This dude is humble, humble bragging for 37 minutes! What an accomplished pilot and amazing individual. Go see Top Gun Maverick. See it as it is - a movie, not a documentary. It’s a blast!

I couldn't stop smiling while watching this movie in the theater. This is really a masterpiece! Top Gun Maverick is the Best movie I've seen this year!

I was at TopGun 1979-1983 and 1986-1988, as one of the 15 Marine enlisted working there at Miramar. Got qualified to fly backseat, ran the flight line, airframes, hydraulic shop, seat shop, power plant s and operation and logistics. Great six years of my 23 years in the Marine Corps.

This dude is the real frickin deal. I learned from the legendary Jerry Rice at football camp once, "When you're good at something, you'll tell others. When you're excellent at something, others will say it for you." 🇺🇸 Thank you both for your service, legends. 💯

Great interview! In 1983, Air Force pilot at the 426th Fighter Squadron, I was the Chief of Aerial Comabt Tactics and Dissimilar Air Combat Tactics instructor and got selected to attend TopGun school. First flight at TG, got my ass handed to me on a BFM 1v1! These guys are good! learned alot. 2 years later, I was selected to the SR-71 and flew that great machine for 4 years. Thanks for that great interview Jocko

Me-“Hey Jocko have you seen Top Gun before?” Him- “Oh yeah I talked to him last night.”

Finally saw this movie last weekend, loved it. Way better than the original, IMO. Thing is, they don't make movies like this anymore. Practical effects, a tough-guy hero who doesn't get gutted by the writers, no politics... loved it. Wish Hollywood would do more of this.

Having served with Dave in the USMC...he was an amazing officer to be around. I served with him at ANGLICO...truly a great professional and even better man.

I’m a marine. Never in my entire life did I ever hear of any marine aviator who flew an F 22. Amazing guy

This was one of the best interviews I’ve seen in a while. The fact that one of the best Jet fighter pilots is such an actual fan of the Top Gun movies is awesome 😎

BTW another anecdote -- I was an F-16 instructor at Luke AFB. We would occasionally bring a few jets to Fallon to fight the Top Gun students. The guys at Fallon run a class act and just the brief before the fight is the stuff of legends. My first fight was against a couple students in a Rhino and it was like shooting fish in a barrel. My 2nd fight was against an older and lighter F-16 flown by one of their instructors. An hour later we're in the bar debriefing the mission and I was the fish in the barrel, it's amazing how an incredible pilot can make a good pilot look plain-old bad (and I was in my main jet, the instructor who smoked me basically flew F-16s in his spare time). Great school and great movie.

So many vets here. Thank you all for your service. You guys are all the foundation of our great country.

It couldn't have gotten any better - a highly experienced top-notch Navy SEAL interviewing a real-life TopGun instructor - a fighter jet super pilot...Thank you, Jocko and David-absolutely an amazing episode just like all the others served to us by Jocko and his team. Wish our politicians were a bit more like you...Sounds like a wishful thinking, I know...Loved how Jocko was bantering David slightly ("Humblebrag".) David's skillset and resolve are mind-boggling and a very humbling experience to discover, as most people have difficulty operating a vehicle let alone piloting a supersonic aircraft loaded with sensitive and ultramodern technology. I cannot wrap my brains around how much actual knowledge, endurance and so much more it takes to just be able to fly one particular type of aircraft, to navigate and engage other skilled pilots successfully...This guy is qualified to pilot 4! types of fighter jets...Awesome episode-inspiring and humbling...

My dad was a missile analyst with Top Gun when it started. Worked with F-14 thru F-18. He got to tell them if it was pilot error, missile error or plane error. He spent 25 yrs doing this after 24 yrs as ECM/navigator in the Air Force. My younger son watched the original movie so many times, it drove his brother crazy, but my dad enjoyed it, even if it was a movie. My older son got to go inside a TG meeting once as a kid. I told his teachers if he draws pics of bombs & missiles , don't worry because that's what his grandpa worked with. I went to see the new movie & got choked up thru out thinking about my dad & also we worked with family services all the time & you know what it's like when you lose a crew. I thought it was fantastic & I think my Dad would have too!

