Möwe

Möwe (メーヴェ, Mēve, often transliterated as Mehve or Moewe ), is a fictional aircraft from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind as well as the 1982-1994 Hayao Miyazaki manga of the same name. It is a powered glider flown solely by Nausicaä, notably as a method of travelling between her homeland and the Sea of Decay.

The name "Möwe" is derived from the German word for "gull", a connection reinforced by the craft's bird-like appearance and white color scheme. In some translations such as the 2005 English version, it is simply referred to as the glider.

Appearance
Möwe is a compact, single-person motor glider with a short, tailless fuselage, durable construction and large wings with integrated rear elevators. With its centrally-mounted jet engine, the craft can travel at high speeds, high altitudes and over long distances. It is also capable of rapid acceleration and highly aerobatic maneuvers including rolls and vertical dives. Möwe's agile movements are almost entirely controlled by the pilot's body weight.

A pedal-like lever within the fuselage activates the engine for forward thrust. The craft is capable of performing both short and vertical take-offs as well as vertical landings. Alternatively, Möwe can be launched from a catapult or a larger aircraft such as a transporter, switching to jet propulsion once airborne. Two sledge-style rails attached to the base of the fuselage allow the craft to perform conventional landings as well, or, along with its light weight, to be carried and flown like a conventional hang glider with the pilot suspended directly underneath.

More commonly, the pilot flies in a standing or prone position directly against or over the fuselage, being completely exposed to the elements during flight. The only forms of restraint system available are a set of handrails with a simple belt-like harness which the pilot leans against while in the prone position. A single passenger may accompany the pilot under certain circumstances, but attempting to carry any more occupants will prevent Möwe from taking off.

For storage and transportation aboard larger vessels, Möwe's wings and handrails are foldable; the craft's small size also enables it to fit inside a cargo barge. Additionally, it can be attached to and be towed mid-air by a Valley gunship with the use of a tow rope.

Equipment
Unlike the larger Valley gunship, Möwe does not feature any weapons. However, it can carry and drop small items such as non-destructive flash grenades from a storage compartment hidden within the fuselage. The rear of the craft also includes storage spaces for the pilot's staff and rifle.

Tsukuda Hobby
A 1:20 scale model of Möwe was originally released in 1984 by Tsukuda Hobby, based on the version of the craft depicted in the manga. The plastic assembly kit includes figurines of Nausicaä and Teto, along with a display stand and optional attachments for the Nausicaä figurine including her mask and extra helmet armor seen only in the manga. The princess's staff and rifle are also represented by separate-fitting molds which are attached to the back of Möwe using adhesives.

With various changes to the box art, product name and numbers, the Tsukuda kit continued to be available under the Tsukuda Hobby and Tsukuda Original labels until shortly after the company's acquisition by Bandai in 2002.

Bandai
In June 2004, Bandai released an updated version of the Tsukuda 1:20 model as part of the 'Studio Ghibli Plamodel Collection'. This version substituted color-molded 'snap-fit' pieces for the original unpainted, glue-on equivalents, though certain pieces such as those for Nausicaä and Teto still require additional painting with reference to the supplied paint guide. Other changes from the Tsukuda model include newer packaging, a sticker sheet containing three sets of eye decals for the Nausicaä figurine and a revised display stand with the film logo added to the base.

Premium Bandai "Full Action Version"
A brand-new model was released by Premium Bandai in 2019 as part the 'Souzou Galleria' range, titled the "Mowe & Nausicaä Full Action Version". This includes a fully-articulated figurine of Nausicaä with multiple accessories, LED light-up effects for the engine (requiring two LR41 batteries), a replica catapult which doubles as a display stand and an extendable 'butterfly-like configuration' not seen in either the film or manga. The "Full Action" Möwe has a wingspan of 257mm (25.7cm or approximately 10.1 inches).

OpenSky M-02/M-02J
The Möwe provided the inspiration for the OpenSky M-02, an airworthy one-person glider created by Kazuhiko Hachiya in conjunction with Tota Uneo and the Tokyo-based aircraft manufacturer Aircraft OLYMPOS. Making its first bungee-assisted flights in 2006, the M-02 was later succeeded by the jet-powered M-02J for taxi runs, engine tests and commissioning. The M-02J eventually made its first unassisted 'jump' flight in 2013.

The M-02 and M-02J share a very similar appearance to Möwe, the biggest differences including the addition of stabilizing wheels, the absence of VTOL capabilities and lower, more streamlined handrails. The pilot (Hachiya) controls the craft from a prone position and is secured by a full harness.

In 2015, the M-02J received a more powerful AMT Netherlands NIKE jet engine for added thrust, with complete circulatory flights following a year later. It has since performed further test and public demonstration flights in Japan, and in July 2019 appeared at the EAA AirVenture air show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin on its first visit to the United States.

The OpenSky project is not directly affiliated with Hayao Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli or any other related entities; Hachiya and his PetWORKS company take full responsibility for the M-02J's operations.

Trivia

 * According to the original design notes, Möwe has a weight of 12kg (approximately 26.4lbs), a statistic also referenced in the 'Commentary' sheet for the 2004 Bandai Plamodel Collection model.