I guess I should point out that one of my criticisms is unfounded in the modern Navy - a pilot/RIO can wear glasses or contacts if his/her vision is correctable to 20/20. That wasn't the case when I was in, but of course I was in when the first movie came out in the mid 80s. I thought they just put glasses on Bob to make his dorky character even dorkier. While it was a small thing, it was enough to set off my Navy veteran bullshit alarm.

Anyway, I was wrong on that point. I stand by the rest of them, though.

This was THE reason I didn't join the AF or Navy.

I wanted at least a shot at making the flight program. They said nope, but still pushed hard since my test scores were fantastic.

**** em'

I still kind of question it, though. I mean, with all the violent physical forces at play on somebody flying a fighter, it seems kind of chancy. I've known people to lose contacts or have their glasses break/shift from a variety of things infinitely more gentle than five G barrel rolls.

love a good naval expose from frazod LMAO

Admittedly, my only real experience with naval aviation was when a carrier my ship was alongside in the Med during an UNREP (resupplying by lines and helos) scrambled its ready fighters as we performed an emergency breakaway when a Russian cruiser steamed directly ahead of us and stopped.

The Russian ship moved out of way. Quickly. :D They ****ed with us like that sometimes. I'm sure we did the same to them.

That shit was LOUD, too.

And here my dumb ass was thinking the actors actually got to fly the planes after watching this and the training they went through, lol.

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Even if they didn't fly them it's impressive they were in there and dealing with those G's.

Wait...what?!?

You thought they just tossed Miles Teller the keys to an F-18 and said "bring 'er back in one piece..."

My understanding is that Cruise can actually fly and that he actually flew that trainer in the scene at the end with Jennifer Connelly. But that part of the Navy allowing them to use the real Hornets was a strict "Tom Cruise can't touch ANYTHING" requirement because...well, his reputation precedes him.

The guys just balls to the walls - but there's no way they're giving a pile of actors control of a fighter jet.

Saw it last night. Enjoyed it.

No chance I could withstand the force of pilots. Just not a club in my bag for that.

Yes - it appears Tom Cruise can definitely fly a P-51 as well as an actual 'fighter' style jet.

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James Corden is an annoying pain in the ass but Tom Cruise is just wild as hell, man.

EDIT: From what I can find that's an Aero L-39 Albatros. Max Speed is in the 500 mph range with a 36K ft ceiling and a climb rate around 21 m/s; can pull a hair over 6 Gs.

So it ain't a Raptor or anything but it does not **** around.

Great movie.

9/10

I highly suggest watching in theaters as opposed to waiting to watch it at home.

I went back to my home town yesterday and drove by the ol' Top Gun house. They turned it into a restaurant. I use to walk by that house everyday as a kid.

That whole area has been radically changed. They've got nice big hotels everywhere. Can't even see the ocean from the hillside any more.

Two things still stand: My favorite taco shop and the Top Gun house. But even the Top gun house has been changed.

They built a movie theater within a 1 min walk from the Top Gun house and I was thiiiiiis close to stopping in to watch Top Gun 2. Just not enough time in the day yesterday.

I think i might drive back next weekend just to watch the Movie in Oceanside.

I mean, how cool would it be to watch Top Gun 2 just 1min away from where parts of Top Gun were filmed?

I'm going to guess it can climb faster than that. ;)

(Nevermind, I'm used to meter or feet/minute)

I mean, I figured it was a retired F/18 drug out of mothballs LMAO

Let me be excited and a live self constructed fantasy life vicariously, damn you.

Shit, us locals call it "the Top Gun House".... in case no one knows wtf im talking about.

I'm referring to the house where Tom Cruise ****ed Kelly McGillis. The "Take my Breath Away" scene where Tom Cruise rides off into the sunset on his Kawasaki Ninja.

That's 4100 ft/minute, no?

That's pretty damn severe, especially for a sub-sonic trainer. About 7 times what a Cessna is rated for.

I'm guessing it just doesn't have the power to simply go nose up and rocket without running out of inertia and stalling. It looks like a maneuverable little thing but doesn't seem like it's incredibly powerful.