The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 8 letter word SUPERMAN
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
S
U
P
E
R
M
A
N
More clues leading to the result SUPERMAN
- Crime-fighter flying to each country in turn, initially
- Powerful guy’s style one observed in Apollonian guise?
- Star’s welcoming wave in Barnet, meeting a hero
- Reeve’s role, originally, over staff
- Rescuing male, warmer hugs for a mother
- What’s required to reproduce article introducing posh hero
- Splendid chap and archetypal hero
- Cartoon character, American caretaker on staff
- Wave article written in newspaper for abnormally gifted hero
- Prue’s new chap is one with great abilities
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "He saves when flying" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case he saves when flying = superman.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SUPERMAN mean?
SUPERMAN noun- An imagined superior type of human being representing a new stage of human development; an übermensch, an overman.
- A person of extraordinary or seemingly superhuman powers.