Editing Slingshot (G1)

{{factions|autobot|autobotg2|minicon}}
{{picsneeded|Marvel fiction}}
{{disambig3|Slingshot}}
:''Slingshot is an [[Autobot]] [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]] from the [[Generation 1 continuity family]].''
[[File:Slingshot TFU.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|I don't care who you are. As far as I'm concerned, you're worthless.]]
'''Slingshot''' is a loud-mouthed, bragging jerk. Many believe that his annoying, self-aggrandizing, and abrasive personality is a cover
for his insecurities over being the smallest and weakest [[Aerialbot (G1)|Aerialbot]]. Just as many couldn't care less and just wish he would shut up, and/or go away.

He can combine with his fellow Aerialbots to form [[Superion (G1)|Superion]].

He is sometimes known as '''Alpha Bravo'''.

==Fiction==
===Generation 1 cartoon continuity===
====''The Transformers'' cartoon====
{{voiceactor|[[Rob Paulsen]] (English), [[Hirotaka Suzuoki]] (Japanese), [[Kenyū Horiuchi]] (Japanese, "The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2", "War Dawn", ''2010'')|[[Héctor Vieyra]] (Latin American), [[Bernd Simon]] (German, ''Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2''), [[Imo Heite]] (German, ''Forever is a Long Time Coming'')}}

[[File:KeytoVectorSigmaPt2 Slingshot Motormaster.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Optimus never realized dressing up as a Decepticon could be so cathartic.]]
Slingshot was created from an old carrier drone along with the rest of the Aerialbots by the [[Autobot]]s as [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Optimus Prime]]'s answer to the newly created [[Stunticon (G1)|Stunticons]]. However, Slingshot quickly made it clear that he didn't care for [[Earth]], the [[human]]s, or the other Autobots, and he certainly had no respect for his new commander, [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], whose fear of heights caused him to abandon Slingshot when [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]] attacked him. [[Ironhide (G1)|Ironhide]] threatened to install some humility programming into Slingshot via his fists on more than one occasion. However, Silverbolt was able to convince Slingshot and the other Aerialbots of the noble natures of the Autobots and humans. Slingshot even saved Silverbolt after the latter destroyed the [[Key to Vector Sigma]]. {{storylink|The Key to Vector Sigma, Part 2}}

[[File:Slingshot war dawn 1.jpg|thumb|"Mr [[Starscream (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Starscream]], can I have your autograph?"]]
Slingshot was once a major fanboy of the [[Decepticon]] [[Seeker (body-type)|jets]], and believed [[Megatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Megatron]] would be a real ''swell'' guy to have as a friend. He changed his mind while in [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]'s past, after seeing Megatron casually destroy the young [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Orion Pax]]. After that, he declared that Megatron will never be able to run from the Aerialbots, and they won't stop hounding him until he is finished. Man, he is such a [[Brawn (G1)|bandwagon jumper]]. {{storylink|War Dawn (episode)|War Dawn}}

Soon afterward, the Aerialbots helped spray [[Corrostop]] on the [[Statue of Liberty]]. When [[Perceptor (G1)|Perceptor]] was kidnapped by the Stunticons and [[Blitzwing (G1)|Blitzwing]], Slingshot led the pursuit, only for [[Air Raid (G1)|Air Raid]] and [[Fireflight (G1)|Fireflight]] to be zapped by Megatron's [[Lightning Bug]]. Later, when the Decepticons tried to destroy Lady Liberty to prevent the Autobots from mass-producing Corrostop, Superion soundly defeated Menasor and destroyed the Lightning Bug. {{storylink|Cosmic Rust (episode)|Cosmic Rust}}

[[File:AerialAssault Slightshot newchest.jpg|left|upright=1.1|thumb|Probably not silicon.]]
While in the Middle East to help the local governments discover why military jets have been disappearing from hangars, the Aerialbots were lured into a trap by the [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] and Slingshot was buried alive in a cave by [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]. With his [[weapons console]] destroyed, Slingshot volunteered to act as a regular jet plane at an air force hangar in the hope of uncovering the plane-nappers. He and [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)|Skydive]] got more than they bargained for when they were dismantled by the Decepticon-backed criminals and smuggled across the border. Fortunately, they befriended a young boy named [[Jumal|Hassan]] who identified [[Ali (Sunbow)|Ali]], the ringleader of the plane thieves who was helping the Decepticons rebuild the stolen planes into [[drone jet]]s and had deposed the young ruler of the country, Prince Jumal. Hassan managed to recover all the parts removed from the two Aerialbots except for Slingshot's chest panel, but luckily Hassan borrowed the grill of Prince Jumal's Rolls Royce. 
[[File:Skydive slingshot.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1]]
During the subsequent battle between the Aerialbots and the Decepticons, their drone fighter jets and the [[Giant Purple Griffin]], Hassan snuck on board the Griffin to try and steal a weapons console for Slingshot, but was trapped when the Decepticon fortress took off. Weaponless, Slingshot bravely attacked [[Onslaught (G1)|Onslaught]] and came to Hassan's rescue. With his weapons restored, came to his friends' aid by causing [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] to trip with his tow cable. Superion defeated the Griffin and the Aerialbots blew Megatron, Bruticus and oil prices away by destroying the oil fields beneath them. Afterwards, Hassan revealed himself as Prince Jumal and assured his friend Slingshot that he would always consider the young Aerialbot a Rolls Royce. {{storylink|Aerial Assault}}

