Honorable Enemy Ace

A sub-trope of Worthy Opponent that pilots a vehicle (most commonly a mech or plane), in a war, against the protagonist. The Honorable Enemy Ace's vehicle tends to be a (mostly) stock vehicle of their faction with the addition of a distinctive paint job, even if his opponent pilots an Ace Custom. Due to the vehicular nature of combat, an Honorable Enemy Ace and the protagonist(s) never meet (at least, not knowingly) until after their relationship is established, and will only know their rival's name through military intelligence (if at all).

Honor is an important part of the Honorable Enemy Ace - it's in the name, after all. An opponent who disregards the Rules of War (whatever they might be in the story) or stoops to dirty tricks need not apply.

Sometimes overlaps with Char Clone.

Anime and Manga

 * Char in the original Mobile Suit Gundam is a Zeon mobile suit pilot that the audience (but not the protagonists) first sees averting You Have Failed Me... and knowing all his underlings by name. He pilots a Zaku II, which differs from the examples that serve as Cannon Fodder only by its enlarged antenna, red paint job and superior speed. Despite Amuro being in what is unquestionably the most advanced mobile suit at the time, Char keeps up with him by being Weak but Skilled while Amuro has barely skimmed the manual on his mobile suit. For most of the series, Amuro and the rest of White Base's crew only assume (correctly) that the pilot they're fighting is the famed Red Comet due the red and speedy Zaku II they fight matching his description, while Char only knows Amuro as the pilot of the "white mobile suit". Char ceases to be an example in his later appearances in the Universal Century.
 * While Overman King Gainer doesn't have mass-produced "overman" mecha, the rest of this trope applies to, the Siberian Railroad's Honorable Enemy Ace to Gainer's Ace Pilot.

Comic Books

 * Soontir Fel in the X-Wing Rogue Squadron comics defies the mold of Imperial officers by refusing to engage in the plunder, war crimes, and adultery of his superiors and is a skilled enough pilot to give Rogue Squadron trouble. While Rogue Squadron pilot advanced X-Wings, Fel uses a mere TIE Interceptor with stripes. While Fel knows a reasonable deal about Wedge, Wedge and the rest of Rogue Squadron only know him through reputation. . He even holds the title "Baron" to make his inspiration clear.

Oral Tradition, Folklore, Myths and Legends

 * This was basically Karna's whole deal in Hindu Mythology; Krishna himself notes that Karna is an honorable enemy and The Ace when it comes to combat or archery. In fact, Karna would have been on the hero's side of the Pandavas hadn't been utter jerks to him for being a charioteers' son, and Drona refused to teach him due to not being a kshatriya. Duryodhana got an Even Evil Has Standards combined with a Pragmatic Villainy moment and makes Karna King of Anga to earn his loyalty and let him quality for a tournament. Indeed, when Karna learns that he is the Pandavas' eldest brother and the real heir to the kingdom, he refuses to tell anyone, even if it ended a Succession Crisis peacefully because it would surpass Duryodhana's claim to the throne, and he says he owes Duryodhana his loyalty. When Duroydhana himself finds out the truth after Karna dies, he tearfully says Karna should have told him; Duryodhana would have supported Karna's claim for the throne.

Video Games

 * "Yellow 13" of Ace Combat 04: Shattered Skies of whom narration notes "His heart felt compassion towards the weaker enemies he downed" pilots a Su-37 (uncommon, but not exclusive to Yellow Squadron in this universe) with yellow trim and is able to survive multiple sorties with player character Mobius 1 (who would himself be an example were the story shown from the other side). Near the end.

Real Life

 * The Red Baron Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, who won the respect of the western allies in World War I with his colorful but otherwise stock plane (which he only adopted in the middle of his flying history and wasn't that unusual among his peers) and skilled flying, is the Trope Maker. After he was finally shot down, the opposition gave him a full funeral.