Air Raid (DOTM)

The name or term "Air Raid" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Air Raid (disambiguation).

Air Raid is an Autobot from the Dark of the Moon portion of the live-action film series continuity family.

Hobbies include seeking and gladiating.

Air Raid is one of the ancient Seekers, ordered into space by the Dynasty of Primes to search for ancient artifacts and catalog stars with the ultimate goal of transferring their power to the AllSpark. Millennia later, Air Raid, like his comrade Jetfire, aligned himself with the Autobots in their struggles on Earth. The same powerful sensory apparatus that served him in his old role now make him an invaluable eye-in-the-sky in the battle against the Decepticons.

Toys

Dark of the Moon

Considering how many times he's used it as a shield, the reception must be terrible.

• Air Raid (MechTech Deluxe, 2011)
  • Japanese ID number: DA33 (November 17, 2011)
  • Accessories: MechTech Shield/Assault Blaster

Air Raid ("Seeker Air Raid" in Japan) transforms from a green AEW&C Boeing E-767 with a hand sticking out the back into a skinny-limbed robot with a stocky torso and an extending plane rear/blaster/axe-flail-thing for a right hand. His radar dome can be detached and held (via the hinge the post and its base are on) as a shield in robot mode. It also can be converted into a blaster by pushing a button and sliding it forward. This multiple functionality is why the weapon is referred to as both a "Battle Shield" and an "Ion Pulse Blaster" in the bio. Aside from his hands, he features MechTech ports underneath his wings, one on top of his fuselage, and one underneath each of the flip-out panels just below the previous port. The vehicle-mode mounting point of his radar dome is also a pair of C joint bars.

He has an Automorph gimmick, wherein hinging his cockpit closer up to his back brings his head up.

Ironically, his swiveled elbows have a greater range of articulation backwards, being able to bend in much further compared to forwards (as per the instructions and stock photography), while a combination of sculpted details on the front of his upper arms and the plane kibble on his forearms prevents any further articulation. As both the instructions and stock photos depict the front details of the upper arms being in the "forwards" configuration, his upper arms do not appear to be misassembled.

The Japanese release comes packed with a character card and an accompanying transparent plastic card of his MechTech weapon for the MechTech Wars online game.

• More information on Air Raid at TFU.info

Notes

• Although the American release of Air Raid gives no idea whatsoever of his relationship, or lack thereof, to the four previous Air Raids from live-action movie continuity, TakaraTomy's toy was called "Seeker Air Raid" (probably because they'd already released their own Air Raid in the form of a Thrust retool) and was confirmed as an ancient star-seeker on the back of his MechTech Wars pack-in card.