After the death of Megatron and the retaking of Cybertron, Slingshot and the Aerialbots became part of the Autobot Fleet. When [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]], [[Kup (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Kup]] and Spike were kidnapped to [[Quintessa]], the rescue party alerted the Aerialbots to swoop by for covering fire and pick-up. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2}} When the Quintessons destroyed their own planet to get at the Autobots, the resulting blast wave destroyed the Aerialbots' ship, sending Slingshot and the rest hurtling through space. Although they clearly survived, Skydive, Fireflight and Slingshot were not seen after the explosion. They eventually impacted on [[Goo 8739B]], and were rescued by [[Wreck-Gar (G1)|Wreck-Gar]] and the [[Junkion (species)|Junkions]]. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 3}} In the Decepticon attack on Cybertron that followed, Slingshot was seen fighting alongside Perceptor. He used his sharpshooting skills to send Cyclonus and the Sweeps into a tailspin. {{storylink|Five Faces of Darkness, Part 5}}

Before long, history repeated itself (literally) as Slingshot and the Aerialbots had another time travel adventure involving Alpha Trion, only this time it involved the ancient Autobot himself traveling into the present from the past, back from when he was merely A3. The Quintessons were experimenting with [[Time Window]] technology when Perceptor and a group of Autobots came across their work. Summoned for reinforcements, Rodimus Prime arrived with Superion and the other Autobots to drive the Quintessons off the asteroid. As the time window was left open, a robot named A3 materialized on the asteroid. It wasn't until after the Quintessons convinced the Autobots that the window needed to be closed for the sake of the universe, and A3 returned to his own time, that Slingshot and the Aerialbots realized they had once again been in the presence of "the father of the Autobots". {{storylink|Forever Is a Long Time Coming}}

Once, Air Raid led the Decepticon duo of [[Scourge (G1)|Scourge]] and [[Cyclonus (G1)|Cyclonus]] into an asteroid field where Slingshot and his fellow Aerialbots were waiting to spring an ambush. The Aerialbots messed the Decepticons up pretty badly, especially after they transformed into Superion. Eventually, Slingshot and the others chased the Decepticons through a strange warp in space. This proceeded to have no consequences for [[Sandstorm (G1)|anyone]] [[Paradron|whatsoever]]. {{storylink|Fight or Flee}}

Slingshot and the Aerialbots were spending a relaxing day watching home movies on [[Teletraan II]] when things suddenly get serious, as the Autobots' computer off-handedly informed them [[Trypticon (G1)|Trypticon]] was never destroyed in his last battle with [[Metroplex (G1)|Metroplex]]. When they tracked Trypticon to his new staging grounds, Slingshot and the Aerialbots launched from [[Broadside (G1)|Broadside]], but the Decepticon presence in [[Socialist Democratic Federated Republic of Carbombya|Carbombya]] was more than they had anticipated. The Aerialbots made a hasty retreat when confronted with overwhelming firepower, but soon returned with reinforcements and drove the Decepticons from Carbombya. {{storylink|Thief in the Night}}

During a battle in space, Slingshot and the Aerialbots may or may not have been present. Superion, at least, was surely there on the planet [[Eurythma]]... sometimes. {{storylink|Carnage in C-Minor}}

After [[Sky Lynx (G1)|Sky Lynx]] took some hostile fire over the [[Junkion (planet)|planet of Junk]], Rodimus Prime dispatched Slingshot and the Aerialbots to investigate. They were caught in a crossfire between the brain-addled Junkions and the Quintessons, who were responsible for messing with the Junkions' air waves, and their minds. Even after becoming Superion, the Aerialbots took heavy fire and had to be brought back to [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]] on Cybertron for repairs. {{storylink|The Big Broadcast of 2006 (episode)|The Big Broadcast of 2006}} Later, Slingshot and the Aerialbots were working with Rodimus Prime and Ultra Magnus in Europe to fend off the latest wave of Decepticon attacks. When Trypticon arrived, they played the bi-planes to his King Kong. {{storylink|The Ultimate Weapon}}

