DCS Cinematic "Last flight:" A tribute to online friendships- lost and found.
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- Опубліковано 26 сер 2024
- / @redbravo65 (RedBravo65s youtube channel. He was a big fan of DCS- hence why I chose DCS for this video.)
Many of us take for granted that the online friends we’ve spent hundreds, if not thousands (upon thousands) of hours with in game are always going to be there to log on with us for one more kick at the big mission; one more lap around the track; one more quest; one more flight.
On July 8th of last year a friend I’d made while hosting a private DCS Server (The Firehouse) over a decade ago passed away. I left DCS quite a few years ago and we lost contact but he’d come back into my gaming life a few months earlier playing another title with a small community I established. We were anxious to get him back in action since he had to take time to heal from a recent surgery. During his down time we talked about getting back into DCS and flying together again. We were both eager to get after it and I dusted off my fancy HOTAS controller and TrackIR setup.
His wife reached out to his discord contacts on July 11th, sending a gut-wrenching message to a few of us to let us know he’d passed away suddenly and unexpectedly: “…He greatly enjoyed many, many, many hours spent playing DCS and chatting with his friends on Discord. Thank you for being a friend to RedBravo65.”
RedBravo65 was delightfully positive and loved his time in game- maybe even as much as we enjoyed having him play with us. He had a “no enemies” disposition- a quality that I recognized in him immediately. Red was the kind of guy who could get adversaries to put their differences aside for a moment in a fashion reminiscent of the Christmas Truce on the Western Front in 1914.
This cinematic sequence takes place in no particular time period, in no particular region and instead exists in what I refer to as a “parallel multiverse.” Some of the creative decisions I made were simply because “I wanted to-” and I don’t believe any of those compromise the intent of the video.
The tail code is significant- RB was his gamer handle initials... which were predominantly how I knew him. GH are his real world initials, 65 (believed to be) the year he was born and 7/23 was the month and year he died. The black bars represent that he passed away.
Please take a moment to acknowledge the friendships you’ve made online. Enjoy them while they last and don’t take that time for granted.
Special thanks to the technical guidance and voice talent in various languages including English, Russian and Mandarin Chinese:
“Sweetest” (US Navy AWACS)
“EinsteinEP” (NATO AWACS)
“SchwaBAM” (Tugboat- 41)
'“Kingspade09” (Tugboat- 36)
“Kevlarburrito” (Senior Officer, NATO)
“Dano” (English Command- NATO)
Qin “Turkey” Liu (Mandarin- Chinese Aircraft / Command)
Uncle "Capybebra" Izya (Russian- Radar operator)
Mike Krylov (Russian Aircraft / Command)
“CruddierHydra” (Traffic)
“OELMuvun” (Handy Wind Crew)
“Whiteatom” (Technical advisor- merchant coms)
MODS:
Liveries by REFLECTED
Codename Flanker SU-30
Please feel free to share any inspiring stories of online friendships you've made over the years.
Have you ever lost anyone you've gamed with? How did you feel? Did the fact you'd never met make it easier or harder?
Thanks for sharing.
FGwL
I lost one of my close online friends to a shooting. March 14th was the last I talked to him, he was a great man whom I had known for 6 years. He was tragically shot and killed while walking the streets of Colorado Springs. I will never forget the memories me and him shared, the good times we had, and the brotherhood that was our friendship. I think about him every day as his girlfriend is still one of my best friends.
@@Real__ATFthat’s a hard story to share but thank you for it.
I know exactly what you’re talking about.
@@FromGamingwithLove0456 Your welcome man. I'm an emotionally strong guy usually, but stuff like that can make me cry.
@@Real__ATF I get it. Turns out editing videos through tears is hard.
I lost someone to a very unexpected heart attack who I served alongside and gamed with. An absolutely great man full of cheer and could make the coldest, wettest, most miserable conditions endurable through humour and genuine good spirit. A strong role model and had many laughs gaming together too. It's been 10 years, but never forgotten. RIP Moxy, I hope we meet again one day at the great re-org.
Farewell now he has real wings.
I droped a tear watching this. Fly high RedBravo65, the skies are yours now.
There's a poem I read after two pilots died in England, which always stuck with me.
"We toast our hearty comrades who have fallen from the skies,
and were gently caught by God's own hand to be with him on High.
To dwell among the soaring clouds they've known so well before.
From victory roll to tail chase, at heaven's very door.
As we fly among them there, we're sure to hear their plea.
To take care my friend, watch your six, and do one more roll for me."
- Commander Jerry Coffee, Hanoi, 1968
Rest in peace.
