TOPGUN - Navy Fighter Weapons School - 1991

In 1987 I started work as a training video producer for TOPGUN, the Navy Fighter Weapons School.

The interviewed pilot, callsign "Hose" became our XO. Though he seems arrogant, he could back it up with his flying. Some of the instructors were quiet and humble, but it took a while to get used to the several egos there!

In 1991 we had a visit from the "Inside Edition" crew. "Hose" insisted the reporter fly with him. He told us why: He planned to make the reporter as sick as possible with lots of negative G maneuvers, then make him pass out with some high positive G (you can see this in their video).

Why did Hose do this? Just to show how tough pilots are - to emphasize that the reporter was just an earthbound geek.

Mr. Goldfarb, the reporter, was such a nice guy. I felt sorry for him. In spite of his rough treatment, Goldfarb did a thorough, factual and positive story.

So... who was the real pro? I'll let you judge.

PS In the 4 years I worked there, I heard the theme from the movie "Top Gun" so often, I still can't stand it. Feh!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• TOPGUN
• top
• gun
• fighter
• weapon
• aviation
• fly
• flying
• jet
• pilot
• training
• war
• Navy

[MrZw69]

do you really have to retire at 42 if you're a fighter pilot? If anybody knows please respond.

[KutWrite]

@MrZw69 - You don't have to retire from the Navy, but by that time, you've almost got 20 in, depending how you got your commission.

In general, if you make it to LCDR (O-4) rank, you can stay in. Probably get a desk or staff job, but maybe XO & even CO of a large ship, maybe a carrier. Later, even admiral.

Lots of career paths.

[TopGun8993]

Wow, cool to see..I was stationed at Top Gun as a Plane Capt. and Aviation Structural Mechanic on the A-4 Skyhawks from 1989-1993. They mentioned that the average age of the pilots was 26 (although the Top Gun instructors were a little older than that), well the ground crew that serviced and maintained the aircraft were mostly 18-20 years old. I got out a couple years before they moved from NAS Miramar to NAS Fallon Nevada.

[KutWrite]

@TopGun8993 - I was there while you were.  We probably bumped into one another at a ceremony or while I was videotaping something. I was in charge of the PSI contractors who did all the art work, call sign cartoons, etc. Also the contract that put portable video cameras in the cockpits behind the instructors.

Hope you're doing well!

[hallgb]

@001Maverick001 Actually it's not bad producing. Bad producing is what your parents did when you crawled out of the last pussy you ever saw. You've proven your ignorance, and no one really gives a shit what you think. lol... but I'm sure you are used to that feeling.

[greentea1494]

HAHAHA!!! That's Bill O'Rielly!!!! He's not angry!?

[Pwnzistor]

Fuck you Bill O'Reilly

[MrNiceguy1311]

"The plaque for the alternates is in the ladies room"

[KickboxerKyo1]

@greentea1494 That's because he deviates his mind from anger by imagining that he's one of them flyboys. Lol

[KickboxerKyo1]

@tbdonnelly67 The F-16 is used by the Navy as an adversary training aircraft. It's not actually an active combat plane but is rather used to mimic Soviet pilot & jet behavior in training scenarios.

[Snarekid19]

@MrZw69 Noooo. There are fighter pilots well in their 50's still tearin up the sky.

[Snarekid19]

@daniel2727f You must be from Israel. You've just got to be. You clearly haven't done any research. Im also pretty sure there are documentaries with Israeli pilots talking about previous engagements. So I guess they can do more than just show their faces on camera......

[danny1229c]

@Coollimes I know mate ! i have a lot of American friends it's such a shame that the other fools who are American let them down !

[Coollimes]

@danny1229c damn straight mate! I could go into how the American owe their language to us as well as everything else but there's not enough room in this box :L

[daniel2727f]

@Snarekid19

I wouldnt say that China is a strong ally of Israel, not even the U.K. So how many countries dont support Israel? More than 100. There is no comparison, Israel and the U.S. for that matter are both widely hated because they epitomize western values. Everyone knows this. And yes they do have better tech. Know the truth.

[daniel2727f]

@Snarekid19

no one knows, the IAF is very secretive in what they do because they don't want others to know their training tactics and how they operate. IAF pilots can't even show their faces on camera because they are too valuable to the country. To answer your questions, the equivalent is the entire Israeli Air Force and there are special groups within it like the Hammer squadron who carry out the most dangerous operations.