Successfully complete the game under the expert difficulty setting to unlock the ace difficulty setting.
Aircraft list
The following is a complete aircraft list (in order):
F-4E (fighter)
Blue
Camo
Tiger Stripes
F-5E (fighter)
Sky Camo
Gray Camo
Sea-Green (Wang) level 1
F-16C (fighter)
Gray
Camo
White w/ Blue Stripes (Tempel) level 3
A-10A (attacker)
Camo
Desert Camo
Silver (Ciffred) level 2
MIR-2000 (fighter)
Sky Camo
Gray Camo
White w/ Blue Stripes (Rigaux) level 4
F-14A (fighter)
Gray
Sky Camo
Black (LEVY) level 6
TND-ID5 (attacker)
Camo
Green
Yellow Stripes (De Vico) level 7
F/A-18C (multirole)
Gray
Desert Camo
Yellow (Vrisala) level 8
F-15C (fighter)
Gray
Green-Gray
Blue-Silver (Tuttle) level 9
MIG-29A (fighter)
Gray Camo
Camo
Red (Mrkos) level 5
F-117A (attacker)
Black
Gray
Winter Camo (Kwee) level 16
EF-2000 (fighter)
Gray
Brown
White with red stripes (Olmstead) level 15
R-M01 (multirole)
Black
Gray Camo
White with blue stripes (Faye) level 10
F-15E (multirole)
Black
Camo
Blue Tiger Stripes (Gunn) level 13
F-2A (attacker)
Blue-Gray
Camo
White with red stripes (Urata) level 12
SU-35 (fighter)
Sky Camo
Gray Camo
White with blue and red stripes (Neujmin) level 11
F-22A (fighter)
Sky Camo
Gray
Gray (Abell) level 14
SU-37 (fighter)
Camo
Gray
Gray Camo with yellow wing tips (Yellow Squadron)
F-15ACTIVE (fighter)
Black
Gray Camo
White with blue andred stripes (Halley) level 17
S-37A (fighter)
Black
Gray Camo
Silver Camo (Smirnova) level 18
X-02 (multirole) (last aircraft)
Gray Camo
Silver
All aircrafts
Use the following steps to unlock all aircraft, including special colors. First, acquire an aircraft by destroying it in battle. This is easy, except for three aircraft. Forget the ground targets and dogfight instead, which is the true nature of an ace. You can acquire three different paint schemes for each aircraft. Two of the paint schemes can be acquired by destroying that color aircraft in battle. To acquire the special brightly colored third aircraft, you must find and kill the pilot flying it. On each level of the game there is a single hidden aircraft (eighteen total hidden aircraft). Each one of these aircraft has a specific pilot. When you see the aircraft in front of you and lock on, it will display the pilot's name next to the aircraft name and lock on square. For example, "S-37A SMIRNOVA". The hidden aircraft will not show up on radar until you get nearby. On radar, the aircraft will be marked with a red triangle instead of yellow. Each hidden aircraft is always in the same place on their specific level. This is always in an empty spot on the map away from the main combat zone. The aircraft can usually be found directly behind the main combat zone. Last but not least are the three remaining aircraft. To acquire the Yellow Squadron fighter (SU-37) of your nemesis Yellow-13, you must kill all of the pilots with names flying the special colored aircraft (eighteen total). To unlock the X-02 Stealth, get an "S" rank on all 18 missions under normal mode. In order to get the second X-02, finish the game getting an "S" rank under the hard difficulty setting. This will unlock a black plane. Finish the game under the expert difficulty setting with an "S" rank on all missions will unlock the last X-02. This one is silver. You can get the Tiger Striped F-4E by completing the game once under any difficulty setting, then using the Sp. Continue option. To unlock the second X-02 aircraft you must get an "S" rank on all eighteen missions under the hard difficulty setting. The third X-02 is unlocked by getting an "S" rank on all eighteen missions under the expert difficulty setting.
Alternate colors
Successfully complete the game in ace mode. Note: You may also need to obtain S-class for all missions.
Alternate opening sequence
To see a different plane other than the F-22 flying lead at the opening, go into a mission or free flight and choose a different plane. Crash your plane or quit the mission and return to the title screen. When the opening sequence plays again, whatever plane and secondary weapon you selected will appear instead of the F-22.
Bonus options
Successfully complete all 18 missions, then save the game. Load the saved game to unlock the following new options at the main menu. The "Special Continue" option allows the entire game to be replayed with new fighters and weapons, plus the money earned in the first game. The "Free Mission" option allows any mission to be played. The "Trial Mission" option allows the game to be played in either score attack or time attack modes. The "Scene Viewer" allows FMV sequences to be played. The "Music Player" option allows any of the 36 songs in the game to be played.
Breaking Arrows: XB-70
There is an XB-70 at the top left at about 30,000 ft. The enemy XB-70 can be shot down to earn extra points. The plane can be found all the way at the back of the combat area at high altitude. The plane is visible on radar to the left on the first target.