[[File:AutobotsCall.jpg|upright=1.1|thumb|That's two down! Sorry, Blades.]]
Alongside [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] and [[Wheelie (G1)|Wheelie]], Slingshot was one of the first Transformers whose energy was consumed by [[Tornedron]]. {{storylink|Call of the Primitives}} 

During the Decepticon invasion of Japan, the Aerialbots fought against [[Astrotrain (G1)|Astrotrain]] when he tried to derail a bullet train full of passengers. {{storylink|The Burden Hardest to Bear}} Sometime thereafter, Slingshot and the Aerialbots were recruited by Rodimus Prime to rescue the body of Optimus Prime from [[Gregory Swofford|Swofford]] and [[Mark Morgan|Morgan]]. Unfortunately, this only meant they were among the first Autobots exposed to the [[Hate Plague]]. Despite the madness induced by the red dust, the Aerialbots were apparently still willing to form Superion. Superion ran amok, causing serious property damage, infecting [[Defensor (G1)|Defensor]], and taking several other Autobots out of action. {{storylink|The Return of Optimus Prime, Part 1}}

When the Decepticons invaded Cybertron searching for the [[Plasma Energy Chamber]], the Aerialbots tried to stop them. Unfortunately, they didn't reckon with [[Sixshot (G1)|Sixshot]]. Slingshot was caught off-guard when the [[Six Changer]] jumped modes from winged wolf to armored carrier, and was shot down. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 1}} The [[Combaticon (G1)|Combaticons]] then took his [[power pack]] to use as fuel for the giant rocket engine they were constructing for [[Galvatron (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Galvatron]]. {{storylink|The Rebirth, Part 3}}

====''Fight! Super Robot Life Form Transformers'' comic====
[[File:Slingshot-manga.jpg|left|thumb|Cheer up, baldy.]]
As part of Superion, Slingshot helped drive [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] and [[Bruticus (G1)|Bruticus]] away from a baseball field. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 5|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #5}} Slingshot was later ordered to stay at base while the other Aerialbots went on a mission to save some kidnapped Autobots, as Optimus Prime believed he might damage the flora and/or fauna of the area. His place on Superion was instead taken by [[First Aid (G1)|First Aid]], and Slingshot had to spend the rest of his day moping about it. {{storylink|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers issue 6|Fight! Super Robot Lifeform Transformers #6}}
{{-}}

====Scramble City====
Slingshot and the Aerialbots were dispatched from the [[Metroplex (G1)|Scramble City]] project by [[Ultra Magnus (G1)/Generation 1 cartoon continuity|Ultra Magnus]] to aid Optimus Prime in battle with the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]] and [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]]. Their aerial firepower frankly overwhelmed the marauding Decepticons, and sent them home with their transistors between their struts. On his second attempt, Megatron sent the Stunticons, who were considerably more successful in engaging the Autobots. Damaged in jet modes, Slingshot the Aerialbots chose instead to merge and form Superion. As Superion, they possessed scramble combining abilities, but so did the Stunticons when they formed Menasor. The Aerialbots were in the midst of reconfiguring their limb formation when Fireflight, being...well, a daydreaming idiot, mixed up whether he was supposed to be the right leg or the left. His indecision gave Menasor time to shoot him down, and [[Wildrider (G1)|Wildrider]] assumed the place of Superion's right leg instead, corrupting his programming. Slingshot and the others were trapped as Superion, literally fighting themselves, until Fireflight retook his place as Superion's limb. {{storylink|Scramble City: Mobilization}}

====''The Great Transformer War'' comic====
When the Aerialbots attempted to rescue Doctor [[Dalton (G1)|Dalton]] from the Decepticons at Trypticon, they were repulsed by the awesome launching power of the Stunticons and Combaticons. Slingshot and his comrades were repaired in the field by [[Hot Spot (G1)|Hot Spot]] of the Protectobots, and then Silverbolt used his own launching power to deploy the Aerialbots in a high-speed flurry around Bruticus and Menasor, confusing the giant Decepticons long enough for the Autobots to escape with Dalton. {{storylink|The Great Transformer War issue 1|The Great Transformer War #1}}

====''The Headmasters'' cartoon====
{{Note|The events of "The Rebirth" do not occur in Japanese cartoon continuity.}}
:''Voice actor:'' [[Masato Hirano]] (Japanese)

