Hoverbout

Hoverbout
Main aliases:	Transolar disc Anti-gravitational disc Anti-grav disc Space maneouvre cradle
Type:	Personal aircraft
Used by:	Daleks
First appearance:	Doctor Who and the Daleks
Appearances:	see list

Hoverbouts — alternatively spelt as hovabouts and also known as transolar discs, anti-gravitational discs, anti-grav discs or space maneouvre cradles — were small circular flying platforms with a railing around the edge, used by Daleks for operation within a planetary atmosphere, in close planetary orbit and within close to medium range of a Dalek spacecraft.

Characteristics

As acknowledged by the Dalek Survival Guide, there were a number of disc types. Some had been spotted with weaponry attachments to the main body of the disc. These weapons were operated by the Dalek manipulating controls on the disc railings. Indeed, the special connection between the Dalek's sucker attachment and the disc afforded an almost symbiotic relationship between Dalek and disc. This high level of sensitivity in the Dlaek's control of the disc's movements made it formidable in space battle situations and unshakeable in its pursuit of victims running for cover on the ground. The directional thrusters of the disc made it more manoevuerable than a Dalek in independent hover mode.

The guide remained unclear as to how a Dalek preferred to disembark from a disc, since there had been so few survivors left to give detailed accounts, but experts leant towards the theory that Daleks hovered in and out of their discs.

It was noted that the transolar disc was often referred to as a "hoverbout" when it was engaged in routine operations within a planet's atmosphere. However, since the discs were usually fitted with high-energy interplanetary drive systems, they would be more accurately identified as "transolar discs" for the purposes of sighting reports. (PROSE: Dalek Survival Guide)

History

Early Dalek history

On Skaro, several styles of hoverbout were used to patrol the planet and the monitor events close to spacecraft. (COMIC: Legacy of Yesteryear) The hoverbouts were born out of the early casings being incapable of flight and the Daleks needing to efficiently traverse rough terrain. (PROSE: The Astounding Untold History of the Greatest Enemies of the Universe)

The Daleks made use of transolar discs for patrol during the 22nd century Dalek invasion of Earth. (AUDIO: Masters of Earth, TV: Susan and the Daleks)

In 2400, in an anticipation of the invasion of Earth's solar system, a Dalek instructor manned a hoverbout as they presented an image of the solar system's planets and moons, shown according to their importance to the Daleks, to a Dalek audience. (COMIC: Dalek Planetarium)

Shortly after, many Daleks on hoverbouts took off from the space stations on Skaro, including the Red Commander's Kangring Squadron. The invading Daleks first struck the moons of Jupiter, wiping out the primitive races there before proceeding to exterminate the monsters of Saturn's moons. After wiping out a human colony on Mars within three hours, the Dalek advance halted for some weeks.

The Daleks then moved to invade Venus. They were briefly seen passing Earth by Paddy who was working on an observation satellite but they activated an electron shield which masked their presence. Paddy took the hoverbouts to be flying saucers, which were regarded as a 20th century myth and so he was sent on sick leave back to Earth. On Venus, New Paris was unprepared for the Dalek attack and after the savage onslaught it was reduced to ruins with the survivors rounded up and made into slaves. After this, two Daleks were sent on hoverbouts to investigate the Churchill Mountains where Jeff, Andy and Mary Stone were on a working holiday. They destroyed their cabin and captured Jeff and Mary. (COMIC: Invasion of the Daleks)

Transolar discs attack a mechanical planet. (COMIC: The Mechanical Planet)

A Dalek assassination squad sent in a Dalek time machine to kill the First Doctor and his companions used hoverbouts to obtain a better view of the Aridian desert. (PROSE: The Chase)

The Dalek invasion fleet preparing in the hangar to destroy the solar system with the Time Destructor was monitored from air on Kembel by Daleks in hoverbouts. (PROSE: The Mutation of Time)

The Daleks used hoverbouts to escape the destruction of a Voord spaceship, follow an escape capsule containing the First Doctor and the Chief Voord to a South American jungle, and battle Earth fighters. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Daleks)

A lone grey Dalek patrolled the captured city of Verimuth on a hoverbout. During the attempted invasion of Slarvia, the Daleks dispatched hoverbouts which were armed with additional weapons that connected directly to their pilots' interior assault computers. (PROSE: Dalek: The Astounding Untold History of the Greatest Enemies of the Universe)

In the 26th century, the Daleks used "space maneouvre cradles" in an engagement against Neomorph Cybermen near Soarpath Junction. (PROSE: Heliotrope Bouquet)

During the Second Dalek War, hoverbouts were used by the Daleks on Mazam. (COMIC: Abslom Daak... Dalek Killer) In space, Dalek Space-Commando Units were used. (COMIC: Star Tigers)

In the skies of Skaro, Daleks used hoverbouts as they repelled the invading Birdmen. (COMIC: The Invisible Invaders)

