Ace Combat 8 Aircraft Inspection Guide
The Aircraft Inspection trophy in Ace Combat 8 is tied to a specific viewer inside Campaign mode rather than the Aircraft Tree or normal aircraft-selection screen. You only need to inspect a single plane, so this is one of the quickest miscellaneous trophies once you know where the correct menu is located.
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How to Get Aircraft Inspection
Where to Find the Aircraft Viewer
Aircraft Inspection Requirements
Trophy Not Unlocking
How to Get Aircraft Inspection in Ace Combat 8
To unlock Aircraft Inspection in Ace Combat 8, enter Campaign mode and open Data Viewer, then select Aircraft Viewer and preview any available aircraft.
Aircraft Inspection Trophy
Campaign → Data Viewer → Aircraft Viewer → Preview any aircraft
You do not need to fly the aircraft afterward or complete a mission. Simply opening a plane through the Aircraft Viewer is the requirement for the trophy.
The PlayStation trophy description reads: “Previewed an aircraft using the aircraft viewer in campaign mode.”
Where to Find the Aircraft Viewer
The Aircraft Viewer is located under Data Viewer from the Campaign menu. It is separate from the Aircraft Tree, so purchasing or browsing planes through the tree will not satisfy the Aircraft Inspection requirement.
Once you open Aircraft Viewer, choose any aircraft that is available to view and enter its preview screen. You only need to do this once.
If you were looking through the Aircraft Tree instead, my Ace Combat 8 Aircraft Tree guide covers the separate system used for aircraft, weapons, parts, and MRP purchases.
Do You Need to Buy an Aircraft for Aircraft Inspection?
No specific aircraft purchase is required for Aircraft Inspection. The trophy only asks you to preview an aircraft through the Campaign Aircraft Viewer.
You also do not need to inspect the entire roster, customize the plane, use it during a mission, or finish a sortie afterward. One aircraft preview is enough.
Aircraft Inspection Requirements
Use Campaign mode
Open Data Viewer
Enter Aircraft Viewer
Preview one aircraft
No mission completion required
Aircraft collection trophies such as Bolstered Forces, Fully Kitted Out, and Patron of the Parts are separate objectives and do not affect Aircraft Inspection.
Aircraft Inspection Trophy Not Unlocking
There has been at least one post-launch player report of Aircraft Inspection failing to unlock even after using the Aircraft Viewer, so an occasional tracking problem may exist.
Before treating it as a bug, make sure you are entering the aircraft preview specifically through Campaign → Data Viewer → Aircraft Viewer. Looking at a plane through the Aircraft Tree, mission preparation, or another aircraft menu is not the same trigger.
If you are already using the correct Aircraft Viewer and the trophy still does not unlock, there is currently no confirmed universal workaround that I would treat as guaranteed. I would avoid deleting or altering your save solely for this trophy without a verified fix.
Which Aircraft Should You Preview?
It does not matter which aircraft you choose. Any plane that can be opened through Aircraft Viewer should satisfy the Aircraft Inspection requirement.
If you want to see the full playable roster and how each plane is unlocked, my Ace Combat 8 aircraft list covers every current aircraft, role, unlock method, and MRP cost.
Aircraft Inspection Trophy at a Glance
Aircraft Inspection
Mode → Campaign
Menu → Data Viewer
Option → Aircraft Viewer
Requirement → Preview one aircraft
Mission completion → Not required
All aircraft → Not required
Open Campaign → Data Viewer → Aircraft Viewer, preview one plane, and Aircraft Inspection should unlock.
