The two contributions of the Star Wars Franchises include a plethora of legendary pilots, with many being Jedi. The Jedi Knights, finally, strive for peace in the galaxy, but they are also aware that nefarious forces – from pirates and crime syndicates to the dreaded Dark Lords of the Sith – prevent them from being pacifists. Because of this, the Jedi are among the most formidable warriors in the galaxy, and while they are most famous for battling their enemies with lightsabers, they can be equally formidable in the cockpit of a starfighter.
Most Jedi are skilled pilots, especially with Starfighters. in the Star Wars Legends continuity, there was even a specific discipline among Jedi called Jedi Aces, a sub-discipline of Jedi Guardians. Jedi aces are trained to hone their piloting skills to an even greater degree than most Jedi, combining their Force abilities with their piloting skills. The modern Star Wars Canon has shown that the Jedi have a long history of flying craft designed specifically for the Jedi Order. While there are many incredible pilots throughout Jedi history, the following are perhaps the best of both Star Wars Continuities.
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Obi-Wan Kenobi
Obi-Wan Kenobi famously dislikes piloting, but – like lightsaber combat – he is undoubtedly excellent at it. As noted in Matthew Stover’s novelization of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan Kenobi was one of the finest Jedi strategists, warriors and pilotsDespite his humility and disdain for fighting. Throughout his appearances in both the original Legends and modern canon continuities, Obi-Wan’s phenomenal piloting skills are well-documented.
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Kenobi pursued and evaded Jango Fett—a highly skilled pilot in his own right—in Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the ClonesAnd both the legends era Clone Wars Multimedia project and the modern canon Star Wars: The Clone Wars Often showcase his piloting skills as well. Obi-Wan often led clone fighter squadrons into battle, expertly flying the various models of Jedi Starfighters alongside expert pilots, from Oddball to Anakin Skywalker. Kenobi’s piloting skills served him particularly well during the Battle of Coruscant, where he blasted through waves of Separatist droid fighters to rescue Chancellor Palpatine.
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Mace Windu
Mace Windu is by far one of the greatest warriors of the Old Guard Jedi Order, mastering Vaapad (a Form VII lightsaber combat variant of his creation) and using the rare ability of Shatterpoint, but his piloting skills are rarely shown. Like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu was not a Jedi mouse, but his skill at the controls of a Jedi Starfighter was undeniable. In the modern canon, Mace Windu flew a Delta-7B with R8-B7, while in the original Legends continuity, he flew an Eta-2 Actis with R4-M6.
The 2003 Star Wars: Clone Wars Microseries includes the finest demonstration of Mace Windu’s piloting skills, with the Lord of the Order flying during the Battle of Coruscant. Mace Windu shot down numerous Sys Vulture droids and droid tri-fighters, but a mid-air collision sadly resulted in the destruction of his fighter and the loss of crew member R4-M6. Windu commandeered a Vulture droid before hitting Earth, however, turning it into a makeshift fighter force for part of the battle.
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Ahsoka Tano
Ahsoka Tano is exclusive to the modern Star Wars Kanon, being Anakin Skywalker’s Padawan during the Clone Wars. Although Ahsoka never became a true Jedi, having left the Jedi Order as a Padawan, Skywalker nevertheless passed on many of his skills to her. This includes mastery of lightsaber combat, mechanic skills and, of course, piloting skills.
Ahsoka Tano’s formidability in Starfighter combat was shown in the first seasons of The Clone WarsWith Ahsoka leading clone V-19 Torrent fighters into battle during the Battle of Ryloth – despite her tactical inexperience leading to disastrous results. Before that, Ahsoka gained piloting experience on the Twilight, a spice freighter commanded by her and Skywalker on Teth. Even after the Clone Wars, Ahsoka proved to be a highly skilled pilot, as shown in the Ahsoka TV series, featuring Tano executing advanced maneuvers in her T-6 Shuttle.
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Plo Koon
In addition to being a legendary and feared warrior in the old Jedi Order, Jedi Master Plo Koon is also a Jedi ace and one of the finest in the prequel era. in Revenge of the Sith – which belongs to both continuities – Plo Koon is shown flying a Delta-7 Jedi Starfighter on Cato Neimoidia, leading clone ARC-170s into battle when Order 66 is enacted, tragically resulting in the Jedi Master’s death. The modern canon shows Plo Koon’s piloting skills much more often, with the Kel Dor Jedi ace often flying the Delta-7B Jedi Starfighter Blade of Dorin in The Clone Wars.
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Plo Koon’s piloting skills are well-regarded in both continuitiesWith Anakin Skywalker taking separate note from them in the modern canon. Blade of Dorin was, notably, a gift from Skywalker to Plo Koon, implying that the craft was perhaps modified and upgraded by Anakin. Famous pilots Obi-Wan Kenobi and Mace Windu have also noted Plo Koon’s piloting abilities in the modern canon, making his frequent leadership of clone fighter squadrons unsurprising.
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Koran Horn
It is unknown if the New Jedi Order of the original Star Wars Legends continuity has a Jedi starfighter corps like the prequel era Jedi Order, but Jedi aces are nonetheless extremely common in Luke’s Order. The New Jedi Order was founded during the Galactic Civil War, shortly after Operation Shadow Hand and the final death of Emperor Palpatine, so it is unsurprising that many of its knights came from military backgrounds or at least became war veterans sooner or later. One such Jedi is Corran Horn, a Corellian pilot whose skills in Starfighter combat were legendary before joining the Jedi.
