Star Trek: Voyager cast had access to a thrilling alternative that transformed how they explored such a hostile part of the galaxy. The vessel holds a unique place in Star Trek lore, as nothing similar had ever been attempted before, nor has it happened since. However, there is a very good reason behind its rarity.

Although the Delta Flyer may seem as though it was present throughout most of the show, it actually only made its debut in Star Trek: Voyager season 5, episode 3, "Extreme Risk." So, although it wasn't part of the story for every season of Star Trek: Voyager, the ship became instrumental to Captain Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) and her crew on their lengthy trip back to Earth. Without the Delta Flyer, Voyager's crew might never have made it home at all.

Star Trek: Voyager’s Delta Flyer Explained

The USS Voyager crew came together to create a bespoke shuttle

The Delta Flyer was, primarily, a Starfleet ship. Regardless, it didn't exactly adhere to Starfleet specifications. Not only was it built aboard a stranded Federation vessel, but the USS Voyager's crew drew inspiration for its design and functionality from an eclectic mix of sources. While the bedrock of its blueprint certainly stemmed from other Starfleet shuttles, the input from Jeri Ryan's Seven of Nine meant the Delta Flyer also incorporated Borg technology into its design, but it didn't stop there.

As an aficionado of retro tech, Paris claimed he was sick of what piloting had become in the 24th century, and he wanted the option of flying the Delta Flyer like the pilots of old.

With Lt. Tom Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill) instrumental as part of the team building the Delta Flyer, Voyager's ace helmsman gave his project a little 20th-century flair that was perhaps to be expected. Rather than the exclusive use of Starfleet's signature touchscreen s, Lt. Paris also integrated far more tactile controls inspired by his beloved Captain Proton holodeck adventures. As an aficionado of retro tech, Paris claimed he was sick of what piloting had become in the 24th century, and he wanted the option of flying the Delta Flyer like the pilots of old.

The original Delta Flyer was destroyed by the Borg in the Star Trek: Voyager season 6 finale, "Unimatrix Zero." A very similar ship under the same name was built to replace it, only it wasn't quite so heavy on the Captain Proton-inspired components.

The Delta Flyer was generally far more maneuverable, more responsive, and packed a bigger punch in of firepower when compared with Voyager's other shuttles. Rather than two spots for a pilot and co-pilot like a traditional shuttle, the Delta Flyer's bridge was more similar to a full-sized starship. It had various stations that specialized in specific parts of the vessel's operation, so it tended to need far more crew to be the most effective. It could also reach speeds of up to Warp 6, making it Voyager's fastest shuttle.

Why Star Trek: Voyager Needed A Delta Flyer Shuttle

The Delta Quadrant presented risks that Voyager's standard shuttles could no longer handle

For almost the entirety of its trip home, the USS Voyager was the only Starfleet vessel by its side. There was, of course, the USS Equinox, but that two-episode arc infamously ended with Voyager once more being alone in the Delta Quadrant. So, eventually, Janeway decided her ship's standard shuttles were no longer sufficient when it came to backup and increasingly dangerous away missions. As a result, she gave her crew an interesting task - to build and design and build a new shuttle - the Delta Flyer.

The official Star Trek: Voyager rewatch podcast is named The Delta Flyers, after the ship. It is co-hosted by Robert Duncan McNeill and Garrett Wang - who played Lt. Tom Paris and Ensign Harry Kim respectively.

Star Trek: Voyager famously never tracked the attrition rate of its shuttles very well. It was always unclear how many shuttles the ship had when it arrived in the Delta Quadrant, but it's widely known among Trekkies that an unrealistic number of them were lost in action. Either way, the Delta Flyer was still superior to any of them. It was essentially a hybrid not just of different technologies, but also of various functions. While it was primarily used as a shuttlecraft, it was also a self-contained mini-vessel that doubled up as a vital ship in Voyager's diminutive fleet.

There's also the matter of Starfleet not deg standard shuttlecrafts with the scenario in mind of belonging to the only friendly ship for lightyears around. Simply put, they were supposed to be used for ferrying personnel to and from a planet's surface, with any weapons on board only intended to provide enough firepower to cover a retreat to the mothership. Obviously, Voyager's dire circumstances couldn't possibly have been predicted, so it was up to Janeway and her crew to rectify their ship's shortcomings by creating a bespoke shuttle specific to their needs.

Starfleet Hasn’t Built More Delta Flyers After Star Trek: Voyager

The Delta Flyer remains specific to the show in which it premiered

Outside the world of the show, it makes sense that the USS Voyager was the only ship to have a Delta Flyer. Making the vessel unique to Star Trek: Voyager made the show feel more unique, and allowing the collaboratively designed shuttle to become part of Starfleet's infrastructure would have made it less special. However, there are a few in-universe theories that could explain why the Delta Flyer never showed up in other Star Trek shows after Voyager.

Compared to other Starfleet shuttles, the Delta Flyer is armed to the teeth, packing far more punch than its traditional counterparts. So, it arguably sends the wrong message if a peaceful organization that prioritizes exploration were to roll out such a formidable shuttlecraft as standard. It was necessary in the Delta Quadrant, but it isn't in the Alpha Quadrant. Additionally, although Lt. Paris' throwback design choices could easily be removed, the integrated Borg tech would be sure to make the Starfleet brass uncomfortable - and it's a big part of what makes the Star Trek: Voyager ship what it is.