Movellan War

During the Dalek-Movellan War, the Daleks used anti-gravitational discs during their search for Davros on Skaro. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Destiny of the Daleks)

After the Imperial-Renegade Civil War

The Special Weapons Daleks of Phalanx 4 are deployed. (COMIC: Fire and Brimstone)

The Daleks of the Dalek Hive used hoverbouts, including the Dalek Surgeons and the Special Weapons Daleks of Phalanx 49, although the Supreme Dalek could fly under his own power. (COMIC: Fire and Brimstone)

During Operation Genocide, hoverbouts were seen moving between the Death Wheel of the Imperials' Emperor's Daleks and the planet Hell. (COMIC: Nemesis of the Daleks)

During the Second Great Dalek Occupation, Daleks aboard transolar discs were used to patrol around Dalek-held planets and in groups to attack spacecraft. (AUDIO: The Human Factor) The Dead Hand was escorted by a squad of Daleks aboard transolar discs during the Dalek attack on Kedru 7. All but two were destroyed by Salus Kade‘s Maniac Squad who hijacked the Dead Hand. The two survivors flew into Kedru 7’s atmosphere and caused a power build-up in their discs, triggering an explosion which ignited the atmosphere and killed everything on the planet. (AUDIO: The Fearless: Part 1, The Fearless: Part 2) Transolar discs were also used by the Daleks to attack the enemy human forces attempting to breach the Dalek-held facility Project Infinity on Lopra Minor. (AUDIO: Project Infinity)

In an alternate timeline, President Nigel Rochester owned a functioning transolar disc, which he used to take the Sixth Doctor on an aerial tour of London. The vehicle was later destroyed by Rochester, who claimed that it was "bugged" with a listening device. (AUDIO: Jubilee)

When the Restoration Empire invaded Islos, the Silver Daleks used hoverbouts to quickly move about the capital city. The Dalek Executioner used one while in space to monitor the troop deployment. (WC: The Archive of Islos)

Time War

Transolar discs were used during the Last Great Time War. (PROSE: A Prologue) They were used to pursue the War Master on Arcking. (AUDIO: The Good Master) Hoverbouts were used to travel beneath the crust of Gallifrey during the First Segment of the War. (PROSE: The Stranger)

Post-Time War

Aqua-Daleks. (COMIC: The Dalek Project)

Transolar discs were salvaged during a war between humans and the New Dalek Paradigm, and were investigated at Station 7. (COMIC: The Only Good Dalek)

Bronze Aqua-Dalek units used underwater version of hoverbouts to destroy a submarine used by the Eleventh Doctor and his companions. (COMIC: The Dalek Project)

During the 1966 Dalek invasion of Earth, a bronze Dalek operated a hoverbout with a claw attachment used to capture the Fourteenth Doctor's TARDIS. (COMIC: Liberation of the Daleks)

Behind the scenes

Live-action depictions

Hoverbouts have never appeared in mainline televised Doctor Who: by the time the special effects budget allowed for Daleks to fly, it was decided to let the Daleks' very casings hover, without need for an additional, bulky contraption. This was seen first in Remembrance of the Daleks, and then from Dalek onwards in the post-2005 revived series.

A live-action hoverbout was seen in Susan and the Daleks, one of the minisodes created for 30 Years in the TARDIS. However, the version of the minisode seen in the televised cut of 30 Years in the TARDIS does not include the hoverbout's appearance; it can only be seen in the longer cut included in the direct-to-VHS expanded edition of the special, More than 30 Years in the TARDIS. As such, it can truthfully be said, though by a hair, that the hoverbouts never appeared on television. Hoverbouts are also seen in the final shot of the home video minisode Emperor of the Daleks, although they are static and not in flight, and are visibly part of a matte painting in the wide shot rather than physical props.

Invalid sources

• The Dalek Task Force (one of the non-narrative features from The Dalek World) showed another type of personal Dalek aircraft, the Task Leader's Solus Combat, reserved for the titular Dalek Task Force's Dalek Task Leader.
• Hoverbouts feature in the comic story Daleks Versus the Martians, a prequel to the film Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D..
• Daleks are seen using hoverbouts to contain the Fifth Doctor's TARDIS in Trapped in the Time Corridor, an illustration for the 30th Anniversary Calendar.
• Daleks on hoverbouts are seen in the illustrated preview for The Apocalypse Element.

Merchandise

• Dalek Spaceship playsets were released as part of Character Options' Character Building range, including a "detachable skimmer car" resembling a hoverbout.
• The Into the Dalek set includes Black Dalek with black hoverbout, though no such Dalek appears in the episode.
• The Doctor Who Time Zone Playset Dalek Invasion 2075AD includes a bronze Dalek with a Hoverbout. Bronze Daleks aboard transolar discs are likewise featured on both the animated YouTube trailer for Big Finish Productions' The War Doctor audio anthology, Only the Monstrous, and the cover art for The Thousand Worlds, The Heart of the Battle and The Shadow Cage.