In STAR WARS, What Is "The Academy?"

[FalTorPan]

One thing I never understood in the original Star Wars is the nature of "the Academy" -- the institution that Luke Skywalker wants to join, and that Biggs has recently joined according to cut scenes from the film. We later see Biggs as a fighter pilot in the Rebel Alliance, but there seems to be no direct tie between the Academy and the Rebellion. So... what exactly is the Academy?

 

[Tulin]

Top Gun Flight School.

Lots of beach volleyball and oiling each other up.

 

[nx1701g]

The Academy mentioned is supposed to be the Imperial Academy. Biggs Darklighter attended the Imperial Academy before defecting to the Rebel Alliance. Luke had had dreams of joining the Imperial Academy and becoming an expert pilot of the same type as his father.

Luke Skywalker on Wookiepedia

 

[USS Avenger]

I have always assumed, perhaps wrongly, that it was the "Imperial Naval Acadamy" or something along those lines and that after his training Biggs defected. Perhaps Luke planned on doing the same thing? Of course a Skywalker going through the admissions process may have set off a few alarms.

Its also possible that they were talking about some smaller planetary military acadamy (Corellia, Alderaan etc.) or even a "merchant marine" acadamy with little connection to the Empire itself.

 

[USS Avenger]

The Academy mentioned is supposed to be the Imperial Academy. Biggs Darklighter attended the Imperial Academy before defecting to the Rebel Alliance.

Beat me to it, you must have dark side powers.

 

[iguana_tonante]

My guess has always been that it was the Imperial Academy. Where else you could learn to fly those awesome space fighters?

As he said to Obi-Wan, Luke may have "hated" the Empire (even if he probably never had any contact with Imperial power beside some asshole troopers prancing around drunkenly in his hometown), but he would have done anything to get off Tatooine. Enlisting in the Imperial fleet was probably his only option at that point, maybe with an half-baked dream of defecting with his pal Biggs to find some sweet Caribbean world and drink margaritas all day long.

 

[nx1701g]

The Academy mentioned is supposed to be the Imperial Academy. Biggs Darklighter attended the Imperial Academy before defecting to the Rebel Alliance.

Beat me to it, you must have dark side powers.

< - Perhaps...

 

[Leviathan]

If there is a Satan...probably the next SW TV series....and by "Satan" I mean "mindless network executive".

 

[MeanJoePhaser]

IIRC, there's some huff by fans who hate the idea that it's the Imperial Academy.

I don't care one way or the other.

 

[The Wormhole]

IIRC, there's some huff by fans who hate the idea that it's the Imperial Academy.

Personally, I thought it was quite clear it was the Imperial Academy. The obvious contradiction is that Luke tells Obi-Wan he hates the Empire, even before Owen and Beru are murdered.

Though I think the belief was that Luke only intended to go to the Academy to get his flight training and then would run off to join the Rebel Alliance.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Personally, I thought it was quite clear it was the Imperial Academy. The obvious contradiction is that Luke tells Obi-Wan he hates the Empire, even before Owen and Beru are murdered.

Though I think the belief was that Luke only intended to go to the Academy to get his flight training and then would run off to join the Rebel Alliance.

Or Luke thinks, in all his youthful idealism, that he can join the Empire and change it from within.

 

[Skywalker]

Yeah, I think it's pretty obviously meant to be the Imperial Academy. Luke was desperate to get off of Tatooine, and probably saw the Academy as his only chance of doing so. Though I agree with Wormhole that he might have intended to join the Rebellion once he'd finished his training at the Academy.

 

[Trent Roman]

^ I doubt that Luke was that forward-thinking, honestly. His 'hatred' for the Empire was, at this point, probably something more abstract, and didn't measure up to his desire to get off Tatooine and learn to fly. He certainly wouldn't be the first to work for people he loathes, for whatever excuse one gives oneself.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Skywalker]

True. But as much of an idealist as he was, once he'd finally gotten to the Academy and seen the Empire up close and personal, I don't think he would have wanted to stick around for long.

 

[nx1701g]

Though I think the belief was that Luke only intended to go to the Academy to get his flight training and then would run off to join the Rebel Alliance.

I remember reading that in one of the novels.

 

[Gaith]

Of course a Skywalker going through the admissions process may have set off a few alarms.

Its also possible that they were talking about some smaller planetary military acadamy (Corellia, Alderaan etc.) or even a "merchant marine" academy with little connection to the Empire itself.

Though not the "correct" in-universe explanation, I find that last one to be a perfectly plausible answer, especially if it happens to be reasonably close to the homestead, thereby explaining the use of the shorthand name.

 

[Nowhere Man]

Maybe the Rebel Allience had it's own flight school? The question is, If the Empire has an acemy, then why? Aren't all the Stormtroopers and TIE. Fighter pilots Clones? Why would the Empire recruit non Clones, wouldn't they be inferior? I mean I know the answer, George Lucas never really thought the prequels out, but what is the "other" answer? Another quick question, when Luke and Obi-Wan are talking about what happened to luke's father, Obi-Wan mentions that Owen didn't want Anakin to get involved. How is that? Anikan was already a Padiwan before they even met and the Empire did not exist yet? Agian, I know the real answer, but I want to know the "fanswer."

 

[Skywalker]

Maybe the Rebel Allience had it's own flight school? The question is, If the Empire has an acemy, then why? Aren't all the Stormtroopers and TIE. Fighter pilots Clones? Why would the Empire recruit non Clones, wouldn't they be inferior?

After Jango Fett died, they no longer had a source of fresh genetic material for future clones. No more Jango, no more clones.

Plus if they could still create clones, why wouldn't the Empire have just created clones specifically grown and trained to serve as commanders aboard their Star Destroyers?

 

[Gaith]

Aren't all the Stormtroopers and TIE. Fighter pilots Clones? Why would the Empire recruit non Clones, wouldn't they be inferior?

Keep your damn PT off of my Star Wars!

 

[Turtletrekker]

According to Wookiepedia, the academy that Biggs went to, and presumably the one Luke wanted to attend as well, was the Prefsbelt Fleet Camp.

The Prefsbelt Fleet Camp was a part of a network of Imperial Academys, including the Academy of Carida, which Han Solo attended.