Slingshot and the Aerialbots were stationed at Autobot City on Earth in [[2011]]. When Galvatron attacked Cybertron via the old [[space bridge]] network, the Aerialbots were summoned to Cybertron as reinforcements. They soon arrived with the [[Trainbot]]s and quickly joined the battle. Slingshot and his team formed Superion and battled [[Abominus (G1)|Abominus]] and Devastator. {{storylink|Four Warriors Come out of the Sky}} Later, the combined Aerialbots fought alongside [[Raiden (Headmasters)|Raiden]] and Defensor against the Decepticon combiners, and were nearly crushed when Bruticus collapsed a building on their position. They were bailed out by the arrival of the [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Battleship Maximus]]. When Hot Rod began his search for the [[Matrix of Leadership]] on Earth, Slingshot and the Aerialbots returned to the humans' planet to assist him. They confronted the Stunticons in the desert, pitting Superion against Menasor yet again. The battle was so fierce it eventually carried them to the Arctic where Hot Rod was searching. {{storylink|The Mystery of Planet Master}}

Slingshot and his flying comrades joined the [[Triple Changer]]s in distracting the Decepticons long enough for [[Twincast]] to sneak inside Trypticon and gather data on the Madmachine. {{storylink|The Great Cassette Operation}} Sometime later, Slingshot and the Aerialbots were on a research vessel that passed near a [[Metamorphose|strange meteorite]]. The meteorite had been altered by Galvatron to produce gravity-warping waves whenever it detected metal, and so it send the Aerialbots and their ship twisting through space. Although the Decepticons tried to intervene, the Autobots eventually recovered Slingshot and his injured colleagues. {{storylink|Approach of the Demon Meteorite}}

Following a lengthy repair cycle, Slingshot and the Aerialbots were ready for action when Galvatron and the Decepticons laid siege to Cybertron one last time. Transporting to Cybertron from Earth, they raced into battle (on foot, for some reason). Slingshot and the team got the drop on the Stunticons when they merged into Superion, smashing and scattering the 'Cons before they could form Menasor. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 1}} As the fighting continued, the Aerialbots battled Abominus as Superion and later separated to trade blaster fire with the Stunticons. The warring only came to an end once [[Scorponok (G1)|Scorponok]]'s bombs blew up [[Vector Sigma]] and annihilated the planet. {{storylink|Cybertron Is in Grave Danger, Part 2}}

When [[buridanka|a giant carnivorous plant]] attacked San Francisco, Ultra Magnus dispatched Slingshot and the Aerialbots to combat it. Although they made frequent bombing runs on the organism, the Aerialbots were unable to stop it. Only the arrival of [[Fortress Maximus (G1)|Fortress]] and his powerful giant [[Transtector]] brought an end to the creature's rampage. {{storylink|Head On!! Fortress Maximus}} Slingshot and the Aerialbots were part of a strike team that flew to the [[Moon (moon)|moon]] to disrupt Scorponok's gathering of Decepticons. They immediately formed Superion upon entering the battle. {{storylink|Return of the Immortal Emperor}}

When one of Scorponok's Death Towers emerged in Washington D.C., Slingshot and the Aerialbots were dispatched to investigate it. As part of Superion, Slingshot participated in the Autobots final battle with Scorponok's Decepticons at the North Pole. He lent his energies to the Headmasters' [[Head Formation]] to revitalize Fortress Maximus at the critical moment. {{storylink|The Final Showdown on Earth (Part 2)}}

===Marvel Comics continuity===
====Generation 1====
{{noteukonly}}
[[File:Aerialbots second generation.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.66|"Yankee Doodle Floppy Disk, this is Foxtrot Zulu Milkshake, checking in at 700 feet, request permission to land."]]
''Thanks to his previous connection to the [[Matrix of Leadership|Creation Matrix]], [[Buster Witwicky (G1)|Buster Witwicky]] began experiencing dreams and visions of new Transformers, beginning with an etching of Superion he made without even being consciously aware of it.'' {{storylink|Devastation Derby!}} ''By sharing his visions with [[Optimus Prime (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Optimus Prime]], Buster was able to clarify the images and understand the future of the evolution of the Cybertronian race—amalgam model robots like the [[Constructicon (G1)|Constructicons]]' [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]], capable of a more-streamlined merging into a more powerful form. It was these visions which allowed Optimus Prime and [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] to conceive of and construct the Aerialbots.'' {{storylink|Second Generation!}}

[[File:MarvelUS21 RamjetSlingshotBONK.JPG|upright=0.85|thumb|Is that why they call him Ramjet?]]
Working on a plan to reverse engineer the gestalt technology the Decepticons used to create Devastator, Optimus Prime and the Autobots staged a daring raid on the Decepticon base of operations, giving [[Bumblebee (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Bumblebee]] enough time to digitally record the Constructicons' electrical transformation pattern for study. {{storylink|Command Performances!}} Working off that blueprint, Wheeljack successfully created Slingshot and the Aerialbots. During the new warriors' testing phase, however, the Autobots were alerted to a Decepticon operation at Hoover Dam. Only the Aerialbots were fast enough to reach the location in time, and so Prime was forced to send them into battle before their programming was completed.

