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Airborne

(aka Sergeant Airborne; not to be confused with 1990's Airborne)

File Name: Franklin E. Talltree of Navajo Reservation, Arizona.
Grades: Army E-5 (1983-2008)
various SNs: RA030446233; 30-44-TT62; 030-44-TT62
Notes: The Navajo Nation covers 26,000 square miles in the Four Corners region, including all of northeastern Arizona.



chronological: Tripwire<< Airborne >>Snow Job
alphabetical: Air Viper Commando<< Airborne (1983) >>Airborne (1990)

 

Animated Appearances

Sunbow VoiceAppearancesTime Identifiable On ScreenTotal Lines (In Own Voice)Total Words
Peter Cullen18529 seconds46397

Notes: Sunbow's Airborne had two animation models. The first featured a dark grey helmet and long-sleeved light blue collared shirt with a black diagonal chest strap. The shirt had a centered vertical gold stripe, with gold on the shoulders, wristbands, codpiece, and kneepads. He wore light blue pants with grey boots and a plain black belt with round, silver buckle. Beginning in The Synthoid Conspiracy, his appearance was nearly identical to his 1983 outfit, though with green-tinted goggles on his helmet. Without his helmet, Airborne initially had brown hair, but it was black in Lasers in the Night.

 

A Real American Hero Opening4 seconds(silent)flying Falcon Glider in base and city assaults
A Real American Hero, Part 19 seconds(silent)at airfield during Maj. Bludd's assault
A Real American Hero, Part 415 seconds2 linesreacting to surrender, in studio, in Dragonfly and J.U.M.P. at Ring of Fire
A Real American Hero, Part 519 seconds(silent)at HQ when M.A.S.S. used, weaing a J.U.M.P. while climbing mountain
Cobra Soundwaves62 seconds7 linesdefending oil fields, sensing Ali's capture, flying Falcon Glider against Cobra base; at banquet
Operation Mind Menace257 seconds30 linesflying a Dragonfly, captured on Easter Island, rescuing his brother at K12 base
The Phantom Brigade21 seconds(silent)parachuting to assault castle; present at burial
Synthoid Conspiracy, Part 242 seconds2 linesat briefing, stealing fuel trucks, flying Skystriker against island base
Spell of the Siren1 second(silent)entranced at Joe HQ (10:44)
Twenty Questions9 seconds(silent)at maneuvers; on obstacle course
Where the Reptiles Roam12 seconds(silent)driving V.A.M.P.2 to pick up Alpine's team, at HQ, assaulting ranch hideout
Lasers in the Night15 seconds(silent)at briefing on theft of the guidance system
Bazooka Saw a Sea Serpent1 second(silent)flying Dragonfly against sea serpent (11:58)
Eau de Cobra30 seconds5 linesat HQ during SOS, leading frogmen to recover perfume
The Pit of Vipers23 seconds(silent)entering Watchdog with Lady Jaye
Arise Serpentor Arise Part 12 seconds(silent)at briefing on Dreadnoks (16:36-37)
G.I. Joe: The Movie, Part 33 seconds(silent)fighting Cobra in flashback
G.I. Joe: The Movie, Part 54 seconds(silent)at ice dome entrance; in Mauler during ice dome charge; running during retreat

Classic Marvel Comic Appearances

By my count, Airborne was discernible in 89 panels in 22 issues from May 1983 to Jan. 1990: #11, 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 25, 31, 32, 33, 45, Yearbook 2, 49, SM 1, 54, Order of Battle 1, 74, 75, 77, SM 20, and 96.

Figure Releases

Versions: 1. 1983
2. 2003 (Spy Troops)
3. 2004 (Sky Sweeper)
4. 2008 (post-25th Wave 11)
 
