Basic Trope: A top-class pilot.
- Straight: Bob is one of the best, if not the best, pilot in the world.
- Exaggerated: Bob's so good, his craft regularly breaks the laws of physics.
- Logical Extreme: Bob's piloting skills are so extraordinary that he can single-handedly take on entire enemy squadrons without breaking a sweat.
- Downplayed: Bob's better than most pilots, but still has some weaknesses.
- Justified:
- Bob has trained to be a pilot since he was a teenager.
- Bob has been flying longer than any other pilot in the setting, and is thus the most experienced of them all.
- Bob possesses a natural talent for flying that surpasses anyone else's abilities.
- Bob has undergone extensive physical and mental training to enhance his piloting skills.
- Bob is a Super-Soldier that was designed to be put into a cockpit; Whatever ridiculous and Just Plane Wrong maneuvers that would normally knock any other pilot out due to the sheer amount of G-forces, Bob can easily pull off without breaking a sweat.
- Inverted:
- Bob crashes on his first flight and dies.
- Captain Crash
- Subverted: Bob did extremely well during his training, but, in the field, turns out to be a mediocre-to-average pilot.
- Double Subverted: Bob then makes a mistake which nearly costs him his life, motivating him to train and improve his skills to the limit.
- Parodied:
- Bob's such an amazing pilot that his nation's military decides that he's the only pilot they need.
- Bob is a literal ace pilot, as in, he's a sentient playing card.
- Zig Zagged: Bob's piloting skills frequently alternate between awful to awesome and everything in between, so that nobody can figure out just how good he really is.
- Averted: Bob is an utterly average pilot.
- Enforced: The work includes dangerous military missions that realistically could only be accomplished by somebody with amazing piloting skills.
- Lampshaded: "Say, Bob, I heard you're going on a mission tomorrow. I wonder how many medals you'll earn this time?"
- Invoked: Bob joins the Air Force. Even if he's not an amazing pilot himself, the chances of him meeting one there is pretty high.
- Exploited: Charlie convinces Bob to join his team, knowing that having an expert like Bob around during missions will keep him safer from danger.
- Defied: Bob avoids the Air Force.
- Discussed: Characters in the story engage in a conversation specifically focused on Bob's reputation as a top-class pilot. They talk about his skills, achievements, and the impact he has had in the field of aviation.
- Plotted A Good Waste: In this scenario, the trope is intentionally set up to create a subversion or unexpected outcome. Initially, Bob is introduced as a top-class pilot with incredible abilities, but as the story progresses, his skills are never fully utilized or showcased. Despite the potential for epic aerial battles or daring missions, Bob's talents are ultimately wasted, leaving the audience surprised or disappointed by the missed opportunity.
- Conversed: "Okay, that guy's actually way, way too good. He should be out from G-forces or something."
- Deconstructed: Bob is the best pilot in the Air Force. However, he is wracked with guilt from his air-to-air kills, and feels the strain put on his body from his aerobatic maneuvers is affecting him. However, the military pressures him to remain in the Air Force, because his skill and fame as an ace is a great propaganda tool.
- Reconstructed: Following the deconstruction of Bob as a top-class pilot, the story takes steps to address the issues raised. Bob seeks help and finds support to cope with his guilt and physical strain. The military recognizes the toll on him and provides resources for his well-being while still utilizing his skills. Bob becomes an advocate for mental health within the military, using his fame to promote positive change and a healthier approach to warfare.
- Played for Laughs: Bob's incredible piloting skills are often played up for comedic effect, with exaggerated reactions from other characters and humorous situations arising from his unmatched abilities.
- Played for Drama: Bob's exceptional piloting skills become a central plot element, with high-stakes missions, intense aerial dogfights, and life-or-death situations that highlight his prowess and create tense and dramatic moments.
- Played for Horror:
- Bob's unparalleled piloting skills are utilized in a terrifying manner, such as executing deadly precision strikes or performing eerie maneuvers that strike fear into the hearts of his enemies.
- Bob might be good, but the thing he's not even on a similar league to is another Ace Pilot that's pretty much just a One Man Air Force, known as Reaper 1. And whenever Bob's constantly trying to shake Reaper 1 off his tail, every time he manages to get behind Reaper 1, the enemy ace simply hits him with a Pugachev Cobra maneuver and continues to shoot off small parts of his wings just to toy with him.
- Implied: Although Bob's piloting skills are not explicitly shown on screen, his reputation and the awe-inspiring stories surrounding his abilities imply that he is a top-class pilot.
- Untwisted: Initially, it is expected that Bob's exceptional piloting skills will lead to him becoming an arrogant and overconfident character, but he remains humble and down-to-earth despite his talent.
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