HEADCANON: Altmode

This is a work-in-progress and is subject to change.

Canon makes no reference to Wing's altmode but it's fairly easy to make some logical presumptions and then extrapolate from there. Cybertronian designations are always reflective of the character in some way, so it's no surprise that Wing would be considered an airframe, and one that excels at flying. We never see him transform in canon but it's assumed that he can, and given his kibble it's also assumed he's a jet. In my personal estimation of what kind of jet he is, I could easily and concisely summarize him as the hummingbird of jets, thanks to size, speed, maneuverability and ability to withstand heavy g-forces.

Size

Given that Wing is the same size as Drift in root mode, he's small for a jet, about 2/3s the size of the average seeker like Starscream. This affords him several advantages (smaller target, lighter/faster, easier to maneuver) at the cost of some disadvantages, (small payload/cockpit, less armaments, turbulence prone).

Speed

In canon, Starscream proclaims he and the other seekers can do mach 3, (Megatron Origon #3). Given the size of Wing's engine nacelles in relation to his overall mass, particularly compared to bigger, bulkier seekers with equal or smaller engine mass, he must be capable of equal or even greater speeds. (Granted tech level and engineering might make a difference, but we know that Crystal City is comparable--if different--to mainstream Cybertronian tech thanks to Perceptor's assessment in the Drift Spotlight.)

Wing is likely only moderately armored, a compromise between being a melee fighter who needs the protection and an airframe who needs less weight. Wing also has no ranged weaponry thanks to firearms being forbidden among the Circle's Knights. (He possibly had light weaponry before joining, since it seems to be a thing that comes standard for many Cybertronian vehicle modes? Undecided on this though.) Lack of weapons also makes for a speed advantage due to less weight compared to fliers with weapons systems. Wing tends not to advertise this fact as most other fliers would consider it a deficiency, (he'd rather not be seen as an easy target).

Maneuvering and Aerial Combat

What he gives up in firepower and armor he makes up for in maneuverability. Similar to his melee fighting style, evasion and tactical maneuvering are his key defensive strategies when fighting in the air. He is quick and agile, able to cut turns, bank sharply and perform double-backs far better than larger, heavier aircraft. He frequently enjoys stunt flying and aerial acrobatics.

His transformation is quick, allowing him to shift to root mode and attack opponents in mid-air with his energy blades, leaping short distances between them, and returning to altmode when needed. This gives him the flexibility to bring a variety of tactics to bear when engaging in mid-air combat--including using gravity and jet-born momentum to his advantage--even if he cannot engage in classic dogfights. (This is one of several types of martial combat he received training in from the Circle.)

In canon we see him extend his wings and use small thrusters on his back while in root mode, so it's a safe assumption that he has flight capability in root mode, though limited compared to his altmode. I believe the pinions on his shoulder nacelles help with maneuverability in root mode, same as the blades on his arms and knees. The audial flares on his helm carry the same sensor suite as his wings do, and are better situated to collect data when flying in root mode.


Frame Design (Now we get into the pure headcanon parts.)

Wing likely has grav thrusters on his belly for take off and landing, similar to those seen on Cybertronian hover cars. His nacelles provide forward power and he uses a vectored thrust system to maneuver. In tight spaces he has secondary thrusters that aid in maneuvering, (We know he has at least two in root, it makes sense they be useful in alt as well). He has simple landing struts for when he needs to be stationary on the ground in altmode. He never had need for a true cockpit, but he did have a small amount of storage/cargo space instead. (more on this later in his pre-war history as a courier.)

I also like to think he has variable wing design, effectively giving his altmode a configuration that has good stability and maneuvering at slower speeds but a more swept configuration for high speed travel. I imagine the shift being most effective at supersonic speeds (Mach 1+). (The seekers in WoC have something similar to this, except that they shift between a hover mode and a flight mode.) Wing can hover and has general VTOL capabilities (which seems fairly common for Cybertronian jets), but it's inferior to a rotary's (not fuel efficient nor as precise).

He's the only flier we see in all of IDW with a complex folded wing design in root mode, so I suspect this is either a very old or very new engineering development, possibly one of the advancements made by Crystal City frame engineers. In an underground city where space is likely at a premium and quarters might be tight, folded panels would be a reasonable and beneficial development. This does mean his pre-war root mode would not have had folded wing panels though, so I'm still deciding on if I want to 'officially' adopt this as headcanon because it's hard to imagine him without them!


Notes

Thanks to Hellkitty (HK) for the aerial melee idea and to Re/Aligned for putting Wing in a situation where I had to think about it!

I've attempted to base this as strongly off canon as I can (where possible) and real world aeronautics/physics/science to a degree (we all know how much Transformers complies to the laws of physics, LOLWHUT) though I'm sure there things I've missed. Feedback, constructively stated, is welcome. ^_^