Strahl

Ah, Vaan! Sounds like you made it out okay! The Strahl's a fine airship, eh?

Balthier

Strahl is an airship in Final Fantasy XII. The Strahl is the player party's main airship and is owned by the party members Balthier and Fran. Unlike previous games, the Strahl can't be boarded. Instead, boarding the Strahl will instantly bring up the world map and a list of destinations the party can travel to, similar to Final Fantasy X. Nono is seen working as the Strahl's mechanic.

Origins

Strahl was originally a new prototype ship for the Archadian Empire, but its unique folding-wing design proved too expensive. As such, the ship was going to be scrapped. However, while Balthier was escaping Archades, he stole the Strahl. The Strahl has since been upgraded so much, it no longer resembles its original design. New features include invisibility and a skystone that allows it to travel over jagd.

Story

Template:Spoilers Strahl has been Balthier's airship ever since he stole it from the Archadian Empire when he decided to abandon his old way of life and become a sky pirate. Balthier and Fran lend the use of Strahl to the party until the player party is heading to Tomb of Raithwall. Located on the jagd, Strahl is unable to fly there, so Balthier leaves the ship to Dalmasca Westersand with the moogle mechanic Nono looking after it. However, the Strahl gets damaged as the entire 8th Archadian Fleet explodes mid-air, and it's up to Nono and his moogle mechanics to repair it.

Later, Reddas gives the party a new skystone that is capable of flying over jagd. This is also the time Balthier teaches Vaan how to fly the Strahl 'in case he will have to do something heroic'. After the installation of the new skystone, Strahl is capable of flying anywhere in Ivalice. As Sky Fortress Bahamut is about to engage in war with the Resistance above Rabanastre, the party fly the Strahl to it to stop Vayne. After defeating Vayne Balthier and Fran stay behind to fix Bahamut's glossair rings, as the Sky Fortress has lost its power. Vaan, for the time being, becomes the captain of Strahl and flies the rest of the party to safety.

Since then, Balthier and Fran have gone missing and Vaan and Penelo look after the Strahl. Until one day, they enter the hangar and find the Strahl stolen - by Balthier, who has left a note to the pair. Reclaimed by its rightful owners, the Strahl is back in the hands of Balthier, who is on his way to new adventures, having found an entirely unexplored continent...

Spoilers end here.

Gallery

Concept art.

Concept art.

Strahl in hangar in Rabanastre.

Strahl in its folded state.

Trivia

• As shown in the game when being chased by Archadians, Balthier doesn't use any weapons on the Strahl, even though it was a prototype fighter airship and as such, should be equipped with something.