Broken Arrows: See northern lights
Look up in the night sky and you can see the northern lights.
Control view
Hold Triangle to zoom. Use the Right Analog-stick to pan around.
Defeating Megalith
Use the following trick to defeat Megalith with an "S" rank. First, destroy all Yellow aircraft possible. Next, fly past Megalith until you see an red-orange triangle. Shoot that aircraft down and return to Megalith. Go through the right tunnel and shoot the generator. Continue to destroy the next generator in the left tunnel. Now, go to the side of Megalith and destroy the last generator. After all generators are gone, destroy the two missiles that appear just ahead. Turn around as fast as possible, as the next two missiles will only remain for a minute after the generators are destroyed. Next, destroy the big missile in the center and do not forget to pull up.
Different Plane On Introduction Clip
You know how you get the F-22 on the introduction clip after the screen that says ace combat distant thunder, well you can change that. After you have completed the game, go to free mission mode and choose the plane you want, get it up on screen for about 4 seconds, then go back to the blue screen that says ac distant thunder, wait and there you go.
Dogfighting
When in a dogfight, there are some things you can do to help. First, do not go after the Yellows. Also, choose a plane that does well in air to air attacks. Use the machine gun if the target is close. Do not waste your missiles, as there may be a surprise during the mission (as in the Shattered Skies level). In this level, after the time is up and you have enough points, six B2 bombers appear. Finally, Do not stay too low. You must to learn how to control every aspect of your fighter. One thing you must do is learn how to use your airbrakes. Mastering the use of this will help you swing the tail end of your jet around and get behind your enemy faster. Also, learn how to do is maneuver at high speeds, close to the ground. This not only helps evade missiles (which will crash harmlessly into the ground), but in multi-player mode when your playing someone who is not proficient at flying low. Even in close range, if you have a straight lock, use it. If you definitely know that the enemy will not move in time, taking them down with a missile is faster and more efficient than using guns. Besides, you can reload at any point in the mission. Finally, use your radar to its full advantage, watching for enemies not only behind you, but on your left and right as well. If you know they are coming, then the attacks they send can be easily avoided and have no effect on your fighting. Mastering these things are the main ways to become a top ace at dogfighting.
Easier ground battle
The best way to destroy multiple ground targets is to fly the F-15 Active using the FREB (fuel - air explosive bomb). This will destroy about six to ten targets if they are close together.
Easier X-02s
There is an easier way to get the three X-02s rather than going through the entire game. After the game is completed, the "Free Mission" option will be unlocked. Select this option and choose a difficulty setting (normal for the gray X-02, hard for the black X-02, or expert for the silver X-02). Select any mission to play on that difficulty setting. If you get an "S" rank on all the missions, the X-02 becomes available. This allows you to skip all of the missions you got an "S" on when you went through the full game. For example, if you got an "S" on all but three missions, you only have to play those missions instead of the entire game.
Easy "Yellow" kills
Use the following trick to kill the Yellows during the final missions. First, acquire the SU-37. Then, go into battle with the QAAM (the SU-37's default weapon) equipped. When you engage a Yellow, immediately lock-on and fire a QAAM at him. This weapon will travel to the ends of the earth to hunt down its target. Even if it takes five minutes, the missile is 99% likely to hit the Yellow. With an average of five Yellows a mission (except the last one), they will be easy. This trick also works with other airborne targets. Note: You may not always hear the Yellows say that they have been shot down. Sometimes you will hear AWACS or a friendly say "A Yellows hit and trailing smoke. Whose kill was that?"
Easy kills
The best way to kill is to get in the cockpit view and go to work. When done correctly the kill will happen much faster and you will save missiles. If done in the HUD view or where you can see the entire plane, then chances are you will waste several missiles trying to kill enemies. Also use your bullets wisely to cut off paths of escape; this will assist you further. When on a mission and are "dog-fighting" in air-to-air combat, press Circle(2 ). When you do this, you will fire two missiles at the same time. This destroys your target immediately with two shots, rather than hitting it only once and still having the risk of it shooting you and your allies. While dogfighting in air-to-air combat, switch to the cockpit view. Lock on to your nearest enemy and fire a missile. Immediately after you fire the missile, shoot your guns. However, instead of hitting the enemy fighter, aim for the air in front and around it. The enemy fighter will try to dodge the bullets, thus steering into the missile's path.
Evading AA gunfire
Barrel roll and you will only get hit with one or two bullets maximum. Note: This trick is especially useful in Ace mode, when a good round of bullets can get you killed.
Evading SAMs
In order to successfully evade a SAM, fly directly at it at full speed. If you feel the engagement is not good, then break off. However, do not break off until you have tried at least once. If it works, you will pass over it and any missile fired will miss you. When you pass over the SAM, hit the brakes, turn sharply, and head at it again, but this time fire. Pass the SAM at about 100 feet.
