Aerial Assault Craft

This article is about a monster in Power Rangers Dino Thunder.

Aerial Assault Craft
Season	Dino Thunder
Episodes	Day of the Dino Part 2 A Star Is Torn

The Aerial Assault Craft is a gargantuan Manta Ray/Anomalocaris-like machine used by Zeltrax to attack the Dino Thunder Rangers after they tame the Biozords by turning them into Dino Thunder Zords. It first appears in the second part of the two-part pilot episode of Power Rangers Dino Thunder, Day of the Dino and alongside Zeltrax, it serves as the first major threat of the show, as well as being the first of Zeltrax's creations.

Overview

This aircraft was gigantic and designed after an Anomalocaris, a type of prehistoric shrimp from the Cambrian era. It was created by Zeltrax. It could fly, fire grappling hooks to discharge electricity, and even shoot lightning.

History

This Anomalocaris-like ship is first used by Zeltrax to attack Reefside with the Biozords after the Dino Thunder Rangers defeat Zeltrax with their Z-Rex Blaster. He had it fire energy lasers on the Dino Thunder Rangers and Tommy. The Rangers then tame the Dino Thunder Zords to create the Thundersaurus Megazord so they can battle Zeltrax. Although it got the upper hand at first when it fired wires at the Megazord and zapped it, the Aerial Assault Craft is destroyed by the Thundersaurus Megazord when it used its wires two swing above the machine, then used its Dino Drill to drill through the center of the Aerial Assault Craft, destroying its core.

In the episode "A Star Is Torn", the Aerial Assault Craft is later rebuilt and equipped with the Terra Assault Craft to lure out the Mezodon Rover. It is destroyed when Zeltrax accidentally destroys its control panel.

Powers and Abilities

Powers

• Energy Lasers: The Aerial Assault Craft can fire red colored energy lasers from the two holes on the underside of its front. This is its primary means of attack as it took down the three Rangers and shook up the Thundersaurus Megazord.
• Lightning Beams: The Aerial Assault Craft can also fire red colored lightning beams from the two holes on the underside of its front.

Abilities

• Flight: As its name suggests, the Aerial Assault Craft can fly effortlessly without support.
• Terra Assault Craft Summoning: In the episode "A Star Is Torn", the Aerial Assault Craft can summon a large worm-like machine called the Terra Assault Craft.

Weaknesses

• Core: The Aerial Assault Craft's weak point is inside the core. Should anything damage it, the machine will explode.
• Controller Panel Destruction: Also should the Aerial Assault Craft's controller panel also be destroyed, it will explode.

Arsenal

• Tentacles: The Aerial Assault Craft has tentacles between its two pincers which it could fire at and wrap its opponents. These were powerful enough to tie up and hold the Thundersaurus Megazord in place.
  • Electrocution: The Aerial Assault Craft was able to electrify its tentacles with blue electricity to cause major damage to its enemies.

Behind the Scenes

Design

• The ship is themed after an Anomalocaris, a prehistoric shrimp-like creature living in a time before the dinosaurs.

Etymology

to be added

Notes

• If the Aerial Assault Craft is considered as the true primary threat of the two-part pilot episode of Power Rangers Dino Thunder, then the Aerial Assault Craft would be the largest first major threat in the Power Rangers series.
• The Aerial Assault Craft is the first to face the Thundersaurus Megazord.

Appearances

• Power Rangers Dino Thunder
  • Episode 2: Day of the Dino, Part 2
  • Episode 23: A Star Is Torn
  • Episode 28: The Passion of Connor (flashback; archive footage only)

See Also

• Fortress Lifeform Anomalogaris - Super Sentai counterpart in Abaranger. See comparison page.