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Ace Combat Brand Director Kazutoki Kono Finally Gets a MiG-21 Ride

Kono said the MiG-21 ride broke the sound barrier, while the launch-day video captures his reaction to the jet's G-forces, snug cockpit, and open-sky view.

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Kazutoki Kono smiles and gestures from inside a fighter-jet cockpit during his MiG-21 ride.

Ace Combat brand director Kazutoki Kono’s first fighter-jet ride took him up in a MiG-21, which he says broke the sound barrier. Bandai Namco released a video of the flight alongside the October 2, 2026, launch of Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve.

Kono has worked on the series since Ace Combat 2 in 1997. In a June interview with PC Gamer, he said he and the team had spent 30 years asking for a fighter-jet ride. During a US interview, Kono said he had never ridden in one, and nearby BNEA PR staff arranged the flight. The interview question was about an F-16, but the eventual ride took place in a MiG-21.

Kono wrote on X that he broke the sound barrier and thanked the team for an experience he said he would never forget.

アメリカでのあるエースコンバット8についてのインタビューで「実際に戦闘機に乗られたことはありますか？」と聞かれ、「残念ながらないです……」と僕が答えた瞬間、側にいたPRチームが『そうか……河野さん戦闘機に乗ったことがないのか、だったら乗せなきゃ！』と始まった企画でした。結果、音速を… pic.twitter.com/763P1JWttJ

— Kazutoki Kono : 河野一聡 (@kazutoki) October 2, 2026

Bandai Namco’s launch-day video captures Kono describing the flight.

Kono said he was nervous before boarding, but called the experience beautiful once the jet was airborne. The force pressing him down into his seat stood out more than the G-forces during turns. He also found the compact cockpit surprisingly comfortable, and looking out at the clouds made him think about how well-made Ace Combat is. The ride gave him the flight experience without the combat.

Which fighter jet would you have picked for Kono’s ride? Follow CPG for more about the real aircraft and people connected to Ace Combat 8‘s launch on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.

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