Jack Bartlett

"I hate not being able to move in three dimensions. Cramps my style."

- Jack Bartlett, Ace Combat 5 (mission 25, "Heartbreak One")

Bartlett is the leader of the 108th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Sand Island Detachment. Though he would never show it, Bartlett would give his life for his wingmen.

History
Bartlett, although a very talented pilot, has had a notorious history of being unable to comply with orders given, opting instead to follow his conscience. Bartlett cares for all the trainees under his command (referring to them as "nuggets"), and secretly admires Kei Nagase 's skill when she defends herself after being attacked before the start of the war.

He also seem to notice Blaze's skill, so he gave Blaze his old nickname "Kid". Thus, Blaze became his favorite pupil. "Heartbreak One" came by his callsign after losing love interest Major Nastasya Vasilievna Obertas sometime before Operation Battle-Axe during the 1995 Belkan War. Years later, during the Circum-Pacific War (2010), she and Bartlett are reunited and work together to free Prime Minister Seryozha Viktorovich Nikanor from prison (Bartlett's relationship with Major Nastasya Vasilievna Obertas drawing suspicion from his superiors during the latter conflict)

After being shot down during the Belkan War near Area B7R by Ashley Bernitz, he met the pilot later known as Peter N. Beagle and both become great friends. His last recorded sortie was when he destroyed one of the two SOLG controls in Sudentor, Osea. Bartlett survived the final mission in Sudentor. At the end of the war it's unknown what happened to him. Some say he stayed training pilots in Osea or went back with Nastasya to Yuktobania. Bartlett was never promoted beyond Captain in the 15 years since the end of the Belkan War due to his repeated insubordination, as he stated himself: "I don't know why they even bother reprimanding me anymore. I know I'm gonna be stuck at captain forever."

Trivia

 * During the takeoff sequence of Mission 04: First Flight, a voice very similar to Bartlett's can be heard speaking twice, first saying "They're gonna be annihilated on the tarmac if we don't get them airborne!" and "Whatever you do, don't crash into the airfield!", albeit not always in this order.
 * He also appears in an F-14D Super Tomcat on Ace Combat Zero on Mission 10 (Mayhem) in the mercenary ace style.