Not having read the 'the flying man short story', I can only guess. The flying man must be a main character. There could be a family member, perhaps his father or mother, who has an influence on his life even with his flying ability. And there might be a love interest as well. This person could add an emotional dimension to the story, and their relationship could be affected by the fact that he can fly.
I don't know for sure as I haven't read it. But surely the flying man is one of the main characters. There may also be other characters like his friends or foes who interact with him in the story.
There's also the emperor. He is a very important character as he represents the power and the establishment. His reaction to the flying machine is crucial in driving the story forward. When he sees the flying machine, he has to decide what to do about this new and potentially dangerous thing in his kingdom.
I'm not sure as the story isn't described here. But usually in a flying lessons story, there could be a student who is eager to learn to fly and a teacher or instructor who imparts the knowledge.
The main character is the captain of the Flying Dutchman. He is the one who is cursed along with his ship.
Since I haven't read the actual 'flying lessons short stories', it's difficult to determine the main characters. They could be individuals who are longing for freedom and use flying as a means to achieve it. These characters may come from different backgrounds, some perhaps feeling trapped in their daily lives, and flying becomes their escape and path to self - realization.
The main character in the 'flying man story' could be a mythical figure. In some cultures, there are stories of gods or demigods who can fly. So it might be one of those types of characters, with extraordinary abilities and a complex backstory that unfolds as the story progresses. There could also be side characters who interact with the flying man and influence his journey.
Since I don't know the exact 'the flying man short story', it could be that the story focuses on the flying man's origin. Maybe he got his flying ability through some kind of experiment or magic. And then it could be about how he uses this ability in his life, whether for good or bad. For example, he might use it to help people in need or he could face some sort of persecution because he is different.
Mr. Hawkins is another important character. He is Dave's employer. His relationship with Dave shows the power dynamics between an employer and a young, inexperienced worker. Dave wants to prove himself to Mr. Hawkins as part of his journey to manhood.
Maybe there are instructors as well as students. The instructors could be important characters as they teach the flying lessons. And the students, they are the ones who are going through the experiences and growing, so they are likely to be main characters too. The stories might also feature some other characters related to the flying environment, like the people who maintain the flying equipment.
Perhaps the main characters are the flying books themselves. Each book could have its own character traits based on its content.
It's hard to determine the main characters precisely without having read the story. However, the burning man is bound to be a central figure. There could be other supporting characters like a bystander who witnesses the burning man's situation, a friend or a foe who has a role in his story. Maybe there's a character who has a past connection with the burning man and that connection drives the plot forward.