TIE fighters' panels - what are they?

[theta_pinch]

The TIE's upright hexagons *are* large flat surfaces so far as I can tell.

I meant "large flat surfaces that are part of basic airframe". TIEs surfaces are separate from its central part.

As for S-foils relating to engine placement, the X-Wing is the exception and not the rule. The Republic Fighter seen in RotS (known as the ARC-170) has S-foils unrelated to the engines, as do the Jedi fighters.

I know, but my comment was X-wing specific. Using both instances, it does seem that S foils are radiatiors, as they are separated right before battle and specifically into "attack position". Then again, RotS battle was within atmosphere, so Clone fighters may have benefited from maneuverability - Jedi fighter's panels are never referred to as S-foils in canon, as far as my memory serves me.

There is no air in space, yes, but whether it is a question of redistribution of mass or thrust or thrusters or guns or whatever, the S-foils are canonically stability foils. If it doesn't refer to maneuvering then we could ponder it in the context of thermal stability or what-have-you, but that's all we know. Some very good fighters and bombers just don't have them at all, which may also be used as a clue at some point.

Well, both Clone fighters and X-wings have big bad guns, as do B-wings and Vader-model TIEs. A-wings, Y-wings and AotC Jedi fighters have smaller guns, from what I remember.

https://www.google.hr/search?q=thermal+ ... e&ie=UTF-8

The stabilization foil made an entrance into "canon" through the ROTS novelization.
Now, that was not strong upper canon, and even less now that Lucas is out.
Deploying the fins in atmosphere would be very useful as far as convection goes.

What is the point of stability foils/wings in outerspace?

[2046]

It's like oil company stickers on a small-engined Japanese car; they provide fifty horsepower each.

[Mr. Oragahn]

What is the point of stability foils/wings in outerspace?

I'd say minute trajectory adjustments. Big thrusters are fine to provide most of the motion, but they're not exactly very accurate.
How those foils work though is unknown. They don't seem to eject matter so they must work internally. I'd say some kind of energized gyroscopes, which are a spun at various speeds depending on the needs, and react at the micro second range.
Perhaps fluids passed through a torus or injected plasma, dunno.

[theta_pinch]

What is the point of stability foils/wings in outerspace?

I'd say minute trajectory adjustments. Big thrusters are fine to provide most of the motion, but they're not exactly very accurate.
How those foils work though is unknown. They don't seem to eject matter so they must work internally. I'd say some kind of energized gyroscopes, which are a spun at various speeds depending on the needs, and react at the micro second range.
Perhaps fluids passed through a torus or injected plasma, dunno.

That makes a lot more sense than having an airfoil in space.

[Lucky]

What is the point of stability foils/wings in outerspace?

Ship[s in Star Wars commonly use reactionless drives which have no visable effects beyond things floating and moving. They are called Repulsor lifs.

Sorry but no matter how advanced solar panels are they won't get enough energy in deep space and even if it were near the sun and had 100% efficiency you'd still only get a kilowatt per square meter. That isn't even enough to power a small car let alone a TIE Fighter. The only purpose that really makes sense is radiators to remove heat.

you're assuming real world limitations to a fictional setting. It's rather clear that solar power may exceed 100% efficiency in Star Wars.

During the Clone Wars, security on Coruscant was bolstered with the addition of Republic police gunships to patrol the skies and chasms of the bustling city planet. Available to the flesh-and-blood police officers as well as their droid counterparts, these gunships were also commandeered by the clones of the Coruscant Guard when circumstances dictated. Smaller, sleeker, and less heavily-armed than the military-grade Republic attack gunship, the police gunship was better suited to navigate the skyline and was less likely to cause costly collateral damage with its pair of ball-mounted laser turrets that flanked the cockpit, or the a fixed laser cannon that extended from the rear. Four arm-mounted solar gather panels help power the repulsorlift vehicle. The control cabin has two stacked seats, with the pilot elevated and slightly behind the gunner. The troop bay had side doors that folded upward for entry, and rear ramp for rapid deployment of police forces.