Rebel pilot / Legends Rebel pilots flew starfighters , light freighters , and atmospheric repulsorlift vehicles for the Alliance Starfighter Corps of the Alliance to Restore the Republic during the Galactic Civil War . Like the rest of the Alliance Military ( and unlike the Imperial Navy ) , they came from a wide variety of species , planets , and backgrounds . Some were defectors trained at one of the Imperial Academies , while others were former scouts , smugglers , pirates , or independent traders , or bush pilots from the Outer Rim . History . The pilots of the Rebel Alliance were the individuals who flew the craft used by the Rebellion against the Galactic Empire . They were part of the struggle since the beginning , when the Corellian Treaty was signed in 2 BBY , giving the dignitary Mon Mothma the role of Chief of State . After Operation Domino failed , pilots and their starfighters became the primary fighting force of the nascent Rebellion . The Alliance Starfighter Corps fell under the command of then - commander Jan Dodonna , who led his forces to victory in several battles , although the Corps retained control of pilots on special assignment with the Alliance Fleet . Most pilots were part of the Rebel Alliance ' s individual Sector Force s . The Alliance Fleet under the command of Admiral Gial Ackbar was originally given priority until the Fleet took heavy losses at the Battle of Tingel Deepspace Besh , leaving the starfighter pilots as the primary fighting force . Rebel pilots also joined with ground assaults to support other military forces and provide fire support using CR - 1 blaster cannons . During space battles , pilots boarded enemy starships to conduct sabotage operations alongside marines . Rebel pilots had a reputation for bravery , since they were almost always outnumbered when they went into battle . They also had a reputation for skill and success , after such Rebel victories as the Battle of Yavin and the Battle of Endor . With the victory at the Battle of Endor , the Rebel Alliance became the Alliance of Free Planets , and pilots continued to serve in battles against the Empire and during the Nagai – Tof War . With the establishment of the New Republic in 4 ABY , the pilots were folded into the Combined Defense Forces of the New Republic . Organization . Training . Training fell under the auspices of the Starfighter Command . Veteran pilots flew with rookies to hone their skills . Pilots were also trained using simulators on - board Rebel starships such as the " Independence . " Pilots sometimes created impromptu training runs through factories such as Salvage Yard . Admiral Ackbar commented that after going through those unsanctioned runs , pilots came out better - skilled . Although not as well trained as Imperial pilots , Rebel pilots were dedicated and resolved , which helped them survive . They were also able to develop nerves of steel and sharp eyes , allowing them to spot enemy contacts at long ranges . To them , fast speeds and the thrill of the chase are alluring , but the best master those elements . Equipment . Rebel pilots wore orange , gray , green or red flight suits . They wore a flak vest with a life support box on top . They each also wore a flight helmet which included a visor with a special computer projection for targeting . The helmets were usually decorated with the Alliance Starbird , though some pilots customized them to include symbols of personal significance or emblems of specific squadrons . Their craft ' s life support systems negated the need for a self - contained helmet such as those used by the Empire ' s TIE pilot s . For ground assaults , pilots carried CR - 1 blaster cannons with a backup sidearm , F - 187 fusioncutter s to provide repairs , and bacta and ammunition dispensers to support infantry units . For space - based sabotage operations , pilots carried sidearms and TB - 47 time bomb s . Behind the scenes . The helmets worn by Alliance X - wing pilots were made from modified plastic copies of real APH - 6B flight helmets .