As the Aerialbots arrived and engaged the Decepticons in aerial combat, Slingshot was blindsided by [[Ramjet (G1)|Ramjet]], who literally rammed him out of the skies. He recovered, but only to take another shot from [[Shrapnel (G1)|Shrapnel]]'s electro-blasts, and had to be rescued from a nosedive by [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]].

The Aerialbots eventually turned the tide on the Decepticons and drove them off, giving them time to focus on the energy siphon which was the core of the problem. At Silverbolt's command, they merged into Superion and began dismantling the drill device. A problem arose, however, when [[Bombshell (G1)|Bombshell]]'s [[cerebro-shell]] controlled pawn [[Ricky Vasquez]] pointed [[Megatron (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Megatron]] (in his gun mode) at the giant Autobot. Because the majority of the Aerialbots were not programmed specifically to protect human life, Superion only saw a potential threat that needed to be eliminated. As the human fought against the Decepticons' control, Silverbolt too fought inside Superion's gestalt mind to protect the human. In the end, Silverbolt was forced to disengage Superion to keep him from destroying the human. Luckily, Ricky was more successful and managed to break the cerebro-shell's hold long enough to point Megatron at the drill and destroy it, ending the threat. {{storylink|Aerialbots over America!}}

[[File:Aerialbots minds wiped marvel 22.jpg|thumb|left|Actually, a mind wipe would probably do him good.]]
After the near disaster at Hoover Dam, Optimus Prime had the Aerialbots shut down and their programming completely erased. Returned to a blank slate, he then inputted fully-programmed personalities for them with the Matrix before their next mission. It, uh... didn't help. In battle with [[Menasor (G1)|Menasor]] as Superion, the Aerialbots were attacked by [[Circuit Breaker (G1)|Circuit Breaker]], deactivated, and captured by [[Rapid Anti-robot Assault Team|RAAT]]. It was only a lucky break that they were eventually freed. {{storylink|Heavy Traffic!}}

Slingshot disembarked with the rest of the Earth-bound Autobots from the Ark onto Earth's moon, where he and the other Autobots witnessed a battle for leadership between [[Grimlock (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Grimlock]] and [[Blaster (G1)|Blaster]]. This was a moment of opportunity for [[Ratbat (G1)|Ratbat]]'s Decepticons, who attacked Slingshot and the others on the moon's surface. {{storylink|Totaled!}}

Sometime later, most of the Autobots rushed to the Arctic in response to Buster Witwicky's distress signal. Unfortunately, this was a trap staged by [[Starscream (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Starscream]], as the [[Club Con|Decepticon headquarters]] was located nearby. The Autobots were overwhelmed by the Decepticons, including Slingshot, who was blasted out of the sky by [[Slugslinger (G1)|Slugslinger]]. Starscream used this trap as a diversion as he attempted to claim the nigh-infinite power of the [[Underbase]] for himself. The Autobots and Decepticons called for a truce and assembled three teams to wait for Starscream in three target cities. Slingshot and the other Aerialbots were his first victims, wiped out in a single blast of cosmic power in the skies over [[New York City]]. {{storylink|Dark Star}}

Along with the other deactivated Autobots aboard the Ark, Slingshot and the Aerialbots were eventually revived by the Nucleon super-energy Grimlock and the Dinobots recovered from [[Hydrus Four]]. 

=====Earthforce=====
{{earthforcefiction}}
[[File:Aerialbots the house that wheeljack built.jpg|thumb|"Alpha Velveeta Knuckle Underwear, you are cleared for take-off. When you hit that nuclear weapons plant... drop a bomb for me!"]]
Slingshot was present with the entire Earthforce team outside Autobot Earthbase when [[Wheeljack (G1)|Wheeljack]] unveiled his brand-new unbreachable defensive system. This was unfortunate, as Wheeljack had forgotten that, once activated, the system could only be turned off from the inside. [[Prowl (G1)|Prowl]] elected to run the gauntlet and reach the shutdown console inside, and the Aerialbots provided air support for him. Slingshot and his buddies gunned down the [[Acid Bat]]s at the entryway, giving Prowl his chance to get through. {{storylink|The House that Wheeljack Built!}}

{{note|Unlike the rest of Earthforce, the return of the Aerialbots (besides Silverbolt) was never explained on panel. Presumably, Wheeljack rebuilt them in the Bodyshop much like he did for [[Tracks (G1)|Tracks]].}}