The only reason i ve seen the movie in my living room all by myself is cause i knew i am gonna burst into a lot of tears remembering the boy i was back then on the 1st Top Gun and the people actors used to be back then. This movie is a time capsule for all of us on our +40s. Top Gun is not just a movie for me, is the reason why i became a fighter pilot and why i am now an instructor who will pass on my knowledge to the ones after me

My simulator partner at the airline I work at during initial training was a top gun instructor. The stories he told me were absolutely insane. His technique on a 760,000 pound airplane during what is called upset training was flawless. I was absolutely blown away.

This dude spent more calories trying to humbly skirt around the fact that he's an absolute badass as he would spend in a workout.

I’m almost 40 with two children. I was going through some of my old school stuff from when I was a kid to show my son the other day and I saw a drawing I had done. It was a military jet. Underneath it read “I wana b a jat pilet”, and at that moment I remembered how much I wanted to fly jets as a kid. Throughout life with all the ups and downs I had forgotten that was my dream. I never did become a jat pilet and now it’s too late and it made me a little sad. Moral of the story is, kids, don’t forget your dreams and strive to be the person and do the things you always wanted to do. Don’t let life take that away from you.

I flew with the blue angels one time and my pilot was a top gun graduate. They have some absolutely amazing capabilities.

What a fantastic interview by two badass men. Top Gun Maverick is in my Top 3 movies of all time, I can't get enough of it!

Jocko is possibly one of the very best interviewers ever. His ability to throw out the little ball busting comments that friends do is priceless. Always get some good laughs during his interviews. Two American Hero's. Well Done.

That is exactly what happened. Watched it and just as we got outside my 15 year old daughter said " I want to join the military and fly jets" never has she ever even spoke about joining before.

The world needs more bad ass people like Dave who are this humble. Very impressive.

I went to the movies yesterday, without intending to. I am a traveling EMT, nothing planned. So I walked up and saw that Top Gun was showung. I aks of i needed to pre-purchase my ticket. The man said, no, I can sell you 1 right here. "And when does Top Gun stsrt"? In about 4 minutes. I bought a ticket and sat down. After purchasing a small bag of peanut eminems which I placed in my bag. The credits were over, the movie began and I started laughing out loud right away. I felt like it was an exact continuation of where things left off.... as 30 years have gone by. The movie exceeded any expectations that I might have had. I laughed and I cried. When I left, I thought wow I think I might have to go see that movie again. I can't remember the last time I said that if ever. Something about this movie struck a nerve and and trigger a lot of emotions for me. I'm truly grateful that this was not a remake of Top Gun, but a continuation with a lot of great messages. Yes one was the 1 that you mentioned about it's the man in the seat flying the plane that makes the difference. There's also an element of being true to yourself no matter what outside forces or others may think that you should be doing with your life. Now I will continue listening to this interview I started and never finished. 🇺🇸🕊🇺🇸🇺🇸🕊 May God continue to bless your journey thank you both so much for your continued service. Sincerely, A Civilian Warrior 🇺🇸 God bless us all

As a daughter of a Fighter Pilot Thank you so much for this insightful interview. I loss my dad in 1968. He is my Hero. I remembered how exhausted he was whey he finally came back to us after long deployment. I have never met a man worn his courage and honor. Thank you for this. 😍

This was a really great podcast. Two badass guys that have achieved such greatness in life, and are completely humble. It's people like this that should be our country's leadership. Without any doubt. 🔥

Berke is not lying. I saw it with my wife yesterday, and it was freaking amazing! We both loved it. It was sad that it ended at all. There are hardly any movies this good anymore. On top of that, there was no woke bs. I'm definitely going to see it again.

Two professionals in different categories having a chat. Loved to watch both of you.

My good friend, Gary Turner, was an advisor and Top Gun instructor for the first movie. He had over a 1000 carrier takeoffs and landings. Miss that guy!

Jocko has had a great career. But he’s sitting across from a man whose resume can never be duplicated. That’s pretty impressive.

My son was 9 yrs old when the first Top Gun came out. The amount of times we saw that movie was insane.😀 He has seen this new one four times already... I had the pleasure of going with him yesterday to see it. It was fun to enjoy that time with him and to see the happiness it brought. And without any type of agenda to it.

Great interview, Jocko really kept the dialogue up and running with great questions, Dave also kept it with a great mood. Big respect to both gentlemen 🙏

As a Marine friend told me, Berke is an infantry man who flies jets.

Sat on the edge of my seat the whole movie. A good old movie about warriors and the relationships between them. A movie about accomplishing the mission, about having each other's back. I really enjoyed the talk between Jocko and Dave. These guys don't just talk the talk, but, walk the walk. Thank God for our protectors, our defenders - our warriors.

