A YouTuber’s joyride in a Cold War F-4 Phantom jet has a buddy comedy vibe

Digital Combat Simulator Worldalso known as DCS Worldis the reigning champion of combat flight simulation software. From the P-51 Mustang to the popular A-10 Warthog, the platform is packed with top-notch interpretations of famous aircraft – many of which simply can’t be flown digitally anywhere else. And while the developer’s attention to detail has gotten Eagle Dynamics into trouble before, its first- and third-party developers regularly deliver the goods. Its latest, DCS: F-4E Phantom II

I’ll admit I’m a bit of a fan of the F-4. I even have an old “Remove Before Flight” sign from a US Air Force Phantom hanging in my office. But I’ve never flown the plane on PC. When I watched the first launch video, which officially came out on May 22, I was absolutely intimidated. Not for the reason you’re probably thinking – I’m pretty sure I could get it in the air and running. But it’s a two-seat plane. That means I’d be flying with the game’s AI in the back seat, forced to communicate with them through the game’s UI. That added complexity – on top of having to learn to launch and fly a Cold War-era jet – was too much for me.

Well, it turns out you can pass control of that second seat to another human player. YouTuber OperatorDrewski shows how it’s done in a video released late last week. He and a friend wrestle with the unusual aircraft and actually score a few kills… before setting off a conga line of enemy MIGs that pursue them to a friendly air base for refueling.

Even if you’re not that into flight simulations, the video is action-packed and charming. The chemistry between the two in the cockpit is great, and in the end it feels more like an outtake from an aborted Iron Eagle-style comedy and then a Let’s Play video.

DCS World can be downloaded for free from the Eagle Dynamics website or via Steam. DCS: F-4E Phantom IIbut will cost you $79.99.