Playing With / Ace Pilot

Basic Trope: A top-class pilot.

• Straight: Reaper 1 of Wikistan is one of the best, if not the best, pilot in the world.
• Exaggerated:
  • Reaper 1's so good, his craft regularly breaks the laws of physics.
  • Reaper 1's piloting skills are so extraordinary that he can single-handedly take on entire enemy squadrons without breaking a sweat.
• Downplayed: Reaper 1's better than most pilots, but still has some weaknesses.
• Justified:
  • Reaper 1 has trained to be a pilot since he was a preteen.
  • Reaper 1 started out as a pretty young pilot, under the callsign Beta 44 "Slacker", for a decade or so. As a result, he has been flying longer than any other pilot in the setting, and is thus the most experienced of them all.
  • Reaper 1 possesses a natural talent for flying that surpasses anyone else's abilities.
  • Reaper 1 has undergone extensive physical and mental training to enhance his piloting skills.
  • Reaper 1 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, he can easily pull off without breaking a sweat.
• Inverted:
  • Slacker crashes on his first flight and dies. He didn't even get hit by a missile!
  • Captain Crash
• Subverted: Slacker did extremely well during his training, but, in the field, turns out to be a mediocre-to-average pilot.
• Double Subverted: Slacker then makes a mistake which nearly costs him his life, motivating him to train and improve his skills to the limit.
• Parodied:
  • Reaper 1's such an amazing pilot that his nation's military decides that he's the only pilot they need.
  • Reaper 1 is a literal ace pilot, as in, he's a sentient playing card.
• Zig Zagged: Reaper 1'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: Alpha 1 "Samson" 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: "There's Reaper 1. Y'know, the tiny guy? He'd probably take out all of Tropeland's aces given the chance."
• Invoked: Slacker joins the Air Force. Even if he's not an amazing pilot himself, the chances of him meeting one there is pretty high.
• Exploited: Samson convinces Reaper 1 to join his team, knowing that having an expert like Reaper 1 around during missions will keep him safer from danger.
• Defied: Slacker avoids the Air Force, opting to be a Wikistan Marine instead.
• Discussed: Characters in the story engage in a conversation specifically focused on Reaper 1'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, Reaper 1 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, Reaper 1'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: Reaper 1 was built from the ground up to be an Ace Pilot. He's never had a proper childhood, and all he's ever known during those times are drill instructors screaming into his face while maintaining composure, a couple field training injuries here and there from accidentally getting shot by stray bullets (not that any of his superiors care), and essentially being trained to kill people with the utmost efficiency. When Major Robert T. Tropesmann of Wikistan's enemy Tropeland finds out about this, he's rightfully horrified at Reaper 1's backstory.
• Reconstructed: As a result, once the war is over and peace treaties are signed, Major Robert decides to put Reaper 1 through copious amounts of therapy to try and resolve whatever trauma Reaper 1 may have; Results may vary, but Major Robert also offers to teach Reaper 1 to hone the latter's piloting skills.
• Played for Laughs: Reaper 1'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: Reaper 1'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: Reaper 1'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.
• Implied: Although Reaper 1'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 Reaper 1'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.