The pilot episode.
Examples:
- Actor Allusion: The episode takes its name from the 1976 film "Shadow of the Hawk". Both works star Jan Michael Vincent.
- Bittersweet Ending: At the end of the two-parter pilot, the Airwolf is recovered, but Gabrielle is dead.Archangel: "Did...she suffer?"
(long pause)
Hawke: "What difference does it make?"
Archangel: "Dammit, I sent her out there, I wanna know!"
(long pause)
Hawke: No... no, she didn't suffer.
Archangel: "....thank God for that." - Disney Death: Moffet pulls an apparent Suicide by Cop when he allows his helicopter to be hit by crossfire. In later seasons, it becomes clear that he isn't as dead as the heroes first thought.
- Instrumental Theme Tune: The legendary techno track that opens the show is one of the best and most memorable parts. The original from the pilot episode is hybrid synth orchestra
. - Murphy's Bullet: Invoked. The Big Bad Dr. Moffett positions his helicopter to the exact spot where it'd be vulnerable to a Golden BB, counting that, because of Finagle's Law, it won't miss.
- No Plans, No Prototype, No Backup: Justified because the Airwolf is the prototype. Its designer, Dr. Muffet, steals it when he defects to Lybia. He also destroys the place the helicopter was manufactured as well as its design plans.
- There Is No Kill Like Overkill: Exaggerated due to it being very personal. When Stringfellow corners Moffett, he unloads Airwolf's entire weapons payload into his Jeep, with Dom only able to close his eyes in the back seat as String continues to fire everything with Berserker Tears until he's squeezing the trigger repeatedly on an empty barrel.Dom: String... it's done.
