Why do Admirals always use Excelsior Class ships?

[Tomalak]

I suspect the continued unabashed fuglyness of Ambassador class kept Excelsior's on the screen for quite awhile. But I don't know.

Probert's original Ambassador design was quite different to the Enterprise-C, although I'm not sure if I like it better.

Supposedly the Ambassador model was damaged after it was last used in Emissary as the Yamaguchi. I don't think there was a time where an Ambassador was called for after that. The Excelsior model was used for the Lakota because it was a larger, more detailed model and the Ambassador was already damaged by then.

After that, Greg Jein built a new Excelsior model for Flashback which then appeared a few times subsequently. Then it was pretty much all CGI, and they never had to build an Ambassador, so it never appeared again.

 

[Shaka Zulu]

Whether the show is all CGI, or partially CGI with real models, it would be cheaper to re-use existing footage. Whether it is lazy or not is another matter. Not sure what your point is?

Using the same footage each and every time was good when all that was used was models, but now it should be expected that all shots should be random or different, and that all ship/craft on a show be brand new as the plot of an episode needs or warrants.

 

[Dukhat]

Using the same footage each and every time was good when all that was used was models, but now it should be expected that all shots should be random or different, and that all ship/craft on a show be brand new as the plot of an episode needs or warrants.

Actually, I'm pretty sure that besides random shots of the station, there were zero uses of stock footage in Babylon 5. And that was over 20 years ago. So there's really no excuse these days for its use.

 

[Shaka Zulu]

Actually, I'm pretty sure that besides random shots of the station, there were zero uses of stock footage in Babylon 5. And that was over 20 years ago. So there's really no excuse these days for its use.

Exactly.

 

[Bry_Sinclair]

Thought just occurred to me, maybe they use Excelsior's for security. With so many of them in the fleet hostiles would have no way to know which ones members of the admiralty were on, plus if they need to go somewhere to give classified orders on covert missions then a common ship, like an Excelsior, isn't going to draw as much attention as a more high-profile one.

Just some random ramblings

 

[Timo]

Actually, I'm pretty sure that besides random shots of the station, there were zero uses of stock footage in Babylon 5. And that was over 20 years ago. So there's really no excuse these days for its use.

Hmm. So no stock footage except when there was stock footage?

The "random freighters float past the station" stock footage grew really tedious within the first season already, there being only about three different versions of it. It's the closest analogy to the Trek "random ship flies in formation with the E-D" phenomenon functionally and dramatically, really.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Crazyewok]

Yeah, it is kind of silly the Excelsior class is so omnipresent yet the newer, more advanced Ambassador class, which must have been the pride of Starfleet at some point if one of the ships was an Enterprise, is hardly ever seen. Yes, I am aware of the various real world reasons for the Ambassador being so sparse like the model not existing until the third season and was eventually damaged beyond repair. And ultimately when they switched to CG they chose to go with continuing to show endless Excelsiors and Mirandas for familiarity sake while the ships from First Contact were the go to for new ships. But I like the Ambassador class and would have liked to have seen more of it.

Bonus points if the used Probert's original design.
#wentthere

Same reason production of the F-22 stoped but we are still pumping out f-15.

Ambassador may of been cutting edge but in terms of mission efficiency and cost it may have had problems.

Not all classes of ships will be successful and new does not always = better.

 

[Lance]

I can see admirals traveling in "their" dedicated command ships (actual flag ships), although the first availible ship might be used on occasion.

The admiral would not be in direct command of the ship, there would be a flag captain on a command ship, or the ship's normal captain if it was just convenant transport.

I always assumed this should've been the situation in TMP. Decker remaining captain of the ship, while Kirk, as Admiral, is in command of the overall mission. Would've made more sense than both being bumped down a rank.

 

[Leviathan]

...good question.

Like any government vehicle - it's 20 years out of date. There's still folks driving 90's era Chevy Caprices

...is it caprices or...Capri...

 

[Timo]

I always assumed this should've been the situation in TMP. Decker remaining captain of the ship, while Kirk, as Admiral, is in command of the overall mission. Would've made more sense than both being bumped down a rank.