Expert mode
Successfully complete the game under the hard difficulty setting to unlock the expert difficulty setting.
Fly Erusian planes
After you have shot down an ace on a level, highlight the plane that he was flying in the hangar. Press Down after you have acquired or purchased the color. If it is the correct paint job, you will see the letters IF.I.A.IF. somewhere on the plane. The SU-37 has Yellow 13's paint job, the X-02 is white, since there is not an Erusian version. Also, the F-14 does not have the letters F.E.A.F., but has the Erusian symbol (an orange triangle with a white circle inside).
Fly with missile
Play in free flight mode with a fast jet. Flip on the afterburners and fly up at a 45 degree angle. Get up to about 47,000 ft. When you get up to 1120 mph, do a vertical nose dive with the afterburners still on. Continue in the dive until you get down to 15,000 feet and level off. If you got your speed up to at least 1375 mph, switch the view to behind the plane and fire a missile. If you are flying fast enough, you should see the missile flying along side your plane.
Impossible speed
This trick only works with jets that have high speed and can go over 40,000 feet in altitude (X-02, S-37, Su-37) .Press R2 to go way up holding down over 40,000 feet (near space). Keep going in a circle while R2 is held. Go up and down slightly until the speed reaches 1665, then dive. If done correctly, when you dive the impossible speed should be about 1788 (if fast enough). Actually it will be about 1725. Note: Try practicing this trick in free flight mode.
Losing tough enemies
Use the following tricks when you have a group of enemies on you, or just one that will not give up. Find a very mountainous area and try to lose your enemy in there at full speed. Zigzag in and out until the enemy cannot find you. They will not follow you into this mountain area. If dealing with multiple enemies, disengage, climb to 40,000 feet at full throttle, take a breather, then re-engage and destroy the enemy. Use this technique against the Yellow Squadron in the second part of the Siege Of Farbanti mission.
Missile dodging
Under some difficulty settings, you can only be hit with a missile two or three times. This is different for the higher difficulty settings. In Ace mode, you will be shot down by one missile. Immediately when someone locks onto you and fires a missile, look at your radar. The moment when the missile is about to hit you, barrel roll. This is a difficult feat to perform but is quite impressive. This move only happens very rarely. If one of the planes lock on and manages to fire a missile and it is on your tail, you can blow a plane right out of the sky with the enemy's missle. Rush towards an enemy that is coming at you. In the split second it is about there, try your best to dodge it. if done correctly, the enemy missile will hit the enemy. Another way of missile dodging happens when you have a missile on your tail. Dive down, come to about six to seven thousand feet, then rise up. The missile should deflect and hit the ground. This is also successful when you have ground targets. You can save your own missiles. Note: The X-02 stealth plane us recommended.
Nose dive recovery
If you are in a nose dive and your speed is over 700 mph, do not drop below 2,000 feet. There is a small chance that your plane will pull up again because gravity will pull it down into the ground. If you are, lucky you will escape with 98% damage.
Preview airplanes and weapons
When you are in the hanger looking at the airplanes or weapons, hold Square. You will be able to look all around the airplane or weapon.
Safe Return: Easy completion
There are about eleven balloons ahead of you, up and down and to the side slightly. Then, turn right and go until you cross a mountain, four to six balloons later. Then, turn right again. Blast balloons until time runs out. It is possible to get an "S" rank under the ace difficulty setting using this method, with just balloons, not counting the planes. When you start the mission, your radar will have blinking dots all around. The dots are actually the blimps and not the noise. This will help find the blimps' location and hopefully increase your score.
Shattered Skies: Radio transmission
Do not bother going after the Yellow Squadron fighters. They are nearly impossible to hit. If you do manage to get enough hits on one to qualify as a kill, it will not go down. Instead, a red radio transmission will appear as follows. Note: You do not get any points from it.
: Who was that who shot me?
: It was a Ribbon fighter!
Shattered Skies: Shoot down SR-71
In the "Shattered Skies" mission, the fast moving plane you are locked onto when the mission first starts is an SR-71. You can shoot it down by heading towards the back of the combat area and climbing to about 30,000 ft. Head it off and you should be able to shoot it down. Quickly tap the Analog-stick Down as the mission starts. If done correctly, the SR-71 (which is the orange triangle) should still be blinking. This is the chance to get the Sr-71. Using the X-02 is recommended, due to its powerful speed.
Shattered Skies: Yellows leave early
Hitting a Yellow early will not kill them, but may make him and other Yellows leave the area early, after he gripes about being hit.
Watch missile or bomb when fired
While flying any jet, lock on to a target (ground or air) and hold Circle. This will allow you to watch your missile or bomb from the time it leaves the jet until it hits the target. Note: You have to be careful or your jet may crash.
Whisky Corridor: Second SR-71
There is a second SR-71 Blackbird on this mission. At any time during the mission, fly to the southwest corner of the map at about 15,000 feet, just north of the RTB line.