Arturo Mendez Arturo was a pilot in Skyward Flight before his parents pulled him out after Hurl's death. Freyja is from the deep caverns, and vocally opposes Defiant culture. She was one of only two to graduate to full pilot before the Battle of Alta Second. Freyja Freyja, call sign 'FM', is a pilot in Skyward Flight. She was an athletic girl from Igneous Cavern, and died in battle after refusing to eject from an uncontrolled descent. Hudiya Hudiya, callsign 'Hurl', was a pilot in Skyward Flight, and was also Spensa's wingmate. Ironsides tries to deny Spensa Flight School entry, fearing that she will carry the Defect like her father. Judy 'Ironsides' Ivans Judy Ivans, callsign 'Ironsides', is Admiral of the DDF. He grew up in the deep caverns, and is the son of Jeshua Weight, a First Citizen who fought in the Battle of Alta. His callsign, Jerkface, was chosen by Spensa. Jorgen Weight Jorgen is the flightleader of Skyward Flight, and was one of only two to graduate to full pilot before the Battle of Alta Second.

He 'borrows' parts from the workshop to help repair M-Bot. After dropping out of DDF flight school, he returns to Igneous Cavern and becomes a engineer. Rodge McCaffrey Rodge, often called Rig (callsign Rigmarole), is one of Spensa's childhood friends. He stands up to the Admiral on Spensa's behalf and accepts her into his training group. Captain Cobb Cobb, callsign 'Mongrel', is Spensa's flight instructor and was her father's wingmate. She finds an ancient ship, and, with the help and guidance from her friend Rodge, attempts to rebuild it. Spensa fights to be accepted into Flight School, but refuses to give up even in the face of certain failure. He always told Spensa: 'set your sights on something higher.

Main Characters Spensa Nightshade Spensa, callsign 'Spin', is the daughter of Zeen Nightshade (callsign Chaser), supposedly a cowardly DDF pilot who abandoned a battle. Aided by the mysterious stealth fighter M-Bot, whom she finds abandoned in a cave, Spensa must navigate the pitfalls of flight school, uncover the truth about her father's death, and try not to die at the hands of an enemy starfighter. Gaining entrance to the program with the help of her new instructor Cobb, Spensa teams up with nine fellow trainees to form Skyward Flight and battle the Krell, an alien force trying to destroy the Defiant colony. Inspired by her father, then fueled with outrage by the DDF's accusations of cowardice following his death, Spensa spends the next decade preparing for the flight school entrance exam. Spensa has dreamed of being a pilot since she was a child.

For a complete chapter by chapter summary, see Summary:Skyward.

Skyward book 2