Then again, perhaps getting demoted was the price Kirk had to pay for being allowed to command the mission from aboard his beloved ship, abandoning his post at SF Ops. "Temporary", my ass - Kirk chose to get busted. And then spread the goodwill around.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[Lance]

Then again, perhaps getting demoted was the price Kirk had to pay for being allowed to command the mission from aboard his beloved ship, abandoning his post at SF Ops. "Temporary", my ass - Kirk chose to get busted. And then spread the goodwill around.

Timo Saloniemi

I can go with that. It'd add for more frisson and drama with the Kirk/Decker relationship too, if Kirk's selfish need to be back in that chair resulted in Decker having to lose a recent promotion too. We do see Decker with Captain's stripes the first time we meet him, then later with Commander's stripes.

Decker has a good reason to be pissed. Kirk may have had to "pay the price" of a demotion, but Will didn't get a choice...

 

[Qonundrum]

Let's just accept the one, true reality:

Starfleet admirals are all aficionados of Stan Lee.

 

[TommyR01D]

The Excelsior class probably had the greatest production run of any of Starfleet's big ship classes - Mirandas and Oberths being at the small end, unsuitable for officers of flag rank.

It may simply be that the Ambassador class was only ever built in small numbers - a limited edition, not intended to make up the bulk of the fleet. This likely would also have been the case with the Galaxy class prior to the Dominion War.

 

[XCV330]

The Excelsior class probably had the greatest production run of any of Starfleet's big ship classes - Mirandas and Oberths being at the small end, unsuitable for officers of flag rank.

It may simply be that the Ambassador class was only ever built in small numbers - a limited edition, not intended to make up the bulk of the fleet. This likely would also have been the case with the Galaxy class prior to the Dominion War.

The Ambasador class was so butt ugly no high ranking diplomat would want to be seen on one. It could damage high level negotiations before they begin.

Alien Diplomat: "You came (guffaws) on THAT? Oh my God!" laughs from a thousand mouths

Ambassador Uptight: "Yes well, we're trying new things. Mixed feelings for us all, but I'd like to get back to discussing."

Alien Diplomat: "I mean. I heard you guys let anyone in, but did a blind Packlid make that thing? I've seen spoonhead genitalia that looked more inviting."

Ambassador Uptight: "We have some concerns about mining in the sector of.."

Alien Diplomat: "I'm sorry.. I'm loosing my breath here. Oh shit. I was so worried about this meeting but I got to be honest. I really feel sorry for you. This is.. this is.. Oh Space Jesus.. did you look at that thing before you stepped on board? I need a minute.. just a minute."

 

[Marlonius]

When I consider that the modern USS Enterprise aircraft carrier was in service from 1961 to 2012, a period of 51 years, I find an 80 year old starship pretty easy to accept.

 

[PhotoBoy]

Perhaps by the time of TNG admirals all get their own starship to prevent "Admiral Kirk Syndrome" where certain desk bound admirals get bored of flying a desk and decide to appropriate command of Starfleet's latest and greatest starship for themselves. So Starfleet give them all refurbed Excelsiors to keep them in line.

 

[Crazyewok]

The Ambasador class was so butt ugly no high ranking diplomat would want to be seen on one. It could damage high level negotiations before they begin.

Alien Diplomat: "You came (guffaws) on THAT? Oh my God!" laughs from a thousand mouths

Ambassador Uptight: "Yes well, we're trying new things. Mixed feelings for us all, but I'd like to get back to discussing."

Alien Diplomat: "I mean. I heard you guys let anyone in, but did a blind Packlid make that thing? I've seen spoonhead genitalia that looked more inviting."

Ambassador Uptight: "We have some concerns about mining in the sector of.."

Alien Diplomat: "I'm sorry.. I'm loosing my breath here. Oh shit. I was so worried about this meeting but I got to be honest. I really feel sorry for you. This is.. this is.. Oh Space Jesus.. did you look at that thing before you stepped on board? I need a minute.. just a minute."

It's how the Enterprise C held off so many romulans, they where to busy laughing to open fire.

A Ambassador may have been the single ship that escaped wolf 359 as it was to much of a joke to assimilate.

 

[Doc Mugatu]

Every Admiral we see on TNG and DS9 always use Excelsior Class ships. Why?

Because they are equipped with them fancy Japanese toilets. Look it all them command functions!

 

[ThankQ]

Because there's no Enterprise Rent-A-Starship in the future.

Yeah, but there's