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{{spoilers|book=skyward}}
'''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}}
==History==
===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===
The members of the team begin training on holographic simulators colloquially known as "mockpits".{{book ref|sky1|9}} Most of the cadets have no background as pilots.{{book ref|skyward|9}} After one day of training, Ironsides deploys the squad as decoys due to a shortage of available starfighters,{{book ref|sky1|10}} and they are unexpectedly attacked by a [[Krell]] ship.{{book ref|sky1|11}} The brief dogfight causes Rig to quit flight school, telling Spensa that it was not really his dream and that he is not suited for flight.{{book ref|skyward|13}} Meanwhile, Ironsides has made it clear that she is opposed to Spensa's presence in flight school and does not allow her access to any of the facilities, forcing Spensa to sleep in a cave every night and scavenge for her own food.{{book ref|skyward|13}}
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===
In one of the Flight's first true fights since their first day of training, [[Morningtide]] is shot down by three Krell ships trailing her. In the same battle, [[Bim]] is killed trying to go after a [[lifebuster]] when its escort peels away and destroys his ship.{{book ref|skyward|19}} During what was supposed to be a mission surveying falling debris, [[Nedd]] recklessly follows two members of [[Nightstorm Flight]] into a falling C-137-KJM orbital shipyard, trailed by Spensa. Nedd and Spensa barely escape the massive shipyard before it crashes to the ground, but the two Nightstorm pilots were killed.{{book ref|skyward|26}} The pilots were actually both Nedd's brothers, which caused him to stop showing up to class due to emotional trauma, until he is officially removed from flight school.{{book ref|skyward|27}}
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}}
The two remaining members of Skyward Flight, Jorgen and FM, graduated and became full pilots. The flight was then disbanded, as Jorgen and FM were forced to immediately join full DDF Flights to fight in the [[Second Battle of Alta]].{{book ref|sky1|48}}
==Members==
Jorgen and FM are the only pilots of the original ten members of Skyward Flight who graduate from flight school.{{book ref|sky1|48}} Mongrel, Spin, Amphi, Quirk, and Nedder participate in the [[Second Battle of Alta]], although they do so outside of the DDF's authority.{{book ref|sky1|51}}{{book ref|sky1|52}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center width:100%;"
{{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;" {{!}} }}
|-
| [[Matthew Cobb]]
| Mongrel
| Instructor
|
|-
| [[Jorgen Weight]]
| Jerkface
| Skyward One
| Graduates; joins [[Riptide Flight]]
|-
| [[Nedd Strong]]
| Nedder
| Skyward Two
| Expelled due to truancy after his brothers' deaths
|-
| [[Hudiya]]
| Hurl
| Skyward Three
| Killed in action
|-
| [[Rodge McCaffrey]]
| Rigmarole ("Rig")
| Skyward Four
| Quits
|-
| [[Arturo Mendez]]
| Amphisbaena ("Amphi")
| Skyward Five
| Honorably retired from service
|-
| [[Kimmalyn]]
| Quirk
| Skyward Six
| Quits
|-
| ''Unknown''
| [[Morningtide]]
| Skyward Seven
| Killed in action
|-
| [[Bim]]
| ''No callsign''
| Skyward Eight
| Killed in action
|-
| [[Freyja]]
| FM
| Skyward Nine
| Graduates; joins a scout flight (likely [[Ranger Flight]])
|-
| [[Spensa Nightshade]]
| Spin
| Skyward Ten
| Dismissed and placed into reserve service after ejecting
|}
== Notes ==
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