Quinjet
23.10.25
The Helicarrier is a triumph of engineering, but it’s far too large and unwieldy to be appropriate for many S.H.I.E.L.D. engagements. When a handful of S.H.I.E.L.D.’s people need to get in, make a point, and get out, they take a Quinjet. Highly maneuverable, capable of supersonic speeds, supplied with a full range of ordnance for offense and fully armored for defense, roomy enough to transport a strike team, sleek enough to land on a city street, and sturdy enough to transport a Hulk, the Quinjet has the most utility per square inch that S.H.I.E.L.D. could pack into one aircraft. After the formation of the Avengers, the team takes the original Quinjet design and transforms it, turning it into a mode of transportation worthy of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
I was thrilled to be able to work on such an iconic Marvel aircraft. I have a great love for aircraft cross sections with several hundred cold war era illustrations in my personal collection. I tried to keep this design grounded in realism without having too much science fiction tech.
One of the most exciting challenges of the illustration was to come up with an engine that had four air intakes and 32 exhaust nozzles. I used a lot of ideas and sketches but in the end came up with the helical design.
As Marvel’s heroes have battled across our screens, they have visited amazing locations, wielded fantastical weapons, and piloted incredible vehicles. But so often we’ve been left wondering about what isn’t shown—what was behind that closed door? How does that weapon work?
Now, those questions will finally be answered as the outer skin of iconic Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) moments is peeled away. From Avengers Tower to the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, the hidden inner workings of many of Marvel Studios’ most awesome creations will finally be revealed.
Marvel Studios: Incredible Cross-Sections will take fans far beyond what’s seen on screen, offering them fresh new insights and surprises that will enrich their viewing experience, making them feel like they’re seeing classic MCU moments for the first time!