=====Marvel UK future timelines=====
In [[2008]], Slingshot was one of several Autobots deactivated by the [[Quintesson]]s when they invaded [[Autobot City (G1)|Autobot City]]. {{storylink|Space Pirates!}}

====''Generation 2''====
After the defeat of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]] and his Decepticons on [[Klo]], the Autobots split into smaller combat units throughout the universe. Once Optimus Prime and Grimlock learned of the threat posed by the second generation [[Cybertronian (faction)|Cybertronian army]], though, the Autobot forces reconsolidated under their command. Slingshot and the other Aerialbots were first seen after the Autobots had retreated to an asteroid sanctuary for retraining. They were, um, outsmarted by [[Hot Rod (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Hot Rod]]. {{storylink|The Power and the Glory}} He was later seen fighting the [[Ethos raiding party|Cybertronians]] with his fellow Aerialbots on [[Ethos]]. {{storylink|Escalation!}} In the final battle with the [[Swarm (G2)|Swarm]] on Earth, Slingshot was heavily damaged and then consumed by the entity alongside [[Slag (G1)|Slag]]. {{storylink|A Rage in Heaven!}}

====''Regeneration One''====
{{noterg1}}
[[File:Shadow-leeches the war to end all wars.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Why does Furman hate me?]]
After Silverbolt was reformatted into a new [[Nucleon]]-free body, he was reunited with Air Raid and the rest of the Aerialbots, flying scouting missions for [[Ultra Magnus (G1)|Ultra Magnus]]'s [[Cybertronian Civil Defense]]. They were recalled to base before they were able to stumble upon [[Soundwave (G1)/Marvel Comics continuity|Soundwave]]'s Neo-Decepticons, which may have been fortunate as Soundwave had [[Monstructor (G1)|Monstructor]] waiting for them. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Three}} Soon after that Air Raid and the Aerialbots flew alongside [[Blades (G1)|Blades]] as he located Ultra Magnus, missing since his first bout with [[Galvatron II|Galvatron]], and updated him regarding the arrival of [[Bludgeon (G1)|Bludgeon]]'s ''[[Warworld]]'' and its invading army of [[Blitz Engine]]s above Cybertron. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Four}} Air Raid and the Aerialbots then joined [[Jetfire (G1)|Jetfire]], Blades, [[Doubleheader]], [[Skyhammer (G1)|Skyhammer]], [[Cloudraker (G1)|Cloudraker]], [[Dogfight]] and [[Crossblades (G1)|Crossblades]] in attacking the ''Warworld'' directly, providing a distraction so that the [[Wrecker]]s could sneak aboard. {{storylink|Destiny, Part Five}}

After surviving the battle against [[Jhiaxus (G2)|Jhiaxus]] and his forces at the [[Hub (G2)|Hub Network]], Slingshot was killed by a [[shadow-leech]] upon his return to Cybertron. {{storylink|The War to End All Wars, Part 5}}
{{-}}

===Battle Beneath the Ice===
When human scientists discovered a mysterious city beneath the ice of the North Pole, they placed a call to Autobot City in order to get the Transformers' perspective on the discovery. Slingshot, Skydive and [[Hot Rod (G1)|Hot Rod]] were dispatched with the research team to investigate. On their way, the humans' research plane was shot down by a powerful laser, and the Aerialbots were unable to locate the craft in the terrible blizzard. They instead made their way to the on-site research team, only to happily discover that Hot Rod and their human friends had been saved by the [[city-dweller]]s themselves. While the [[Watcher]], leader of the city-dwellers, showed the humans and Autobots around their hidden home, monitor screens alerted the group that the Combaticons had arrived, and were investigating the crash site. The Aerialbots concluded that [[Blast Off (G1)|Blast Off]]'s orbital firepower was responsible for the crash, and flew out to engage the Decepticons in battle. Eventually, however, Autobot and Decepticon alike learned that the city-dweller were the real threat, and joined forces to vanquish the strange but malevolent beings. Slingshot rather reluctantly complied with the truce and allowed [[Ravage (G1)|Ravage]] and the Combaticons to leave without incident once the fighting was over. {{storylink|Battle Beneath the Ice}}

===Dreamwave ''Generation One'' continuity===
At some point in Cybertronian history, roughly around the time of the [[Dark Ages]], Slingshot and his Aerialbot comrades became a combiner subgroup, able to merge to form Superion. Because Superion and his fellow super-robots began causing too much sheer devastation during the war, however, the [[Crisis Intervention Accord]]s were signed by the various factions, prohibiting the use of super-robots. Combiner sub-group members could either join different factions separately (like [[Motormaster (G1)|Motormaster]]) or remain together as a neutral, unaligned group (like the [[Protectobot (G1)|Protectobots]]). What Slingshot and the Aerialbots chose to do is unknown. {{storylink|Transformers: War Within: The Dark Ages|War Within: The Dark Ages}}

