Landspeeder/Legends
A landspeeder (the generic term for a repulsion floater), also called a hover car, overlander or floater, was a hovering, ground-based vehicle capable of traveling across most terrain at relatively high speed. It succeeded the hanno speeder.
Details
Low-power repulsorlifts enabled most landspeeders to hover continually one to two meters above the ground, whether stationary or moving. Turbine jet engines propelled the vehicles forward. Some landspeeders were also equipped with weapons, usually mounted either at the front of the craft or above and behind the pilot and/or passengers.
Hundreds of designers, manufacturers and models existed throughout the galaxy, although the SoroSuub Corporation dominated the landspeeder market before and during the reign of the Galactic Empire.
A landspeeder c. 3956 BBY
Most landspeeder models could carry one or more passengers, while top speeds ranged from 100 to 250 kilometers per hour. Most models measured between 3 to 8 meters in length. Cockpit configurations on many models included retractable windshields and canopies, allowing the driver and passengers to be either fully enclosed or exposed to the air.
Landspeeders came in many types, ranging from sporty civilian models designed for speed and flashy looks, often with stylish bodywork and/or paint jobs, to everyday utility craft. The latter included everything from small speeder trucks capable of hauling small cargo to massive freighter-like transports able to carry tremendous loads. Some models were built specifically for military use, such as the TX-130 Saber-class fighter tank, while others were civilian models modified for military use, such as the Flash speeder used by the Royal Naboo Security Forces.
Landspeeders should not be confused with airspeeders, which could reach much higher altitudes. Speeder bikes and swoops also served similar functions, although the latter operated more like a low-altitude airspeeder. In general, all of these vehicle types were collectively referred to simply as speeders.