Corran Horn was a pilot on his homeworld, flying an X-wing for Corellia’s law enforcement agency, CorSec. When you join the New Republic, Horn was skilled enough to be part of Rogue Squadron, the most elite fighter squadron in the New Republic Starfighter Corps. (And the Rebel Alliance Starfighter Corps before that). As a highly-trained knight of the New Jedi Order, Corran Horn’s piloting skills only increased, making him one of the galaxy’s finest Jedi aces.
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Jaina solo
In the original Star Wars Legends continuity, Princess Leia and Han Solo have three children, with their only daughter being Jaina Solo. Like her twin brother Jacen and her younger brother Anakin, Jaina Solo has an extremely strong connection to the Force. However, Jaina has much more in common with her father than her mother, taking after Han Solo in many ways, including having a knack for mechanical work and becoming an ace pilot at a young age.
Jaina Solo eventually won the title of Sword of the Jedi, however Her legendary skills went beyond lightsaber combat – she was also one of the finest Jedi aces in the New Jedi Order. Jaina flew Koran Horn in a training course, joined the famous Rogue Squadron in the New Republic, and was a veteran of multiple wars. Jaina Solo flew starfighters as Jedi-exclusive stealths in conflicts like the Yuuzhan Vong War and the Second Galactic Civil War, proving time and time again to be one of the greatest pilots in the galaxy.
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Eddy Galia
Jedi Master Adi Gallia has a long and storied history in both Star Wars Continuities, especially in the original Legends timeline. Gallia was one of the most respected members of the prequel-era Jedi Order, having a seat on the Jedi High Council, and while her skills in lightsaber combat are incredible – with Gallia favoring Form V’s reverse-grip shien variant – she is Also an equally effective Jedi mouse. Adi Gallia was one of the first Jedi to fly the Delta-7 Jedi Starfighter, and made the most of the craft during the Separatist Crisis and the Clone Wars.
Adi Gallia was a highly experienced Jedi Master by 22 BB, but like all the best Jedi, was always open to learning more. Under the tutelage of fellow Jedi Ace Saese Tyne, Adi Gallia quickly mastered the controls of the Delta-7 and learned to combine Force powers with starfighter combat. In addition to using enhanced reflexes and creating powerful shockwaves of Force energy, Adi Gallia can also conjure Force-powered shields and lightning, protecting her craft and making short work of enemies.As shown in engagements like the attack on Point Modi and the Battle of Geonosis.
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Both yours
The Jedi Master and Jedi High Council member Saesee Tiin has many talents. Tyne was one of the Order’s finest practitioners of both telepathy and telekinesis, and he was an exceptional warrior, preferring the brute strength of Lightsaber Combat Form V (Djem So). Of all Saese Tein’s specialties, however, his greatest was his piloting skills.
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Saesee Tiin was by far one of the Jedi Order’s greatest pilots, especially in his original Legends incarnation. Saesee Tiin taught Adi Gallia, was the first Jedi to examine Darth Maul’s ship – the Scimitar – after his death, and he even personally worked on the Jedi Order’s starfighters themselves. In addition to a Delta-7 and Eta-2 Actis (and a Delta-7B in the modern canon), Saese Tyne also flew a personal starfighter called the Sharp Spiral in the Legends continuity. like Eddie Galia, Saesee Tiin combined the Force with aviationUse his telepathic abilities to calculate hyperspace jumps without using his navcomputer.
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Anakin Skywalker
Anakin Skywalker is one of the most famous Jedi pilots in both Star Wars Continuities, with Obi-Wan Kenobi referred to him as the “Best star pilot in the galaxy“In A new hope. While the film would go on to demonstrate his deadly Starfighter combat skills as Darth Vader, the prequel era often showcased his legendary piloting skills as a Jedi. Even before he joined the Jedi Order, a young Anakin was perhaps the only man capable of podracing (and winning the Boonta IV Classic) and he proved to be a quick learner under pressure while flying a Naboo N-1 Starfighter.
During the Clone Wars, Anakin flew various models of Jedi Starfighters (including his heavily modified Delta-7, the Azure Angel), leading clone squadrons to victory in numerous battles. In the continuation of the legends, Anakin’s victory in the Battle of Virionsi left a lasting impression on Garven Dreis, who would sadly be killed by Vader in the Battle of Yavin. In the modern canon, Anakin played an instrumental role in destroying Malevolence’s ion cannon superweapon, leading a squadron of Y-wings during the Battle of the Kalida Nebula.
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Luke Skywalker
Of course these Star Wars The franchise’s other most famous Jedi pilot in both continuities is Luke Skywalker, who also became an experienced fighter pilot before becoming a Jedi Knight. Luke flew a T-16 Skyhopper during his formative years on Tatooine, and quickly transferred those skills to flying his signature T-65 X-wing (and many other fighter craft) for the Rebel Alliance. In both sequels, Luke would be a founding member and leader of the famous Elite Rogue SquadronFlying for the Rebellion for three years before becoming a true Jedi.
Luke remained one of the galaxy’s greatest pilots after becoming a Jedi – continuing to fly his Rebellion-era X-wing (known as AA-589 in the Legends continuity and Red Five in the modern canon). In his original Star Wars Legends continuity incarnation, Luke Skywalker was the first Jedi ace of the New Jedi Order. Although Luke was famous for his feats in lightsaber combat and Force powers as the Jedi Grandmaster, he was equally impressive as a pilot.
Upcoming Star Wars movies |
Release date |
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The Mandalorian & Grogu |
May 22, 2026 |