally speaking, isn't Lando Calirissean(sp) still the owner of the Falcon?

[datasuspect]

15. han won it fair and square

i think that's why lando did the double cross thing.

[unpossibles]

19. well, according to Episode III: The Apology

didn't the Falcon show up as some Senator's ship? And wasn't Chewie a big time general or something?

I think the Lando/Han thing is a front for Chewies undercover status. Or something. Damn it. The recent three movies just confused the whole thing.

[datasuspect]

20. han actually started out in the imperial navy

he did about five years of service as a TIE fighter pilot. he was awarded the "Corellian Bloodstripes" (the only honor not taken from him during his court-martial).

he was booted from service when he refused to skin chewbacca upon orders from an imperial officer.

[Javaman]

21. How do the storm troopers go to the bathroom in those outfits?

it's like trying to use the lue in a suit of armor!

[LynneSin]

17. It's like a man saying he has the biggest cock

You know he hasn't compared it to every one else in the world who has a cock but he just feels like bragging anyways because perhaps at one time he saw someone elses and his was actually bigger