flying ace
Elite combat pilot
A flying ace is a military pilot credited with shooting down a significant number of enemy aircraft—traditionally five or more.
The term emerged during World War I when aerial combat was new and pilots who excelled became celebrated figures: He was a flying ace with twelve confirmed kills.
Often shortened to ace in military contexts.
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
- fighter pilotAirborne military combatant
- dogfightClose combat between aircraft
- air combatWarfare between aircraft
- aviatorOne who pilots aircraft
World War I · squadron · cockpit · biplane · Red Baron · Snoopy · medals · war hero · combat · aerial · wings · fighter · maneuver · victory · daredevil · goggles · leather helmet · propeller
- aviatorspilot, aviator, fighter pilot, bomber pilot, jet pilot
- 1920s aviationbarnstorming, biplanes, airmail, Lindbergh, Spirit of St. Louis
- aviation figuresaviator, pilot, astronaut, test pilot, aerospace engineer
- Fighter Pilotscombat pilot, dogfighter, wingman, squadron leader, Red Baron
- War Heroeswar hero, military hero, medal recipient, Sergeant York, naval hero
- World War Itrenches, trench warfare, eastern front, Western Front, soldiers
flying acewashout
Complete failure or cancellation
student pilot · greenhorn · trainee · beginner · raw recruit
flying acecasualty
Person harmed in disaster
cannon fodder · sitting duck · victim · easy target · prisoner of war