This a great conversation; I was an Army guy a few years ago but learned a ton about Navy and Marines…thank you both for this!

After seeing the movie yesterday, found this interview soooo interesting and loved hearing these professional military personnel discuss Top Gun-Maverick. Great to hear their take on it all. Thanks for explaining aspects of training, etc, to us common people. I don't even fly in a commercial plane, but seeing jet pilots do their maneuvers out here at our little lake in Texas is awesome! You just stand watching and hoping they do some inverts or stunts overhead! Loved this interview. Thanks again!

Jocko is asking all the questions we all wanted to ask a real life Top Gun instructor

Jocko, discovering the story behind the actual, issued fighter pilot jacket…and following that up with, “…what’s your most sacred patch on the jacket?” - just proves at how well you’ve perfected the craft at interviewing people. What an incredible interview with such rapport and respect for one another. You gentlemen are awesome. Well done, Jocko!

As a retired Marine I completely concur that your first unit (whether squadron, battalion, whatever) is the one you most reflect on. I just spent a weekend with two of my Marine brothers from that unit (Dragons Platoon, Weapons Company, 2nd Battalion 6th Marines) and know and remember more of those guys than from any other time in the Corps. Semper fi.

Fantastic interview. Thank you both for your dedicated service (and thank you to your families for their sacrifice!!)

Regarding the instructor just destroying the students, check out 40 Second Boyd, aka Colonel John Boyd who will be familiar to any Marine. When he was an instructor at the Air Force Weapons School he had a standing bet that he could beat anyone in 40 seconds. He never lost. Too bad the Air Force didn't realize the impact of his lessons.

It's funny, me being a child of the late 60's, and therefore a teenager in the 80's, to see a guy who watched Top Gun and then went on to not only join the military and fly, but to become a Top Gun instructor as well. Top Gun was one of those 80's movies that you just KNEW was going to compel some people to join the military, but to SEE one of those people all grown up is cool. It's like Evil Knievel; every kid who ever saw him jump stuff immediately went and then tried to jump stuff with their bike :)

Thank you for this interview! It is a real in site for people like me who are civilians. Much respect and gratitude to you serving our country!! Nothing but love to you all !!! Vets and current active soldiers!!!

I was a S.E.R.E. instructor at Warner Springs, California,,,,Fasotragrupac, North Island ....1979 to 1981...... Thank You both for Sacrifices and Service....

When Dave Berke mentioned that there is a significant gap between a senior instructor and the best student, it made the scene from the original movie where Maverick went after Viper have a much clearer picture of how high the stakes were and just how "ballsy" Maverick was to put himself out there and really test himself and find out what he's really made of.

Anyone else say "YES" out loud when he said, "do you want me to go through the bird strike sequence now?". So bummed Jacko moved past that, but I'm being picky. Great interview.

This was a GREAT interview. Had fun watching this. Great questions with the real guy who can answer them.

My grandfather was a Lt. Col in the Marine Corps and was a pilot - I believe he joined sometime around 1946 and was in until the 80s. He never talked to me about it much (wasn't much of a family man), so this is a pretty cool breakdown & way to connect with his memory, God rest him. Thanks for doing this.

Just take a moment to consider what kind of an A-team Jocko was with in Ramadi man

Anyone in a leadership role must see this interview! The common theme between the SEALS and TOP GUN: remaining cool, calm, collected.

A lot of lethality sitting in one room! Great interview Gents and thank you for your service to the both of y'all!

Fantastic interview. Looking in from Ireland 🇮🇪

2 living legends & yes Top Gun Maverick is absolutely INCREDIBLE, what an experience

Humility is everything. Awesome interview, a pair of bad asses.

Wow I actually took my 14 year old brother to go see this movie and he loved it, literally told me after we finished the movie that he wants to join the military and fly the jets

This was an awesome interview. Great questions and great answers!

Man what a great interview!! This man was very humble, EXTREMELY knowledgeable and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire video. I was lucky enough to be stationed on the U.S.S. Eisenhower, CVN 69 in the mid 90's and I can tell you that the movie Top Gun was EASILY responsible for 50% of the people being in the Navy! As an AO I got to work with the plane air crews and talk to several pilots when we were off duty and they said the same thing! The carrier scenes were AWESOME and definitely gave an idea of how a flight deck can be...organized chaos we used to call it. This movie hit EVERY button and some of them twice. It's been a long time since an entire theater was laughing, crying, hooping and hollering that way, and at the end a very hearty clap and applause...dayum I LOVED IT.

