Just been re-watching the series thus far, and it occurs to me, none of the Decepticons can seem to fly in robot mode. The ability to fly seems to be exclusive to whatever their alt mode is. If that's the case, is there any reason why an Autobot or any other transformer can't pick a aerial vehicle mode?

 

They haven't really went into detail about it yet. Animated made it clear that Autobots straight up couldn't fly without modifications, but I'm not sure about this series. But yes it is true the Decepticons can't fly in robot mode.

 

The Autobots don't really need to fly, since they can ground-bridge wherever they want to. And ground-based vehicles are less likely to draw attention. Robots in disguise and all that.

 

This has gone way off track.

 

Aside from that, back on topic. I noticed this right away since Scream from the movie was a fav of mine and I knew he could hover/fly in robot mode, so I was curious to see if Prime Screamer would do it, too.

I don't know if there is any actual proof they can't fly in robot mode, but I'd say it is safe to assume that they probably can't. Works for plot anyway, since he can't transform right now, we wouldn't get such amusing scenes as him on a Cybertronian hover moped, bitching about the planet like an old grandpa, if he could merely fly.

 

On topic however, I think the cons not being able to fly in bot mode simply comes back to the aim of realism. Planes can fly just fine, but take that plane apart & build it into a robot, and you'll be lucky if the propulsion's even functional at all, let alone to the level of being able to jump into a Supergirl pose & fly Arcee to the moon.

 

Agreed. The decision to leave behind flying in robot mode is one of the things I like about Prime.

 

Although Starscream seems to have some semblance of a jetpack in robot mode

 

Agreed. Although, if they do decide they want flying in robot mode, I can see them doing something realistic, akin to Bayformers, where they would have visible "rocket boosters" (for the lack of a better phrase) on their back, like RotF Megatron and Starscream. Granted, I don't want Knockout suddenly flying, but to see Megatron or Starscream take off in robot mode to fly and then moments later transform, that'd be cool.

 

I noticed early on in the series that the only time Megatron, Starscream, and Soundwave could fly was in alt mode. I think it's a little more evident now that Starscream can't transform and he's left to stealing Hank or Dean Venture's hover scooter if he doesn't want to walk.

I'm guessing they made the decision so that Decepticons with a car alt mode couldn't just fly away when they got in trouble.

Perhaps the flying Decepticons can access their thrusters but it always ends up like the first time Tony Stark tried to fly with the Iron Man armor.

My guess on why Autobots don't fly is that maybe the Decepticons managed to get air domination sometime early on in the great war. Once the skies of Cybertron got too deadly the Autobots went with alt modes that would allow them to quickly get to cover or travel in tunnels instead of being left wide open in the sky.

 

uhh, because this is not G1?  

 

You have noticed it only today?..

I am more curious about the way, how Megatron brought StarScream to the WarShip, when prevented StarScreams' attack on Prime. It is the episode, where Megatron got back to his body from bumblebee's head.

 

Makes no sense to me. We know in Starscream's case that being able to fly without going to jet mode would be very useful.

 

Yeah, because that means adding a new character. Adding a character to Transformers Prime is like Episode 3 with Valve.

 

I know it was corny and cheap, but I liked how they all flew like superman in G1.

transforming takes too long

 

I miss magic flying, but I like that transformation serves a purpose now.

 

Wasn't flying in robot mode strictly a G1 thing?

 

Many characters could do it in other shows, but they also usually had some type of flying mode. E.G. Movie Starscream and a few Animated characters

 

Interesting. I prefer things this way, it's much more realistic.

One of the reasons I just can't get into Superman is that nothing propels him into the air when he flies. He just leaps and stays there by magic. It's stupid.

 

ROTF Megatron could fly in bot mode as well.