Ring Raiders

Ring Raiders was a cartoon based on a toyline from the 1980s by Matchbox. The series is set in the year 1998 and the world is on the brink of a cataclysmic war. An evil organisation of pilots, dedicated to taking over the world though the brutal use of air power, are about to realise thier goal. They are known as the Skull Squadron, and their organistion was founded by a band of renegade pilots whose planes are capable of time travel. These pilots fell in love with the power they held through thier planes and saw that they could use their planes to take control of the world. As there were always pilots who, twisted by war's cruelties were wlling to join the evil force, the Skull Squadron grew bigger, more powerful and more dangerous. In the 1990's the evil Skull Squadron was finally powerful enough to scramble for the master mission in its bid for world domination.

By now, almost too late, the great nations of the world are aware of the Skull Squadron's plot. They band together to produce one super aircraft that gives them a fighting chance against the Skull Squadron's onslaught. They produce Air Carrier Justice, an incredible airborne carrier that can travel through time. They outfit the carrier with a small crew and send it back into time to gather the best planes and pilots of all time and all nations, and train them for battle aganist the Skull Squadron. The pilots are gathered right of the greatest air battles of history.Eaach pilot and plane are beamed out of battle and on board the Justice. The pilots are selected not just because of their flying skill, but because of the characteristics that make them real heroes, like honesty, bravery and a noble sense of fair play. When they finish their training, each pilot is given a ring from which they recive instructions and improved flying skills in times of crisis. Because of their rings they call themselves the Ring Raiders.

The art design for the show was done by Peter Chung. The show used the catchphrase "The command is in my hand" when characters wished to transform their planes, using their magical rings to make them more powerful.

Ring Raiders squad members

• Victor Vector was a stealth fighter who was selected to command the Air Carrier Justice and the Ring Raiders in 1993. He is the closest of all to the Ring Raiders ideal. A cool headed commander, he is daring, brave and willing againg again to risk his life for the sake of others

• Yuri Kirkov is a solid, disciplined former Soviet Air Force major is one the foremost formation leaers fo the Ring Raiders. He defected from the Russians to join the U.S. Marines flyign in Vietnam. A bit stern and likely to take himself to seriously, he is nonetheless, in his tough minded way a very nice guy. Hie is constantly surprised by the free and easy ways of the other Ring Raiders and constantly wonders to himself, "Is this any way to run an Air Force?

• Yinsu Yakamura was a space figther pilot picked by the Air Carrier Justice in one of its future flights in the year 2235. Computer educated, his is incredibly intelligent and knowledgeable about a wide range of subjects. His past being from the future, it is only natural that he finds it easy to be an expert on 20th Century technology. His high courage and sense of honour match his intellect.

• The Baron is a cantkerous World war I german fighter pilot. He thinks his follow pilots relie to much on technology as seen in espiode called a pilots faith.

• Joe Thundercloud is a Sioux Indian who fought either with the U.S. Air Force in Korea before being beamed aboard the Air Carrier Justice. Joes is a quiet, reflective pilot who says little. But when he chooses to speak, the others listen for they know he has a keen mind for stategy and problem solving. In the air, he is brave, tireless, and always alert. He's know for his uncanny ability to spot eninemes before they show up on radar.

• "Cub" Jones was beamed aboard the Air Carrier Justice in 1943. He had lied about his age to get in the U.S. navy and was only 16. He shows the potential of being the greatest Ring Raider pilot ever, in terms of mere flying ability. But has a hot temper and cocky nature and much that he needs to learm about the turud nature fo heroism.

Skull Squadron members

• Scorch is the leader of the Skull Squadron. This fithger tatics masters knows every fient , fake and dirty trick . Scorch is a relenteless dogfigther who refuses to be bettered or outclassed. Bitterly evil to the core, he lives for the day he can get his revenge on Victor Vector for the burns that cover his face and left arm.

• Hubbub

• Blackjack

• Wraither

• Shooter

• Cuthroat

Ring of Fire, Scorch's Revenge, All the Right Stuff and A Pilot's Faith were all pilot episodes but the series was never taken up as a full season show.

External links

• Virtual Toychest
• Internet movie database
• Cartoon Database
• Ring Raiders Intro