Firebolt

The Firebolt is a world-class broomstick, fastest at the time of its production, that was released in 1993.

Description
It is made of ash wood treated with a diamond hard polish, with a tail of birch twigs. It is capable of going from nought to one hundred and fifty miles per hour in ten seconds. The Firebolt also boasts an unbreakable Braking Charm, superb balance and precision, and hovers at reasonable mounting height when let go. By 1994, the Firebolt was the fastest broomstick in the world.

History
The Firebolt was used by both the Irish and Bulgarian teams during the 1994 Quidditch World Cup.

"'Irish International side's just put in an order for seven of these beauties!' the proprieter of the shop told the crowd. 'And they're favouirites for the World Cup!'"

- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Harry Potter first saw a Firebolt broom in the window of Quality Quidditch Supplies in the summer before his third year. He wanted one, but he already had a Nimbus 2000 and had to remind himself of that to keep from going in and asking what the price was. Every day that he was in Diagon Alley, before his third year at Hogwarts, he made sure that he passed the window so that he could stare in awe at the amazing and magnificent broom. He received a Firebolt as an anonymous present from his godfather, Sirius Black at Christmas 1993, after his Nimbus 2000 was destroyed by the Whomping Willow. Harry was the only person in Hogwarts that owned a Firebolt. Miniature models were also produced as gifts. Harry lost his Firebolt in the Battle over Little Whinging.

Behind the scenes

 * Because Firebolt broomsticks hover at convenient mounting height when not in use, the usefulness of the apparently undetachable bipod is questionable, except for display, such as in the window of Quality Quidditch Supplies in Diagon Alley, or as a footrest when one is on the broom but apparently, it is used as a foot-rest as it was shown in many occasions in the films that the characters half stand on the bipods and also rest their feet on them.
 * In, Ron Weasley is seen using a similar bipod to stabilize his stance while playing Keeper. This may be the intended function of the Firebolt's bipod.

Appearances

 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
 * Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)
 * Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
 * Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
 * The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
 * Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup

Notes and references
Éclair de Feu