[[File:DWPrimeDirective6 Autobots wanttheirheads.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|"Ah, crap.  I didn't mean to free you, Slingshot."]]
In some unexplained way, the Aerialbots eventually made their way to modern 20th century Earth, becoming some of the few Transformers fighting on that planet who hadn't arrived via either the ''[[Ark (G1)|Ark]]'' or the ''[[Nemesis (G1)|Nemesis]]''. Slingshot and his comrades fought alongside Optimus Prime and his crew until [[Operation Liberation]] eliminated the Decepticon threat in 1999. Tragically, they and the rest of the Autobots were believed destroyed following the explosion of the [[Ark II]], though in reality the ship was sabotaged by the rogue engineer-turned arms dealer Adam Rook, known as [[Lazarus (G1)|Lazarus]], and General [[Robert Hallo]], who planned on reprogramming the Transformers into the service of the United States military.  The Aerialbots were some of the few Transformers who were not recovered by Lazarus for his reprogramming venture, now aimed at hiring out the Transformers to the highest bidder. Instead, they lay immobile in the Arctic waters until reactivated as Superion in 2002 by Optimus Prime, using the power of the [[Matrix of Leadership]]. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 2|Prime Directive #2}} 

Sslingshot and the Aerialbots in their Superion form, battled the Decepticons in the Northwest Territories of [[Canada]] {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 3|Prime Directive #3}} and again in [[San Francisco]].  During the latter conflict, , Superion was broken down into his individual components while battling [[Devastator (G1)|Devastator]] and the [[Seeker (body-type)|Seekers]]. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 4|Prime Directive #4}} When Megatron failed to convince Optimus Prime to join his cause, Silverbolt and his team were freed and eventually reunified in order to intercept a nuclear missile (launched by General Hallo) headed for the California coastline. Superion, and by extension the Aerialbots, were destroyed in stopping the missile. {{storylink|Prime Directive issue 6|Prime Directive #6}}

Their remains were collected secretly by [[Earth Defense Command]] and held in Area 51. {{storylink|Generation 1 issue 0|Generation 1 #0}}
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===IDW Generation 1 continuity===
Early in the war, the Aerialbots responded to Optimus' rallying call for additional support against the Decepticons and fought against the Seekers in the battle that followed. {{storylink|Broadcast}}

Slingshot was among the Autobots poised to fight against [[Galvatron (G1)/IDW Generation 1 continuity|Galvatron]]'s army on [[Cybertron (planet)|Cybertron]]. Led by [[Silverbolt (G1)|Silverbolt]], he and the other Autobot fliers attacked [[Kimia Facility]] and fought with the many [[Sweep]]s defending it. {{storylink|Chaos Part Two: Numbers|Numbers}} Slingshot and his fellow Aerialbots worked crowd control on the Decepticons after Ratbat was murdered. He later followed Silverbolt's lead along with the rest of the Aerialbots in deserting Bumblebee's fledgling government. {{storylink|Stick Together}}

{{charstubfiction}}

==Games==
===''Transformers Legends''===
Slingshot and the other Aerialbots managed to drive [[Nemesis Prime (G1)|Nemesis Prime]] into a retreat after this twisted creation of [[Doctor Arkeville]] was unleashed on the world. {{storylink|Nemesis Rising}} He and [[Kup (G1)|Sergeant Kup]] foiled an attempt by [[Starscream (G1)|Starscream]] to resurrect [[Unicron]]. {{storylink|Unicron Returns}}

==Toys==
===Generation 1===
[[File:G1Slingshot toy.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|Who cares about my flaws? I'm the best toy of the franchise.]]
*'''Slingshot''' (Aerialbot, 1986/1992)
**''Team ID number:'' '''A4'''
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-53'''
**''Accessories'': "[[Neutron rifle]]"

:Slingshot transforms into a white Sea Harrier jumpjet. While the other three Aerialbot limbs follow a standard design with similar proportions and parts distribution, Slingshot is unusual in that he is much, much thinner than the other jets (partly due to his vehicle mode), with stick-like arms and his front landing gear is mounted on his chest, as the Harrier nose cone on the toy is far too short to accommodate fold-down landing gear. 

:As a [[Scramble City (toyline)|Scramble City]]-style combiner, Slingshot can be connected to any free arm or leg slot on Silverbolt to form Superion, and indeed can also combine with any other Scramble City combiner. However, his nominal placement is as the left arm of Superion.

:Slingshot, along with his teammates, were released in the 1992 European/Australian "[[Classics (Europe)|Classics]]" reissue series of Generation 1 toys.

