I-7 Howlrunner
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Production information

Manufacturer	Incom Corporation
Model		I-7 Howlrunner
Class		Starfighter

Technical specifications

Length				11.4 meters
Width				7.8 meters
Height/depth			2.3 meters
Maximum acceleration		4,100 G
Maximum speed (atmosphere)	1,300 km/h
Hyperdrive system		Optional
Power plant			* Main power generator (1)
				* Independent laser power generator (1) 

Shielding			Equipped
Armament			Laser cannons (2)
Crew				Pilot (1)
Cargo capacity			80 kilograms
Consumables			2 days

Usage

Role(s)	

    * Multi-environment attack fighter
    * Defense
    * Scout/shuttle (with optional hyperdrive) 

Era(s)	

    * Rebellion era
    * New Republic era
    * New Jedi Order era 

Affiliation	

    * Galactic Empire
    * Imperial Remnant
    * Wild Knights
    * Five Worlds 

"As I sat watching the howlrunners, the walls of the safari dome seemed to melt away. 
For a brief moment, I was part of the pack, hunting and howling with these magnificent predators. I have spent the rest of my life trying to recapture that feeling, from the cockpit of a starfighter." 
?Excerpt from The Anthropology of Engineering by Jo Ewsli 

The I-7 Howlrunner was a short range attack starfighter originally employed by a dissident 
Imperial faction during the Galactic Civil War.

Contents

* 1 Characteristics
* 2 History
* 3 Appearances
* 4 Sources

Characteristics

The Howlrunner was constructed around an aerodynamic fixed-wing structure. Two fins jutted 
out of the sides of the craft, meant to function as rudimentary maneuvering flaps. In 
spite of the rather simplistic design (or perhaps because of it), the Howlrunner was 
superior in both space and atmosphere alike. Around 10 ABY, they cost 165,000 credits.

The controls had a small learning curve, ensuring that nearly any pilot with basic skills 
could control the craft—although only the most experienced could discover the true power 
of this starfighter. While the Howlrunner was faster than the Rebel T-65 X-wing starfighter
 or BTL Y-wing starfighter, it was woefully outpaced by some of the newer, more advanced 
ships, like the E-wing escort starfighter and the TIE/In starfighter.

The Howlrunner had a distinct advantage over the Empire's TIEs in that it possessed on 
onboard deflector shield generator. This protection, coupled with the starfighter's tiny 
proflie and low mass, made the Howlrunner a hard ship to destroy. However, the craft was 
not meant for long space battles or pitched one-on-one combat.

The pitifully weak twin laser cannons and pathetic targeting system (which was riddled 
with blind spots) made most attempts at dogfighting fruitless. In order to offset this 
weakness, the Empire hurled large amounts of Howlrunners at an enemy all at once, hoping 
that the sheer volume of fire would be too much for their targets.

History

The I-7 Howlrunner was originally conceived of and designed by starfighter engineer Jo 
Ewsli. After receiving an epiphany during a viewing of a pack of howlrunners, dangerous 
omnivores from the planet Kamar, Ewsli set out to create a spacecraft that emulated their 
unique predatory instincts. The creatures attacked in tight packs and were unyielding in 
their pursuit of prey, two abilities that Ewsli thought could be incorporated into a 
squadron with the right ships. In this vein, Ewsli unveiled a starfighter that, like its 
beastly namesake, had superb agility and unparalleled speed.

The Howlrunner was the first starfighter designed and mass produced by Incom Corporation 
after the fiasco that the X-wing became. The main point of building the Howlrunner in the 
first place was an attempt to divert attention from the company's failure to stop the 
abduction of the X-wing's schematics.

Although it was only a mediocre fighter at best, the Howlrunner was often seen at remote 
Imperial bases where its blinding speed allowed for rapid reconnaissance when necessary. 
After the annihilation of most of the Galaxy's TIE/ln starfighters during the Galactic 
Civil War, the Howlrunner line escaped destruction and found itself becoming one of the 
prime starfighters in the fleets of the Imperial Remnant.

These craft continued to be used even after the Empire fractured and split into many 
warring factions. The Howlrunner was also used by the pilots of Saba Sebatyne's Wild 
Knights squadron, during the invasion by the extragalactic Yuuzhan Vong.

In the Second Corellian Insurrection, a number of them were in the Corellian Defense Force.

Appearances

* Allegiance
* Dark Empire (First appearance)
* Dark Empire II
* Empire's End
* Planet of Twilight
* Balance Point
* Star by Star
* Destiny's Way
* Betrayal 

Sources

* Dark Empire Sourcebook
* The Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels
* Starships of the Galaxy
* Coruscant and the Core Worlds
* The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels