Needle Threader
Goa'uld Needle Threader
Name: Needle Threader
Craft: Goa’uld Needle Threader
Type: Multirole Starship
Scale: starfighter
Length: 4 x 6.5 x 6.5 meters
Skill: starfighter pilot
Crew: 1, 2 can coordinate
Crew Skill: varies
Passengers: 0
Cargo Capacity: 4.443 tons
Consumables: 1 day
Maneuverability: 2D
Space: 8
Atmosphere: 365; 1,050 km/h
Hull: 3D+1
Sensors
- Passive: 20/0D
- Scan: 35/1D
- Search: 75/1D+2
- Focus: 2/2D
Weapons
- 2 Goa’uld Energy Cannons (firelinked)
- Fire Arc: forward
Crew: 1
Scale: starfighter
Skill: starship gunnery
Fire Control: 2D
Space Range: 1-2/4/7
Atmosphere Range: 10-20/40/70m
Ammo: energy based
Rate of fire: 1
Damage: 7D
DESCRIPTION
A Needle Threader is a specialized death glider constructed by the Goa'uld that can travel through the Stargate in a similar manner to Ancient puddle jumpers but unlike them provides no automatic navigation through stargates, and was discontinued after it proved too difficult to master.
It carries two crew, a pilot and a gunner, although just like the ordinary death glider, it can operate with just a pilot. While the normal death glider has two Anhedral or down-pointing wings, this craft has one curved into a cylinder around the central hull and the tied by horizontal airfoils tying the first to the fuselage. The craft has two energy weapons, similar to staff cannons, which has a range of 70 meters. (SG1: "Into the Fire") The ship is powered by a Naquadah reactor, is fueled by Naquadah and has a hull made out of Trinium. The ships length is 4 meters and its width and height is 6.5 meters.
HISTORY
This ship was used when SG-1 was being held by Hathor's forces. It was hidden away by Bra'tac around one hundred years previously. It was used to attack the gate on P3X-254, and ultimately led to the SGC gaining control of the gate. Since this time, it is unknown what has happened to the death glider. (SG1: "Into the Fire")
FEATURES
Death gliders are outfitted with broadcast speakers to allow the pilots to terrorize the populations beneath verbally, as well as with their weapons. They are outfitted with removable staff cannons, two to three times larger than standard staff weapons, and utilize the same form of energy, though with a much greater discharge. (ATL: "The Intruder", "Redemption")
A Death Glider's propulsion is achieved not through direct thrust, but, as Samantha CarterSG1 explained, "takes inertia out of the equation." There is also an anti-gravity system for hovering. There is no capability for faster than light travel. Gliders are capable of landing on smooth terrains, but are primarily designed to facilitate terror and obedience from those beneath. They are, however, more than suited to function as a fighter screen, and engaging in ship to ship combat with other fighters. (: "Tangent")
There are sensors, specifically mentioned by Death Gliders of Anubis, but it is unknown of the exact devices. Communication among and between death gliders is through a small electronic device placed on the pilot or co-pilot's cheek. It acts as a radio between crafts. (SG1: "The Serpent's Lair", "Revelations")
Since Teal'c's rebellion against the System Lords, a recall device was installed in Death Gliders. Since these Needle Threaders predate that and were discontinued, they should not any of these.
The weaponry of a death glider is a pair of staff cannons, a more powerful version of a staff weapon, but using the same basic technology. They can be removed and used as infantry weaponry, however they are particularly bulky. The cannons are situated perhaps four meters apart on the craft, and only fire in a straight line. Because of this, Death Gliders are ill-suited for anything other than strafing runs on targets. (SG1: "The Fifth Man")
Although not intended as part of its design, the death glider has been successfully flown under water. (SG1: "Descent")
Source
Note: Information compiled from various sources and modified as needed so as to be as uniform with canon as possible.