ESB: What's the deal with Luke's X-wing?

I haven't seen this topic discussed before so y'all bare with me on this one.

I watched ESB last evening and wondered where in the heck did Luke get a ladder for his X-wing when he was packing up to leave Dagobah? And, what did he do with it when he left?

Did I miss something or what?

Thanks

 

Not only the ladder, but i also wanna know how Artoo got back into his space in the back when he was in Degobah and Tatooine? Cos in ANH and the start of ESB he had to have a lot of help from a rigging and other people just to get him in!

 

The second one's actually a lot easier to explain -- Luke lifted him in with the Force.

But the ladder is a classic glitch, with no good explanation that I know of.

 

Maybe R2 used his plasma rockets and hovered himself into his slot.

 

The ladder probably retracts into the hull.

 

That's what I always assumed, that Luke simply used the Force to lift R2 back into his socket.

As for the ladder, just a standard blooper. Though I guess you could say Luke used the Force to quickly stow it back in the X-wing's cargo hold after he'd climbed up inside.

 

Nah, the ladder came from Yoda's mud shed (you know, the one behind his mud hut). He just put it back after Luke left.

I'd imagine there was a line about it, but it was probably cut from the film as it detracted from the "No, there is another" line and Luke rushing off to Cloud City.

 

I figure it's collapsible and then get easily be stored somewhere.

 

He used the ladder cuz the escalator wasnt working.

 

Ladder might have been stored in the cargo hold if not attached to the hull.

I think a scene with Artoo using his jets would be good so we can see that he still has those.

Luke using the Force would work out since he lifted Artoo on Dagobah. I would prefer this one.

 

Thats a good point about Luke using the force, but he was in such a hurry to get to Bespin im not so sure he woulda or even coulda stood there and conentratd enough to get artoo exactly into the little space, seeing as he was worrying about Han and Leia.

So, that only leaves the rockets, which poses the question, why does it take all the rigging and man power to get him into the ship on Yavin and Hoth, if he can just fly into it?

 

Well, when we see R2 get out after Luke crash lands, it's obvious there's some kind of little lift platform in the base of the socket. So perhaps Luke concentrated enough to get R2 up onto the hull, then R2 could have simply rolled onto the platform and then lowered himself into the socket.

why does it take all the rigging and man power to get him into the ship on Yavin and Hoth, if he can just fly into it?

Probably because back in 1977/80, Lucas didn't think to have R2 have them. Personally, I thought seeing R2 flying around in AOTC was one of the movies funniest (funny as in stupid) moments.

 

Hey folks, I appreciate y'alls feed back on my question.

 

There's always the possibility that R2's rockets don't work (or ran out of fuel) on Dagobah.

And if Luke couldn't lift his droid up there, don't forget he's in the company of a Jedi Master.

 

I too am in the camp that thinks that X-wings probably come with a ladder -- sort of something ya just need to have with every ship.

Either that, or maybe there's a Force power we don't know of -- "Create ladder". That'd be fun for the computer games. You could fling ladders at people and stuff. Yeah.


Rick McCallum loves you!

 

X-wings have to come with a ladder. If the pilot gets stranded somewhere without a support crew, the X-wing has to be as self-sufficient as possible.

 

those of you who are saying the ladder colapses and goes into the cargo bay are wrong
the cargo bay is on the bottom, and if luke was lazy enough to need a latter he would need to climb down anyway, so lukes need for a ladder would defeat his laziness

 

So, that only leaves the rockets, which poses the question, why does it take all the rigging and man power to get him into the ship on Yavin and Hoth, if he can just fly into it?
Probably because it's less risky and prevents wear and tear on the X-wing, as the use of the boosters could char the paint. It also conserves R2's fuel.

 

The ladder is a classic glitch, but R2 got to the top of the X-Wing using his handy dandy rocket boosters that proved very useful in AOTC. The ladder may have been big enough to fit into the cargo hold at the base of the X-Wing.

 

This is what the sticky has to say:

There hasn't yet been a source that published that's supplied a "real" answer. This response is just a stab at possible solutions and not meant to settle any arguments. Anyway, no technical manuals point to an X-wing having a retractable ladder, so that's out. Incom representatives no doubt strongly suggest that you land you X-wing only at well stocked facilities that provide you with prompt and courteous ladder-service.

But what if you land on some forsaken planet like Dagobah? X-Wing fighters have cargo holds in their bellies that can hold 110 kilograms worth of supplies--you can see it in Empire. A pilot can access the hold by removing a section of the pilot's seat--presumably, that's how Luke got all those boxes and gear out of his ship when it was still in the Dagobah lagoon.

So, that ladder is usually kept in there for pilots who must put down in remote locations, though getting it out of the hold and draping on the side of a fighter must be awkward, unless it's hinged or something.

The odd part about Empire is that Luke never removes his ladder. Hopefully that was his intent, and the ladder is designed to fall off and litter the Dagobah countryside. Otherwise we're left with the conclusion that Luke did the Star Wars equivelant of driving away with his coffee cup still on the roof of his car.

 

I could have sworn that the ladder was attached to the hull, and just fliped aound vertically and horizantally... And no, Artoo didn't use the rockets, alas, I must explain yet again. Artoo does not use the rockets in the OT because of the twenty year warenty they have, by the time of the OT, artoo burnt them out... Though, I doubt it'd be so hard to get him up there, rope and some muscle power...

 

They should just add a quick shot of the ladder coming out and extending down. Thats only my opinion though. As for R2, if a shot could be added, fine, if not, ok.

 

I don't understand why some people have to have every little detail explained. It only seems to be affect Star Wars movies.

I mean, if I'm watching a movie, and a car pulls up to a building, and then it cuts to a scene where the driver is walking up to the building, I don't go "Hey, how did he get out of the car??? It never showed how he got out of the car?? Did he climb out the window? Go through the trunk? Plot hole!!!"

Seriously, there are some people who are gonna freak if Episode 3 doens't show Anakin getting a trophy for "Best Starfighter Pilot in the Galaxy", and show Boba Fett disentigrating 11 people. Imaginations, people.

 

I still say it's Yoda's ladder. Just because he's a hermit and all doesn't mean he can't have one - he's got pots, after all.