Here goes.

[korsriddare]

List your top ten fictional ace pilots and explain why they are in.

1. Maximillian Jenius, Macross/Robotech - #1 Because he is probably the best pilot in the Macross/Robotech universe. Highest reflex and godly piloting skills. If I am not wrong, the only pilot to not suffer any significant battle damage on his Valkyrie throughout the series (Unsure about Macross 7 though). Notably, he managed to pilot in mecha mode so well that he could passed off as a Zentradi soldier.

2. Milia Fallyna (Jenius), Macross/Robotech - #2 Because she is only inferior to her husband.

3. Natasha Kerensky, Battletech - The infamous Black Widow. saKhan of Clan Wolf, and before that, rising to the position of Star Colonel in a single trial of position, being the first mechwarrior in the entire Clan history to defeat all four opponents. Defeated several Jade Falcon commanders in one-on-one mech combat consecutively before finally being defeated. But brought enough time for her soldiers to escape. Win.

4. Mu la Fraga, Gundam Seed/Gundam Seed Destiny - A normal human pilot who can hold his own and even better genetically engineered opponents in superior machines time and time again. Thusly he gets ahead of my list compared to the other coordinator pilots.

5. Wedge Antilles, Star Wars - Commanding officer of Rogue Squadron, the best squadron in the New Republic (former Rebel Alliance) , for many years. Led them in their 'unofficial' split from the NR and defeated a Super Star Destroyer.

6. Asuka Langley Soryu, Neon Genesis Evangelion - Pilot of Unit 2. I pick her instead of Shinji despite his better track record is because, sync rating aside, she really does know how to move her Eva. The movement of it during battles, and that majestic display during End of Evangelion.

7. Norris Packard, Gundam: The 08th MS Team - Ace pilot not just because of his piloting skill, but his tactical and strategic awareness. He might have been killed at the end, but he died just as he completed his mission objectives. In his own words, "I win!"

8. Xia Yu Fan, Full Metal Panic: The Second Raid - Cutting a grenade in half and lobbing it back? Holding her own against several Mithril Arm Slaves for an extended period of time? Awesome.

9. Phelan Kell, Battletech - Khan of Clan Wolf-in-Exile, and his signature mech is the Wolfhound IIC. A light mech. Admittedly he moved on to the heavier mechs later, but he is possibly the only Inner Sphere pilot to achieve so much in such a short period of time. (And using the Wolfhound IIC in the Battle of Tukayyid!)

10. Kira Yamato, Gundam Seed/Gundam Seed Destiny - Beam spammer? Aimbot? Despite what his distractors may say about him, those words summed up his ability to hit things. Mainly held on to his ideal of not going for the killing shot. And succeeds in that most of the time. Of course, he became even more godly in GSD such that many fans did not like him because he was ~too~ good.

Comments

[samuraiter.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I'm not sure who I'd put on my list. If I had to pick people from Gundam, though, I wouldn't pick anybody from Seed / Seed Destiny. (I'm one of the detractors in question; I can't stand that series, and Jesus Yamato is my least favorite pilot in the franchise.)

[korsriddare.livejournal.com]

I can see where you are coming from, but to maintain some form of neutrality, I put him in. Because... Well. He IS Jesus Yamato afterall.

[samuraiter.livejournal.com]

The theory can be put to the test in the next SRW game, actually; it contains both Zeta Gundam and Gundam Seed Destiny, and it's been confirmed that, true to the story, Kira will be appearing as an enemy unit at least once, so we'll see how he stacks up against Kamille, Quattro, etc.