From the moment Han Solo was introduced to the Star Wars franchise, he was, above all else, a pilot. The reason he is introduced in the first place is to offer his services as a pilot to Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker on Tatooine. After that, though, Han’s skills only grow.
The franchise proved time and time again that Han’s piloting skills were second to none, except perhaps challengers such as Luke Skywalker or, later on, Poe Dameron or Rey. Han has more experience than any of them, however — and, of course, he famously made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs. Whether fans believe him or not, Han Solo has proven numerous times that he is the best pilot in the galaxy.
10 Han’s Joyride In Solo Proved Just How Skilled He Is — And Has Always Been
The prequel anthology film Solo: A Star Wars Story got to go backward in time to explore Han’s younger and more vulnerable years before he became the personal taxi service for Luke and Leia and the rest of the Rebels.
In the beginning of Solo, Han has a joyride in a landspeeder that proves he has always been quite talented as a pilot. Of course, landspeeders are far closer to flying vehicles than an average car or motorcycle, and Han shows off just what he and those machines can do in this tight chase sequence.
9 Han Made The Kessel Run In Less Than Twelve Parsecs
Something that Han only bragged about before, his time on the Kessel Run actually made an appearance in the movie Solo. It was here that Han actually needed to complete the Kessel Run as fast as possible in order to successfully steal and smuggle. It was said that, before Han, people only made the Kessel Run in around twenty parsecs.
In completing the Run in less than twelve (as Han says, by rounding, and rounding rather generously), he has done something that nobody has ever done before. Not only that, but, by A New Hope, nobody has apparently beaten that record, either.
8 Han Solo Got Obi-Wan And Luke Off Tatooine Safely
Han first meets Luke Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi when they hire him to safely transport them off of the planet. They need to get to Alderaan and save Leia, but they have a long road to go before they get there — and they won’t even be able to get there, because Alderaan will be destroyed long before then.
Han almost didn’t even manage to get Luke and Obi-Wan off the planet alive, either. Imperial Stormtroopers did everything they could to stop them from leaving the planet. However, thanks to Han’s expert piloting of the Millennium Falcon, everybody made it off Tatooine safely and in one piece.
7 Han Saved Luke — Even If He Couldn’t Save Obi-Wan
It was shocking, to Luke, that he was not able to save Obi-Wan. It was perhaps even more shocking that somebody like Han couldn’t help him, but Han is able to help the team in other ways. Luke and Han manage to escape on the Millennium Falcon after Darth Vader kills Obi-Wan Kenobi.
It is because of Han’s incredible skill that they get out of this sticky situation in the first place. Luke is devastated at the loss of Obi-Wan but, without Han and the Falcon, they would have lost far more than that.
6 Han Returned To The Death Star To Help Luke Destroy It
Even though Han told Luke that he was done helping out, he ended up returning to the fight and saving Luke’s life. Just when all hope seemed lost, Han had an extreme change of heart.
It was then that he swooped in on his ship and saved Luke, zipping through space to ensure that he would be able to blow up the Death Star. Without Han, as Luke makes it clear, this never would have happened, Luke would have died, and Darth Vader would have ultimately won.
5 Han Gets Leia Off Of Hoth Alive, Against All Odds
There are many conflicts on the icy planet of Hoth, and, at a certain point, it seemed that neither of the twins, nor Han Solo, would make it off the planet alive. While they do end up separated, Han manages to save Leia’s life, as well as the lives of other Rebels.
Though the hyperdrive is damaged on the Millennium Falcon, Han still figures out how to navigate an asteroid field and land the ship in a hiding spot for the time being. His expert escape and masterful piloting through the asteroids saves not only his life, but Leia’s — which basically saves the Rebellion.
4 Han Saves The Falcon From A Space Slug
While Han may have saved himself and Leia from Hoth and the Imperial forces there, he also hid them in an imperfect location. He actually brings the Falcon to a halt on a huge space slug that then attempts to eat them.
The asteroid that Han had landed the ship on is host to this monstrous creature. Despite the limited repairs Han has managed to make to the Falcon, he has to escape the slug or risk losing their lives once again. Against all odds, Han pulls it off, hauling the Falcon off of the asteroid and back into space, to safety.
3 Han Hides His Ship Cleverly To Avoid The Imperial Troops
When Darth Vader finally locks on to the Millennium Falcon, it seems that everything is finally within his grasp. However, the Falcon takes on the Imperial fighters head-on. It’s shocking, but Han is nothing if not an impulsive fighter.
He flies the ship directly at the Star Destroyer at the front of the pack, then seems to disappear — only to be hiding the Falcon on the back of the ship’s tower. From there, the Star Destroyer could not see or sense Han and the Falcon, and so he was basically able to hitch a ride, for a time, before they needed to take off for Cloud City.
2 When Han Makes His Return, He Jumps Right Back Into Saving Lives In The Falcon
While Han Solo doesn’t get to do much piloting, if any at all, in Return of the Jedi, his flying skills make their return in The Force Awakens. Rey may get her hands on the Falcon first, but Han is not far behind his beloved ship.
When Han needs to avoid being destroyed by rathtars — or anything or anyone else who may want to come after him — he escapes with Finn, Rey, and Chewbacca in the Falcon once again. Han successfully pulls off yet another daring escape, jumping the Falcon into hyperspace, saving the day.
1 Han Breaks Through The Shields Of Starkiller Base
As Han unknowingly nears the end of his life, he pulls off one last incredible move in the Falcon. In order to rescue Rey, as well as attempt to reach Kylo Ren, Han must somehow land the Millennium Falcon on Starkiller Base.
They figure out that they can get through to the base in between the refreshes of the shields. With Han at the helm, the Falcon manages to crash through those shields at lightspeed. He succeeds, as Han always does, and lands them hard beyond the shields. Then, Han could go and confront his son — the last act he would ever take.