Mutsugi (Makoto Shinjou in the TV series); Danish pilot Greg Gates; and Lt. Colonel Saki Vashtar, a member of Aslan's royal family and the commander of Area 88. Shin's past is told through flashbacks during the story. He and his best friend, Satoru Kanzaki, were up-and-coming airline pilots for Yamato Airlines, and Shin had started a relationship with the CEO's daughter, Ryoko Tsugumo. Jealous of Shin's success, Satoru tricked him into signing the contract that landed him in Area 88. While Shin fights in the bloody war, Satoru courts Ryoko and rises through the ranks of Yamato Airlines. Ryoko discovers Shin is still alive through one of Goh's/Makoto's photos and resolves to find him. Endings While each version of Area 88 shared the same basic premise and some story arcs, they each had key differences, most notably in the endings. The original manga ending showed Shin returning to Japan, but having lost all memory of Area 88. The English-language version published by Eclipse Comics was left unfinished. In the three-episode OVA adaptation from 1985, Shin was discharged from service to escort the king of Aslan to Paris in exile. Despite being free and making contact with Ryoko, Shin flies back to Aslan, having changed in his time at Area 88. His ultimate fate is left uncertain. The 2004 TV series truncated the story to just after Shin lost his F-5E. In this version, Makoto, the photojournalist, was originally sent to Area 88 by Satoru to capture a photo of Shin dying to prove his death to Ryoko. Shin survives the events of the series and Makoto, swayed to help Shin, returns to Japan and derails Satoru's plot to marry Ryoko. Aircraft Many real-life aircraft are featured in the series, including combat, civilian, and experimental aircraft. Attackers A-1 Skyraider A-4E/F Skyhawk RA-5C Vigilante A-6E Intruder A-7E Corsair II A-10A Thunderbolt II OV-10A Bronco Sea Harrier FRS Mk.1 AV-8A Harrier II SEPECAT Jaguar Blackburn Buccaneer Yak-38 Forger Cargo aircraft C-1 Trader C-47 Skytrain C-130E Hercules Fighters and interceptors Dassault Mirage F1 Dassault Mirage 2000 English Electric Lightning F-4J/E Phantom II F-5A/E Freedom Fighter/Tiger II F-8E Crusader F-14A Tomcat F-15A Eagle F-16A Fighting Falcon F-20A Tigershark F-104G Starfighter F-105D Thunderchief F-100D Super Sabre RF-101C Voodoo F-111 Aardvark F/A-18A Hornet Fiat G.91 IAI Kfir J35F Draken Su-33 Flanker MiG-17 Fresco Mig-19 Farmer MiG-21 Fishbed MiG-23 Flogger MiG-27D Flogger Grumman X-29 Patrol aircraft E-2 Hawkeye