Yes: Ace Combat brand director Kazutoki Kono has finally experienced a real fighter-jet ride. A Bandai Namco promotional video released alongside ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE shows him in a MiG-21, after years of asking for the chance. PC Gamer reporter Wes Fenlon says he is taking credit, with a playful basis: Kono confirmed that Fenlon’s June interview helped set the events in motion—not that it was the sole cause.
Why Kono had waited so long
Kono has worked on the series since Ace Combat 2 in 1997, according to PC Gamer’s October 2, 2026 report. In a June interview with Fenlon, he recalled that he and the team had been asking for a fighter-jet ride for years without getting the opportunity: “Unfortunately over the last 30 years of my career I’ve been appealing, saying ‘hey, we want to ride in one of these jets!’ but we have not yet had the chance,” he said. “Neither myself, or anyone on the team.”
The later video turned that long-running wish into a real flight. Kono’s confirmation that the interview helped set things in motion gives Fenlon’s “I’m taking credit” framing its joke; it does not establish that the interview alone made the ride happen.
What Kono said the flight felt like
As relayed by PC Gamer, Kono described being nervous before takeoff and delighted once airborne: “I was scared before getting in. But once we were airborne, it turned into one of the most beautiful experiences,” he said in the promotional video.
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He also singled out the physical sensation of the flight and the small cockpit: “The G-force during turns was noticeable, but what stood out the most was the force pushing me downward into the seat. Being up in the sky inside such a compact cockpit felt incredible. It was a surprisingly comfortable and enjoyable space to be in. Compared to a large aircraft, it really made me appreciate the appeal of fighter jets.”
The experience also prompted a thought about the games themselves. Kono reflected that looking at the sky made him think about how well made Ace Combat is—a neat connection between the real view from a fighter cockpit and the series he has helped shape.
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What is known—and what is not
PC Gamer identifies the aircraft as a MiG-21 and says Bandai Namco revealed the ride in a promotional video released alongside ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE. The reporting does not specify when or where the flight took place, who operated the aircraft, what the flight profile involved, or whether Kono piloted it or rode as a passenger. The quoted reactions are Kono’s remarks in the video as relayed by PC Gamer.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How the ride connects to ACE COMBAT 8
Bandai Namco’s April 9, 2026 developer diary describes ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE as a flight-action game and calls it “the culmination of 30 years of experience and expertise”—the publisher’s framing of the franchise’s history. The diary highlights story scenes, aircraft and environment rendering, clouds and weather, dogfights, and a tutorial aimed at helping newcomers. Bandai Namco lists PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S as platforms. The game is context for Kono’s ride, not evidence that the video is a review or a guide to the game’s release formats.
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