What do you think? Can an astromech pilot a ship from its position in the back? I tried looking it up earlier but I cannot really find much of anything related to the topic. I mean, it seems like a logical conclusion to jump to, they are already doing a lot of in flight work, but I have no idea if they can actually operate flight controls. I have read some stuff that suggested that after the clone wars that the tech in the galaxy moved away from heavily integrated automation and reliance on droids, so that could mean that astromechs would not have any access to flight controls because they could malfunction or just not be trusted... I dunno, my train of thought is getting kind of rambly here.

Started off of the idea of an astromech taking control of a ship if the pilot is disabled, or perhaps flying a ship from a landing pad to a location closer to the pilot so they can leave in a hurry.

I recall some people on here saying that there is a story where an astro droid was flying a ship in combat.

There is also the Thrawn trilogy where artoo turns on Luke's x wing and maneuvers it around a docking bay to distract storm troopers. (I think artoo maneuvers it, I know he turns everything on. Maybe not, maybe it is just landos ship that is flying around the bay.)

Yea, in the second Thrawn book Artoo pilots the X-wing using it to take Mara someplace above them as well as using the weapons to attack the threat Luke and Mara were facing.

While not strictly from the Rebellion Era, R2-D2 and other astromechs flew jedi starfighters from time to time during the Clone Wars television show.

That's true. Doesn't artoo fly a ship all the way back to coruscant to get help in one episode?

R2-D2 had that awesome takedown in the clone wars episode where they were exploring the wreck of a downed ship. These large, cat-like creatures were hunting R2 and he took one out by cable suction cupping it to a ship and then turning the ship on to fly away with the creature attached to it.

I actually laughed at the guile of that maneuver. "Don't come any closer, I have a suction cup...

I have zero evidence .. Just my thoughts on the matter. I would expect that droids can perform basic functions only. Moving ships in docking bays, powering on/off, etc. They'd be useless in a dogfight though.

Otherwise, the human element becomes redundant.

I turned off Ironman something when his household computer flew multiple Ironman suits into a complex battle zone and competently fought muliple enemies simultaneously. At that point .. the meatbag inside became redundant and the movie (as silly as this sounds) lost any realism.

I turned off Ironman something when his household computer flew multiple Ironman suits into a complex battle zone and competently fought muliple enemies simultaneously. At that point .. the meatbag inside became redundant and the movie (as silly as this sounds) lost any realism.

Ah, but that was deliberate because in the following avengers movie he has produced an army of robots that he I tends to eventually take over for the avengers, and the consequences of doing that are what drives that movie.

You really think Anakin was responsible for blowing up the droid control ship? Pleeeaase. We all know R2 is the real hero of Star Wars. Think about it; he's in every episode. He's crucial to the plot. He's got the Death Star plans, and is sent on an emergency mission to deliver them to the Rebellion. He saves just about everyone's life at some point (whether it be shutting down trash compactors or starting up elevators...his robo-wang has a million uses)

Without R2D2. there would be no Star Wars.

My point of view, based on no supporting evidence, is that an Astromech Droid can pilot a ship. As has been said by others, they are not likely to be as good in a dogfight as the fleshy pilot but I can see circumstances where a Droid is required to take the reins:

Wounded or killed pilot for example.

Or the starfighter had landed, the pilot is elsewhere and needs a quick getaway, so the Astromech will take the ship to the pilot.

Things like that is what I imagine.

Except for R2-D2 who could probably take on the whole Empire himself.

There was a point where the rebels had more ships than pilots and they let the astromechs pilot, but you can't give a droid instinct so flesh and blood pilots just outfly them.

Also doesn't r2 fly the x-wing over to luke in empire?

There was a point where the rebels had more ships than pilots and they let the astromechs pilot, but you can't give a droid instinct so flesh and blood pilots just outfly them.

Also doesn't r2 fly the x-wing over to luke in empire?

Oh yeah,

No fancy flying, but I think the X-Wing at least hovered towards Luke

In the old rogue squadron comics, I believe it's Either tycho or hobbies droid that actually flies into combat and gets a few kills.

Ah these are some pretty good examples here, I am surprised I hadn't found them before. Thank yah!

Good finds!

If you go by FFG's RPG Edge of the Empire then, yes, astromechs can pilot a ship. In the Smuggler suppliment "Fly Casual", you can purchase Astromech Droid brains for a ship that can pilot and astrogate for the ship they are installed on.