When Maverick and Rooster rolled out of the hanger in that F-14 Tomcat,… I caught myself saying out loud, “Damn, that’s a beautiful machine.”

At about 21:00, they talk about AFTERBURNER. YES! I have flown darn near all the fighter aircraft in the USAF and as a civilian contract test pilot for the US Navy, darn near all the fighter (and other) aircraft in the US Navy, and I can verify that kicking into afterburner for any take-off (carrier launch) is the ONLY WAY to get an aircraft off the deck into the air!

My time on the flight deck was before TG. I always struggled to try to explain how chaotic yet perfectly choreographed the deck was during cyclic ops. When TG came out, it helped with the explanation, but I think the new one actually put more focus on it. (CV-59, A-7 squadron)

Love how Jocko listens to his guests. Some are so worried about "owning their show" and have to have the louder voice. Good work

I saw the original around 13 years old, or so. At the time, I thought that deck crew was probably the coolest job ever. At 20, I was a final checker on the USS Independence.

One of the best interviews for both interviewer and interviewed. If there is an awards category for KZfaq interviews this should win for 2022.

that was really enjoyable. Jocko you are great at carrying a conversation that was informative without "canned questions". I'm glad I stumbled across your program.

Jocko, I really enjoyed this, I'm a retired CW4 AH64 A/D Pilot Afghanistan 03 guy and I love Aviation so it was nice to hear perspective from a actual Top Gun Guy cheers from Williamsburg, VA :)

Love this dude. "I can do both of those things? and so I did." Lol Dude saw the original at 13 and it helped shape his life so its crazy af that he was brought on to check out the script and give notes for the sequel 30+ years later as a very accomplished and uniquely qualified veteran fighter pilot/senior instructor for TOPGUN. It's crazy when stuff comes full circle like that.

This was a fantastic interview and recap. Thank you.

I love all these top pilots loving Top Gun, old and new. The end made me tear up. I haven’t had a movie make me feel that way in a long time. I felt a real loss for cinema.

It's hard to understate the impact that the OG TopGun had on me as a 17 yr old back in 1986, and literally thousands of kids like me. And I believe the new TopGun will have the exact same effect on today's young future warriors.

He is so amazing! This is so very exciting to see. We are friends of David's wife Whitney's mom and dad. Loved them so much and were very thankful we got to see David fly out one time when he was in Atlanta at Dobbins Air Force Base. It was the most exciting time, especially for my husband which was in seventh heaven. So great seeing him on here! Thank you and very proud of you David even to be part of this project. Love, Pat & Bob Moravek

36:55 is very relatable for me, now I’m now fighter pilot or a pilot at all, but I am a naval aircrewmen. It’s not my original job so I had to apply for a special billet. I got assigned to VPU-2 and I was the last crew as well (Sundown). Very rewarding and special time in my life, not to mention it was in Hawaii as well. Good times 😎

Wow Mr. Berke is so experienced. I was a little older in 1986 (18) and I too wanted to be a fighter pilot. Oh well, I only achieved private pilot. Haha! I am so impressed by you over achieving pilots. My Uncle-in-Law was an Air Force F-16 pilot, F-16 instructor, test pilot, and had input on the X-35. He is now a Southwest commercial pilot out of Dallas Fort worth. Love listening to his stories. Thanks for the video. Can't wait to see the movie! Thanks Mr. Berke!

there's thousands of Navy Seals...past and present.......this guy is qualified to fly. F14s....F18s...F22s ...and F35s.....thats a one off pilot....RESPECT !!!

That was the most humble “I’m a badass” speech I’ve ever heard

What a great interview, I imagine humility is a requisite when you truly are one of the best pilots on earth. Top gun will be the kind of classic movie like Gone With the Wind and the Wizard of Oz, people will watch it 100 years from now and still love it.

As a recently retired Army veteran, I was honored to be an Instructor/Course Developer & understand it's about the students/trainees and let your results speak for themselves, work hard and be a team player, no bragging or accolades needed, seeing my Soldiers succeed and just see it click is everything. These two are great brothers in arms and the sheer amount of dedication, hard work and knowledge to get to where Burke is, is simply amazing.

