I run the Thryng escort wing as well. I've had some successes with it, and it is actually really fun to play. I have started using drill cannons on my gun haulers instead of the normal cannons. I found the greater range of the drills to be more beneficial than the dmg output of the sky cannons. Easier to keep the enemy at bay that way. My current iteration of the escort wing list is this:
Thryng: Extra footnote:
- There's no trading with some people.
General:
Admiral
- Grudgebearer
- Grudgehammer
(Because Thryng!)
Navigator:
- Aethersight loupe
Battleline:
10 Arkanauts with skyhooks
10 Arkanauts with skyhooks
10 Arkanauts with volley guns
Elite units:
5 Thunderers with rifles
3 wardens with 1 volleygun and 1 drill cannon
3 wardens with 1 vollegun and 1 drill cannon
Artillery:
Gunhauler with drill cannon
Gunhauler with drill cannon
Gunhauler with drill cannon
Behemoths:
Frigate with heavy sky cannon
- Last word
Frigate with heavy sky cannon
Battallion:
Grundstock Escort Wing.
I´ve had moderate success with 6 skywardens with pikes and grapnel, but they usually survive longer when they are split up and only shooting. I'm also thinking of using the the magnificent omniscope on a frigate for d6 extra movement. My play style with this list is very similar to how I play 40k drukhari; always staying mobile, gunning for objectives, and sacrificing key units.