EPISODE VIII: A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH!

Hip-deep in battle from within her cockpit splinter, Resistance heroine Paige Tico keeps fighting the shock wave of enemy TIE fighters rapidly destroying her bombing squadron comrades, of which she herself will soon prove our heroes only hope in another of their desperate hours.

A memorable scene of bravery and sacrifice, enhanced by another fine John Williams score, marking the beginning to The Last Jedi.

Veronica Ngo as Paige Tico.

'THE FORCE AWAKENS' AT 10: THE RESISTANCE FIGHTS BACK!

As the galaxy, and its benevolent but harried New Republic, faces fresh turmoil with the first incursions of the dreaded First Order, a small but no less brave group of fighter pilots joins the fight back, headed by their inspirational, talented, though often reckless, leader, Poe Dameron (as played with amiable heroism by then rising star, and long-time Star Wars fan, Oscar Isaac). Soon enough the diverse-piloted Black Squadron is thrust into the greatest battles of new history, including a successful opening aerial conflict against the First Order on the mercenary world of Takodana, liberating rebel heroes Han Solo and Finn in the process, as well bringing vital assistance, against overwhelming odds, to the epic destruction of the enemy's planet killing weapon, Starkiller Base...

Oscar Isaac with his original X-wing on the Jakku exterior set at Pinewood Studios, photographed for Vanity Fair by Annie Leibovitz.

The crowd-pleasing Battle of Takodana begins...

EPISODE VII: DIVERSE RESISTANCE!

It takes all sorts to win a war, especially a war against a tyrannical First Order intent in enslaving a galaxy of diverse lifeforms. And when it comes to being a Resistance fighter, heroes aren't necessarily going to be humanoid, either, as seen with the confident and talented X-wing pilot, Ello Asty.

With Return of the Jedi's Rebellion creature fighter pilots not making the Battle of Endor's final edit, it was nice to see at least one alien in aerial battle conflict alongside his comrades during The Force Awakens.

EPISODE IX: SNAP-PING TO IT!

Friends with writer/director J.J. Abrams since childhood, popular film and TV actor Greg Grunberg was back in the X-wing cockpit for more Resistance action with The Rise of Skywalker, playing Snap Wexley, though with such a brutal finale sky battle closing the film someone in the supporting cast had to bite the dust as a casualty of war, and that would be Wexley, caught in a deadly TIE fighter trap during the exciting Battle of Exegol.

Snap may be gone, but his sacrifice was ultimately not an empty one.

Grunberg talks IX:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-war-greg-grunberg-debunks-rise-skywalker-directors-cut-1285724?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR1JuqtG0QTgSFV9H1bxQtdwntMGMokHKZ73VnMT32FEp4jVxjM2CSc66h8

EPISODE VIII: LIVING THE DREAM!

Image by Rian Johnson.

I don't think there's a die-hard fan out there who wouldn't like a cameo in a STAR WARS movie - imagine the fun of playing a Stormtooper, or a quirky alien, or, even better, one of those brave battle-hardened fighters pilots of the Rebellion or Resistance. For this lucky group of UK extras filming The Last Jedi in 2016 at Pinewood, photographed on set by writer/director Rian Johnson, their dreams came true big time...

To find out more about the onscreen Resistance heroes of VIII- its key and diverse human and alien members, pilots and technicians, as well as their ships, fighters and key tech, head over to the all-new Star Wars: The Last Jedi - The Visual Dictionary, published by DK, out now in book stores and online.

Get it here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-JediTM-Visual-Dictionary/dp/0241281091?pd_rd_wg=NeOQD&pd_rd_r=75feb3e0-b958-49ee-a716-ef27d0c577cd&pd_rd_w=CyxTH&ref_=pd_gw_simh&pf_rd_r=TGNJKHPRT5F31H0X5N2A&pf_rd_p=14f91171-0541-58ad-938b-3aec945f4cb7