::*''[http://tfu.info/1986/Autobot/Slingshot/slingshot.htm More information on Slingshot at TFU.info.]''

<span id="Superion"></span>
*'''Superion''' (Gift set, 1986)
**''Japanese ID number'': '''C-55'''
**''Accessories'': "Neutron rifle"

:Slingshot was also available in a Superion boxed [[giftset]], along with the rest of his teammates. All of the toys in this set are identical to their individual releases.

===Generation 2===
[[File:G2 Slingshot toy.jpg|upright=1.4|thumb|Get a good look before he crumbles.]]
*'''Slingshot''' (Aerialbot, 1994)
**''Team ID number:'' '''A4'''
**''Accessories'': "Neutron rifle"

:For ''[[Transformers: Generation 2 (toyline)|Generation 2]]'', Slingshot was [[redeco]]ed in gold and silver with orange and blue tiger striped stickers on his wings which proudly proclaim his name.

:This toy is noted to suffer from [[Gold Plastic Syndrome]], so be careful.

::*''[http://tfu.info/1994/Autobot/Slingshot/slingshot.htm More information on Generation 2 Slingshot at TFU.info]''
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===Henkei! Henkei!===
[[File:Henkei-toy SlingMicron.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|It's nowhere you want it to be (for example, in your collection).]]
*'''Cybertron Sling''' (Micron, 2009)

:A redeco of the ''[[Transformers: Classics|Classics]]'' [[Mini-Con]] [[Thunderwing (Classics)|Thunderwing]], Sling(shot) now transforms into an [[Popular Earth vehicle alternate modes#F-14 Tomcat|F-14 Tomcat swing-wing fighter jet]].

:Sling is only available by—brace yourself—signing up for a [http://www.transformers-card.com/pre2/index.html Transformers-themed Visa credit card] through Pocket Card Co., Ltd. Sling is available only to those who get the Autobot-themed card. Also available is [[Vortex (G1)|Vorter]] for those who get the Decepticon card. How one gets both without paying out the butt is anyone's guess.

:This mold was also used to make ''[[Transformers: Cybertron (toyline)|Cybertron]]'' [[Nightscream (Cybertron)|Nightscream]], [[Noise Effect]], [[Boltflash]] and [[Barrel Roll]].

::*''[http://www.tfu.info/2009/Cybertron/Sling/sling.htm More information on Sling at TFU.info]''
{{-}}

===Generations===
[[File:Alpha Bravo Generations.jpg|upright=1.66|thumb|[[Blades (G1)|Blades]]? [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]? Never heard of 'em.]]
*'''Alpha Bravo''' (Deluxe, 2015)

:Released as part of the ''Combiner Wars'' subline, Alpha Bravo will transform from a white helicopter resembling an Aerospatiale Dauphin into a robot that bears something of a resemblance to [[Vortex (G1)|Vortex]]. He will be able to combine with his fellow Deluxe Aerialbots ([[Air Raid (G1)#Generations|Air Raid]], [[Fireflight (G1)#Generations|Firefly]] and [[Skydive (G1 Aerialbot)#Generations|Skydive]]) and Voyager-class [[Silverbolt (G1)#Generations|Silverbolt]] to form [[Superion (G1)#Generations|Superion]].
{{comingsoontoy}}

{{-}}

==Notes==
*The Canadian [[giftset]] of Superion accidentally misspelled Slingshot as "Slingslot".
*In an [[Hasbro Q&A/October 2009: Answers|October 2009 question-and-answer session]], it was mentioned that Slingshot's name is "no longer available" and that various "replacement" Aerialbot characters such as [[Airazor (Universe)|''Universe'' Airazor]] are designed "in memorium" {{sic}}. Either this is simply a particularly odd word choice, or Slingshot can be considered "dead" for all practical purposes. Perhaps [[Gold Plastic Syndrome]] is more dangerous than we thought...

===Foreign names===
*''Japanese:'' '''Sling''' (スリング ''Suringu'')
*''French:'' '''La Fronde''' (Canada)
*''Italian:'' '''Vertic'''
*''Russian:'' '''Rogatka''' (Рогатка)

==External links==
*[http://www.ntfa.net/universe/english/index.php?act=view&amp;char=Slingshot Slingshot's Universe profile at NTFA.net]

[[Category:Aerialbots]]
[[Category:Combiners]]
[[Category:Generation 1 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generation 2 Autobots]]
[[Category:Generations]]
[[Category:Henkei! Henkei! Autobots]]
[[Category:Japanese promotion exclusives]]
[[Category:Ladybird Books Autobots]]
[[Category:Mail order items]]
[[Category:Mini-Cons]]
[[Category:Regeneration One Autobots]]
[[Category:The Headmasters Autobots]]