Difference between revisions of "Skyward Flight"

{{group

|image=Skyward_Flight_by_Botanicaxu.jpeg

|leader= [[Jorgen]]

|world=Detritus

|books=[[Skyward (series)]]

}}

'''Skyward Flight''' was a squadron of ten cadet pilots of [[Poco]]-class [[starfighter]]s in the [[Defiant Defense Force]] on [[Detritus]].{{book ref|sky1|9}} Original members of the group notably include [[Spensa Nightshade]], daughter of [[Chaser]], [[Jorgen Weight]], son of a [[First Citizen]] and a [[National Assembly Leader]], and [[Rodge McCaffrey]], the highest scoring cadet on that year's pilot test.{{book ref|sky1|9}}

 

===Origin===

Skyward Flight originated as Cadet Flight B, one of three training flights organized from around twenty-five students who pass the DDF pilot's test when Spensa is seventeen years old.{{book ref|skyward|7}} The training flight includes students from various backgrounds, none of whom initially seem to recognize Spensa as the daughter of a disgraced DDF pilot, with the exception of her friend Rodge (Rig).{{book ref|skyward|8}} The instructor of their class is [[Cobb]], a former pilot who acted as a wingmate for Spensa's father.{{book ref|sky1|6}} Spensa learns that Cobb had effectively circumvented the leader of the DDF, Admiral [[Ironsides]], to get her into flight school.{{book ref|sky1|8}} Spensa immediately dislikes [[Jorgen]], a fellow cadet who comes from a wealthy and influential family; due to their divergent social backgrounds and opposing attitudes regarding DDF policies and hierarchy, she nicknames him "Jerkface".{{book ref|sky1|9}} She also nicknames their squadron "Skyward Flight",{{book ref|sky1|9}} a reference to her father's tendency to focus on the sky and the stars beyond.{{book ref|sky1|23}}{{book ref|sky1|prologue}}

===Training===

 

Cobb delays practice with weapons to focus on ship control,{{book ref|skyward|13}} and the cadets steadily gain skill through both simulations and actual flights in their Pocos.{{book ref|sky1|23}} Cobb's methods are unusual among flight instructors, but the members of Skyward Flight later realize that he has made them more skilled than some pilots in other more experienced flights.{{book ref|sky1|46}}

===Losses===

 

The relationships between the members of the flight continue to evolve as they experience hardships and gain each other's trust. Although [[Hurl]] reacts negatively when Jorgen reveals that Spensa is Chaser's daughter,{{book ref|skyward|21}} she later realizes that it was unfair to judge Spensa on her family, and the two become friends.{{book ref|skyward|28}} Spensa is brought to tears when the other girls secretly procure some real food for her and offer her a place to sleep in their dormitory.{{book ref|skyward|27}} She also begins to understand that other cadets such as Jorgen have baggage that comes with their privilege.{{book ref|skyward|41}}

 

During another battle, [[Hurl]]'s shield is brought down in a dogfight. [[Kimmalyn]] tries to shoot down one of Hurl's tails, but her usually perfect aim fails her in the heat of the moment. Hurl is hit by a Krell fighter and goes into an uncontrolled descent.{{book ref|skyward|32}} Jorgen tells Hurl to eject, but she refuses, attempting to be brave and safely land the ship. Although she nearly succeeds, she is killed in the crash.{{book ref|skyward|32}} The next day, Kimmalyn tells the flight that she is holding them back, and quits.{{book ref|skyward|33}} Later, the flight accompanies [[Blaze]] on a scouting mission, and when they report back to Cobb to debrief, Arturo's mother is there waiting for him, and pulls him out of flight school.{{book ref|skyward|41}}

===Final Battle and Disbanding===

Shortly before graduation, the remaining members of Skyward Flight are assigned to fly with [[Nightmare Flight]], an established group of full pilots.{{book ref|sky1|46}} After some friendly back-and-forth that includes Spin and FM showing off their maneuvering skills, the group sees the other half of the C-137-KJM orbital shipyard falling through the debris field.{{book ref|sky1|46}} They are spotted and engaged by the Krell who are patrolling it.{{book ref|skyward|46}} [[Bog]], a member of Nightmare Flight, has his shield brought down, and Spensa, Jorgen, and FM fly to his rescue. Spensa picked up a tail, had her shield brought down, and was hit; she ejected, losing her ship, and was later formally dismissed from flight school.{{book ref|skyward|47}}

 

 

 

{{row| Skyward Flight Members | pre=! colspan=4 style="background:#CCCCFF; font-weight:bold; text-align:center" {{!}} }}

{{row| Name | Callsign | Flight Number | Outcome | pre=! style="font-weight: bold;" {{!}} }}

| Quits

|-

| Skyward Seven

| Killed in action

| Killed in action

|-

| FM

| Skyward Nine

| Skyward Ten

| Dismissed and placed into reserve service after ejecting

|}

 

== Notes ==

<references />

{{partial}}