The X-wing is a favourite spaceship of many Star Wars fans, especially as it was the mode of transportation used by Luke Skywalker throughout the course of the trilogy, and most notably when he destroyed the Death Star. It’s as iconic as the Millennium Falcon, and it will be making a return in J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars Episode VII.

In a clever way of raising awareness about the “Force for Change” charity (which supports UNICEF’s Innovation Labs and programs), the latest video message from the director – on the movie’s set in London – features a behind-the-scenes look at the London set, and it we see an X-wing, a Rebel pilot and a pretty familiar droid!

It appears to be pretty battle damaged and old looking, perhaps giving us some idea of where the Rebel Alliance will find themselves in Star Wars Episode VII. Could it be that finishing off the Empire wasn’t so easy after taking down Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi? We’ll have to wait and see.

In the video, Abrams also reveals that the winner (who simply needs to make a donation to be eligible to win) of the competition will not only get to visit the set and make an appearance in Star Wars Episode VII, but will also get to see an early screening of the movie before it’s released. What a prize, eh?

UPDATE: It was thought that this was not an X-Wing as such, but a Z95 Headhunter. This is however an X-Wing – and it looks like one based on Ralph McQuarrie’s original design (see below).

Ralph McQuarrie X-Wing