Mission 2 (Inferno): This mission continues the action from the first mission and introduces two important skills involving Dogfight Mode (DFM): the counter-maneuver, and its much more impressive counterpart, the counter-counter-maneuver.
Mission 6 (Power Play): This level is practically Scenery Porn incarnate, as the player can use DFM to pursue enemy planes between the skyscrapers of Dubai.
Mission 8 (Pipeline): This mission introduces the Air Strike Mode (ASM), which allows the player to unleash wave after wave of bombs to blow up enemy encampments. And at the end, Bishop shoots down a missile known as the Trinity Warhead.
Mission 9 (Siege): In what is considered by many to be the best level in the game, the level consists of an enormous battle between aircraft and ground troops, even requiring an emergency refueling halfway through before engaging in an intense Escort Mission, all while White Devil is playing.
Mission 10 (Hostile Fleet): In most Ace Combat games, Attacker class planes are optional, a situational tool designed to complete the occasional bombing mission. However, what sets this particular mission apart is that there are only five available planes, and they are all bombers. They are slow, turn like a brick, and they can't initiate counter-maneuvers in DFM. To counter this, Bishop and Warwolf Squadron must focus on bombing the enemy shipswhile the Molot and Varona Squadrons provide cover. The climax of the mission also involves a saturation attack against a battlecruiser that refuses to stand down, and it's extremely exhilarating to experience with the associated ASM sequence.
Mission 11 (Launch): You take control of Janice Rehl's bomber, and after making through a particularly tight canyon sequence undetected, all hell breaks loose as you unleash your payload on multiple ground facilities, with the camera tracking the final bomb in each ASM sequence as it drops to the ground. Later on, in order to take down an ICBM launch, Bishop must pursue the missile from below, with a DFM sequence that puts Bishop's aircraft at risk as not only do you take damage from pursuing enemy aircraft, but the ICBM's exhaust flames too!
Mission 13 (Aftermath): Bishop engages Markov for the second time at Moscow, and he comes out on top.
Mission 14 (Homefront): In the real life version of his nightmare, Bishop is rather hesitant about the situation at first, but then he firmly says: "I've dealt with this... I have control. Let's do this!" Bishop then calmly states, "Looking for action," showing that he's ready for what lies ahead after what happened the first time. And during the peak of the battle over Miami, Fighter, the instrumental version of Gotta Stay Fly begins playing. The President gives a Rousing Speech, assuring the American people that everything is being done to stop Markov's forces from using Trinity, while also wishing Bishop and the rest of the pilots victory.
"This is President David Hamilton. As I speak, our nation is under attack by a group of renegade Russian pilots. They intend to kill our innocent civilians with a powerful air-launched weapon. I have personally directed the Air Force and other military branches to intercept these criminals. They have orders to shoot them all down before they harm our country. This is a dark and difficult day, but in the end we will persevere. To the brave men and women defending us, Godspeed!"
When Markov shows up again, Guts saves Bishop by taking the hit, and Bishop repays the favor by shooting the damaged canopy off of Guts' plane so he can bail out safely, before charging at Markov at full speed as they both fire their missiles.
