T-16 skyhoppers, alternatively called T-16 airspeeders, are a type of Skyhopper. These personal repulsorlift airspeeders were manufactured by Incom Corporation and are easily spotted due to their unique tri-wing configuration. Esteemed for its dependable and stable performance across diverse planetary environments, this high-performance airspeeder became a popular choice, providing many young individuals with their initial flight experiences. The T-16's trihedral design bore a striking resemblance to the Imperial Lambda-class T-4a shuttle.
Prior to the Battle of Yavin, Luke Skywalker possessed a T-16 skyhopper on Tatooine, along with a small, hand-sized model. He utilized the airspeeder's pneumatic cannon for hunting womp rats. Skywalker benefited during the Battle of Yavin because the controls mirrored those of Incom's T-65B X-wing starfighter.
The 1977 film Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, the initial entry in the Star Wars original trilogy, marked the T-16 skyhopper's debut. It was first formally identified in the 2015 reference work, Ultimate Star Wars.
During the production phase of the Obi-Wan Kenobi television series, the prop department crafted a damaged T-16 skyhopper toy prop for use in the show. The original prop was studied and used as a reference to recreate the prop.
In "Part III," the third episode of the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, stormtroopers mention the T-16, referencing a conversation from Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. In that scene, two stormtroopers discuss the BT-16 while Obi-Wan Kenobi deactivates the tractor beam. Voice actor Sam Witwer initiated references to that scene, adding similar lines in the sequel trilogy that mentioned the T-17 and T-18, as well as in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Solo: A Star Wars Story, which referenced the T-15. The era determined which model was mentioned. "Chapter 8: Redemption" from The Mandalorian series also includes a similar T-16 reference. While the scenes reference the T-16, the original A New Hope conversation concerned the BT-16.