A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of air victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more. It is said that fighter aces are a dying breed, gradually becoming replaced with automated warfare technology. This is evidenced by the fact that while there were many hundreds of aces during WWII, there were only 22 aces from the Vietnam War and not a single ace from either Gulf War. With predictions of the fighter pilot being totally replaced by UCAVs, the F-35 has been called by some as the last fighter aircraft with a cockpit.

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