Version 1: spring 1983 regular carded figure assortment
Helicopter Assault TrooperMOS 1: Airborne Infantryman [prob. 11B]
MOS 2: Helicopter Gunship Gunner
  • head: Airborne (83)
  • arms: Airborne (83), Scrap-Iron (84)
  • torso: Airborne (83), Steel Brigade (87 A)
  • waist: Airborne (83)
  • upper legs: Airborne (83), Steel Brigade (87 C-D, 92)
  • lower legs: Airborne (83), Scrap-Iron (84), Steel Brigade (87, 92)
Accessories: black XM-16 assault rifle (new), light green helmet with molded goggles (new), tan backpack with molded shovel).
Airborne's parents are oil-rich Navahos who indulged their eldest son with sky-diving lessons. Talltree also studied law and passed the Arizona State Bar exams. Joined the army and opted for airborne training, commenting, "I'd rather jump out of airplanes than write legal briefs." Graduated top of class from Airborne School, Fort Benning. Qualified Expert: Hughes Helicopter Chain Gun, M-16, M-60 and M-1911A auto pistol.
Airborne jokes around and gets loose, but he's serious too...dead serious. You look at him and sometimes he's looking right through you. Must be the Indian in him. The Navahos call it "the far-seeing look." Spooky!
Toy Notes: Item #6411. Featured in 1983's Polar Battle Bear and SkyStriker commercials. His name appears beside the co-pilot's seat in the Dragonfly (83).
Reissues: Reissued in fall 1983 in a J.C. Penney three-pack with Gung-Ho and Doc. Airborne was also reissued in mail offers 1985-1986 (Get Your Gear, Operation Freedom 85 and 86).
Version 2: November 2003 Spy Troops Wave 8 figure two-pack assortment
Helicopter Assault Trooper
Sergeant Airborne
MOS 1: Airborne Infantryman [prob. 11B]
MOS 2: Helicopter Gunship Gunner
  • head: Halo Jumper (03), Sgt. Airborne (03, 04)
  • arms: Halo Jumper (03), Sgt. Airborne (03, 04)
  • torso: Halo Jumper (03), Sgt. Airborne (03, 04), Cobra Night Viper (08)
  • waist: Halo Jumper (03), Sgt. Airborne (03, 04), Cobra Night Viper (08)
  • upper legs: Halo Jumper (03), Sgt. Airborne (03, 04), Copperhead (07, 09/II), Cobra Night Viper (08)
  • lower legs: Halo Jumper (03), Sgt. Airborne (03, 04), Copperhead (07, 09/II)
Accessories: silver pistol (88 Shockwave's), black rifle (03 Sand Viper's), green "Copperhead" helmet with yellow crest (new), black belt crossing in front and attaching to belly (new), green clip-on breastplate with red Cobra emblem (new), grey square backpack with handle (new).
SGT. AIRBORNE was indulged by his parents with skydiving lessons at an early age. He studied law and passed the bar exam in Arizona, but his first love - skydiving - had a firm grip on him. He combined his quest for justice and his crazy desire to jump from airplanes by joining the Army and opting for airborne training. He jokes around and gets loose, but when he turns serious, it seems as if he's looking right through you. The Navajo call it "the far-seeing look." That skull-piercing gaze can make even his G.I. JOE team members uncomfortable, so you can imagine how a captured COBRA enemy starts to squirm when he's being interrogated by SGT. AIRBORNE and feels as if the G.I. JOE trooper is seeing right inside his head.
"I'd rather jump from planes than write legal briefs - the view's better."
Toy Notes: Carded in a two-pack with Tele-Viper. Item #55454. In the original release of this pack, this figure was identified as Halo Jumper (=Rip Cord) with a different filecard. The figure itself is the same.
Version 3: October 2004 boxed Sky Sweeper Jet vehicle
Air Assault Trooper
Sergeant Airborne
MOS 1: Airborne Infantryman [prob. 11B]
MOS 2: Helicopter Gunship Gunner
  • head: Halo Jumper (03), Sgt. Airborne (03, 04)
  • arms: Halo Jumper (03), Sgt. Airborne (03, 04)
  • torso: Halo Jumper (03), Sgt. Airborne (03, 04), Cobra Night Viper (08)
  • waist: Halo Jumper (03), Sgt. Airborne (03, 04), Cobra Night Viper (08)
  • upper legs: Halo Jumper (03), Sgt. Airborne (03, 04), Copperhead (07, 09/II), Cobra Night Viper (08)
  • lower legs: Halo Jumper (03), Sgt. Airborne (03, 04), Copperhead (07, 09/II)
Accessories: black helmet with grey crest (03 Sgt. Airborne's), dark grey belt (03 Sgt. Airborne's).
SGT. AIRBORNE was indulged by his parents with skydiving lessons at an early age. He studied law and passed the bar exam in Arizona, but his first love - skydiving - had a firm grip on him. He combined his quest for justice and his crazy desire to jump from airplanes by joining the Army and opting for airborne training. He jokes around and gets loose, but when he turns serious, it seems as if he's looking right through you. The Navajo call it "the far-seeing look." That skull-piercing gaze can make even his G.I. JOE team members uncomfortable, so you can imagine how a captured COBRA enemy starts to squirm when he's being interrogated by SGT. AIRBORNE and feels as if the G.I. JOE trooper is seeing right inside his head.
"I'd rather jump from planes than write legal briefs - the view's better."
Toy Notes: Item #55487. (The Sky Sweeper was originally released in August 2003 without a figure.)
Version 4: November 2008 post-25th Anniversary Wave 11 carded figure assortment
Air Assault Trooper
Sergeant Airborne
MOS 1: Airborne Infantryman [prob. 11B]
MOS 2: Helicopter Gunship Gunner
  • head: Sgt. Airborne (08)
  • arms: Sgt. Airborne (08)
  • body: Snake Eyes (07/I, 07/II, 08/I, 08/II, 08/IV, 08/VII, 08/IX, 09/I, 09/III, 09/IV), Sgt. Stalker (07, 08/I, 08/II), G.I. Joe Hawk (08/I), Cpl. Breaker (08/I, 08/II), Ssgt. Rock 'n Roll (08/I, 08/II), Grunt (08), Duke (08/IV), Steeler (08/I, 08/II), Double Clutch (08), G.I. Joe Trooper (08/I, 08/II, 08/III, 08/IV), Sgt. Airborne (08), Short-Fuze (08), Outback (09)
  • upper legs: Gung Ho (07, 08), Dreadnok Torch (08, 09), Sgt. Airborne (08)
  • lower legs: Gung Ho (07, 08), Sgt. Airborne (08)
Accessories: black pistol (06 Med Alert's), black M4 carbine with jagged stock and bayonet with silver blade (new), green helmet with light blue goggles on brim and grey attached mic (new), light blue vest with light green chest straps and grey knife sheath (new), tan backpack with light green pouch (new), black Joe figure stand.
The oil-rich Navajo parents of SGT. AIRBORNE indulged their eldest son with skydiving lessons. Also having an interest in the legal system, he studied law and passed the Arizona State Bar exams. He joined the Army and opted for airborne training. SGT. AIRBORNE jokes around and gets loose, but he's serious too...dead serious. You look at him and sometimes he's looking right through you. It must be the Native American in him. The Navajos call it "the far-seeing look." He graduated at the top of his class from Airborne School, Fort Benning. Qualified expert: Hughes Helicopter Chain Gun, M-16, M-60 and M-1911A auto pistol.
"I'd rather jump out of airplanes than write legal briefs - the view's better."
Toy Notes: Item #36411.