@@newbieboka very profound. Makes me want to do a video based on this- with a nice voiceover.
I’ll need to look more into it- thank you!
This is epic. You really captured the spirit of DCS online with all the languages, multi-national aircraft, and an epic missing man formation. Helluva send off, man. I’m sorry for your loss.
@@nateh.4680 thank you- definitely what I was reaching for. Many nations; cool jets; awesome people: Great memories.
This randomly got recommended to me, and I am very glad that it did. What a way to honor/tribute your friend, love the fly-by with the multitude of countries and their own respective aircraft. Fly high RedBravo o7
@@dlkjAENFadlkfj means a lot to know that it hits for strangers as well- thanks for weighing in!
Awesome video and AMAZING tribute to your pal. I'm sure he would love it. Very epic and touching seeing his guy head into the light. A great send off!
Thanks Bam- always appreciate ya!
chilling edit man! great tribute to a friend, im sure he'd loved it to.
here is to the friends we lost along the way,
may we see them them when again when its time for us to fly into that blue sky.
This video had me on the edge of my chair with the formation!
my condolences for you and your friends family..may he rest in peace
What an amazing tribute damn! Great edit with an even better story/message behind it! Im sure he'd be smiling like crazy seeing this tributed to him
Thank you! Very Glad I captured it!
Nice tribute to your friend. Well done.
My deepest condolences for your loss and your friends family
@@simtaylor61 thank you.
A friend lost
Hands grasping at the wind
No matter the loss now
We will find our friends again.
Fair skies and following winds.
Nailed it!
Thanks HSF- appreciate it!
A proper send off, I’m sorry you lost your buddy, my condolences to his family, he sounds like a great man
This was a very touching video and a great reminder not to take for granted any relationships we make within the DCS Community, thanks for this!
I definitely feel good that it hit the right notes within the community.
Awesome 👌
Thanks Mister Bull!
Belonging to a large online community of simmers old and young, we had to say forever goodbye to some amazing lads over the years. It's never easy. You honored your mate well.
Red Bravo sounds like a wonderful guy. Even in missing man, that pilot only flies higher.
Absolutely beautiful send off.
I love this community!
Per Ardua Ad Astra RedBravo... o7
What a great and thoughtful eulogy❤ fantastic thing you have done. Condolences and strength to you . Absolutely beautiful piece.
May Red fly Forever High.
And, in an Amazing Tribute, youve managed to Capture how DCS brings everyone together. Against Cultures, against Languages, against Politics, we are here because like Red, we love to fly. Even in Sims. This is Beautiful, as much as it breaks my heart.
"Good Highs, Good Lows.
Good Locks, Good Tones.
Throw WarHeads on ForeHeads,
And GET THE HELL HOME!!!"
-AGhostOfRazgriz
"For Oh', I have slipped the Surely Bonds of Earth...
And Danced the Skies on Laughter-Silver Wings..."
-John Gillespie Jr.
This is a great message! In producing this video I had to interact with members of the community from many different nations and the people I dealt with were amazing.
The times we had...
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of death
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Bless this mans soul may it lead him to heaven, it is said that pilots are closest to heaven
Мне тоже это попалось в рекомендациях и тоже выбило у меня слезу. Это было прекрасно, вы большие молодцы, парни! Теперь я узнал о тебе, Red Bravo 65, и горжусь этим.
@@user-qv9gm1dc2e спасибо, что зашли оставить комментарий! Я ценю тебя! (Google translate :) )
awesomely executed,the part where everyone was flying together was epic as hell
my deepest condolences and i am sorry for your loss o7
a proper farewell
A tribute very well done…Godspeed Red Bravo!
Godspeed, RedBravo65.
I don't know what to say... This video got recommended to me while I was watching DCS Cinematics. I am do glad to have clicked on it. This hits even harder after reading the discription.
I am sorry for your loss o7
Thanks for checking it out- yeah even after seeing it maybe a few hundred times through the production process it still gets to me.
Brilliant!
Condolences from one you have never flown with.
All the best to you and yours.
Awesome bro.
@@TroyG thanks man
That was a beautiful tribute to your friend 😢❤
rest in peace, RedBravo65s
o7
That was amazing guys, well done :)
Thank you!
Epic. chills down my spine guys. Well done
Thanks for checking it out. Glad it hit the mark.
Great work guys 💯
Thank you!
❤
Dang. My comment got deleted. I remember commenting on this video.
I was talking about a gone friend, that's probably why it got deleted.
I certainly never deleted any comments friend.
🫡
o7
o7