After being raised by a USMC Dad, I joined the USN. Being highly competitive, he often loved to rib me about the differences between the two. Finally, I appealed to unity by pointing out that both are in the Department of the Navy, to which he replied "True, but the Marines are the MEN'S department!"

Just saw T.G. MAV yesterday(Thursday) and It was AWESOME!!! Totally worth the ridiculous wait. I've watched some pilot reviews and this was the BEST!! THANKS Jocko for setting this interview up. Like Carlos said, I know I was smiling Alot throughout the movie ! Especially when Maverick was riding his motorcycle to Top Gun and he was smiling ear to ear, I felt so happy for him.. We ALL smiled with him ! I embraced what the story had to tell. I'm glad you got the one person who could give the qualified answers to candid questions the others were just outside the picture on. You did it Jocko, a SEAL got in personal to the TOP GUN pilot and brought us the best Intel ! Thanks to both of you for your service and this awesome interview!! ( can't wait to see the movie again in IMAX )

Great interview. Enjoyed every minute of this. Thank you!

Probably one of the best movies I've ever seen, if not THE best as far as realism, nostalgia, and the effort they put into it. It was unreal how fucking great it was.

phenomenal interview, Berke has a humble yet mighty persona just listening to his tone and gestures he makes. Jocko, you have an amazing way of injecting questions that doesn't interrupt the person talking. Listening to your podcasts make me keep chasing my crazy dreams. Thank you gentlemen!

I am grateful for every American pilot over polish sky, patrolling the nato border. You are awesome.

Absolutely love this. I'm a civilian commercial pilot, and I love the part where Jocko asks Dave about the normal daily life of a pilot. In response, Dave says ' Mostly not flying' which is incredibly true. We all plan intensively, and monitor circumstances. Love this interview. Great work, boys.

Thank you for this interview. I gave it 100% of my attention and I'm kinda geeking out about it now.

Jocko your podcasts keep me sane. I’ve messed up my life. I still try because your lessons give me direction…. And hope.

Glad we have people like this teaching our next generation of pilots. Seems like a very solid dude

Two warriors. Different skillsets to employ a solution of, "politics by other means." Time well spent listening to these great men speak.

This is a really good interview actually. And super exciting having such an experienced Top Gun pilot and instructor giving his opinions and insights. The questions were great aswell. What I really enjoyed was that you both were able to look at this from a standpoint that this is a movie. Movies will never be totally realistic for many reasons. They skip out all the boring stuff (which is alot) and exaggerate the intense moments. Not having you both just going on and on about how "this is not realisitic" was a breath of fresh air. What I would like to know is (even tho it's not from Maveric), is if accidents like Goose's actually happen? Which I assume is from a faulty canopy release.

Outstanding! Chip is a living legend and completely humble. The kind of leader anyone would want to follow.

I wanted to be an Mi-24 pilot when I was about 10 or 11. It didn't come thru, but I did served 21 years in the Croatian army. And this interview was cool.

Great interview, alot of fun. Saw the movie last night; for a couple of hours it was the 80s again. Now that I realize it was made for IMAX, I have to go back to see it in an IMAX theater.

GREAT interview! Thanks to both you for your service and to all vets, and active duty. What is Mr. Berke’s call sign? And the movie was absolutely off the hook INCREDIBLE! Next level!

I've been waiting YEARS for this movie! Definitely did NOT disappoint! 😁👏👏👏🤷‍♀️💐

Hilarious how many times Jocko tries to get him to admit he’s the best pilot

Super fun talk. First time for me. Thank you for everything guys !!!

Wow, for a Marine and an Aviator. Dave Berke is a humble guy. Very good interview!

Watched OG Top Gun twice this week. Never gets old. Top Gun Maverick is now equal with Terminator 2 Judgement Day as best sequel. Sublime.

Love listening to these heroes. Thank you for your serve from a gulf war vet. These are great Americans and role models. Cherish our country. Work to make it safe and strong for everyone.

Jocko, this is absolutely your very best work. A pleasure to watch you 'instigate' and goad your guest / friend into eventually divulging just how qualified he is - no bragging. Well done - I think you enjoyed watching him squirm. No question he IS a legend. I have not yet seen 'TG Maverick' - I am waiting to see it in the best theatre with the huge screen and the high-back seats; (I cannot remember the last movie I went to see a movie and I'll wait to do this one right.) I didn't mind the spoilers. Thanks for this!

One of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time. I would love to see Dave give us a walk through of each fighter jet he’s flown.