After 30 years they finally let Ace Combat’s director fly in a real jet, and I’m taking credit
Kazutoki Kono, the brand director of Ace Combat who has led the beloved flight simulation series since 1997’s Ace Combat 2, has finally realized a decades-long dream: flying in a real F-16 fighter jet. Throughout his 30-year career, Kono repeatedly requested opportunities to experience actual combat aviation but was never granted the chance—until now.
In a remarkable twist, a PC Gamer interview with Kono appears to have directly catalyzed the opportunity. A subsequent update from Kono confirmed via social media that the publication’s coverage set events in motion that culminated in his fighter jet joyride. The experience allowed the veteran game director to personally encounter the high-altitude thrills and extreme maneuvers—such as barrel rolls at 30,000 feet—that he has been simulating in games for three decades.
The development adds a poignant human dimension to Kono’s long career leading one of gaming’s most iconic flight simulation franchises, demonstrating that persistence and genuine passion can eventually overcome seemingly impossible hurdles.