Details about the flight characteristics of the F-14 Tomcat and whether the sequences in the movie “Top Gun” were at all accurate.
Пікірлер: 3 500
@jeffreyramey15852 жыл бұрын
Much respect. I was a "Tomcat fixer" (IWT) in the 80's. We lost a beloved RIO, LCDR Jim Bob "Nacho" Segars, in a F-14A flat spin crash. They were running Phoenix rails and fairings sans missile (NATOPS warning now). They were in a 1 v 1 and had compressor stall on port engine that created excess yaw and stalled the starboard engine. The last thing we heard on the radio was him calling out "Eject! Eject! Eject!". The canopy twisted as it came off, due to the flat spin, and bent the mechanism on the top of the RIO's ejection seat as it came off. His seat fired, but only traveled half way up the rails as the top "pin" would have signaled the canopy was gone, but in it's bent state, signaled the canopy was still attached. He and the bird impacted the ground together. We all cried. He was a much loved officer that had the respect and love of all the crew. I still think of him all the time and it's been many decades ago.
@georgerehak14242 жыл бұрын
Semper Fi, Jim Bob “JB”. There are so many stories that I could tell you about JB as a Marine RIO in the F4 and some of them could be true. Loved flying with him as his wingman or as lead RIO. I doubt that anyone has every matched his plates of nachos and pitchers of margaritas record at Cretins in Yuma.
@ElliotComposer2 жыл бұрын
God Speed to him!!!
@Maxislithium2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for sharing. We do not remember peace time losses the same as we do war time, and it's a crime.
@WildernessForever2 жыл бұрын
😥💔
@TerryMundy2 жыл бұрын
So sorry that that happened. 😔
@patfer11892 жыл бұрын
The F-14 had its issues but it is undeniable it is one of the most iconic and influential planes ever. And, even to this day, one of the best looking planes out there.
@docsavage86402 жыл бұрын
Aesthetically my favorite
@illusion99662 жыл бұрын
It just looked AMERICAN.. Like you could have the best aircraft from major nations fly down a runway..and you would know this was USA...it was so big..yet refined..I loved seeing those fly..2nd only to am f22.. That thing is just STUPID level of awesome..
@majorpayne47952 жыл бұрын
facts, The only plane i ever wanted to fly and the only one that made me want to join the Navy.
@Erick-rf6lc2 жыл бұрын
@@illusion9966 1000% agree. F-14 is just uniquely American, but the outline of the F-22 and its rectangular exhaust just scream badass
@jessicalacasse62052 жыл бұрын
su 47 mig 44
@jima18782 жыл бұрын
Great explanation -- thanks. The clip you showed of the ejection sequence is of a mishap we had when I was onboard USS Independence -- 95/96 timeframe if I recall correctly. Thankfully, both aircrew survived with little more than a good case of being pissed at the event. The bird was brought "downstairs" and repaired and a handful of deck guys received awards for their handling of the jet after the punch. Rumor had it that an ABHC climbed into the cockpit to shut it down since the engines were still going when the crew punched. IIRC, both landed in the water and were recovered by HS-14. Thanks again -- would love to chat with you sometime!
@edwinlegatie24592 жыл бұрын
I was there in V1 division. Everything you said is the way I witnessed it too.
@williamdobbins31312 жыл бұрын
I was also there. (VQ5). The PC was initially climbing in to shut it down, and the CPO pulled him off, to do it himself.
@austins99502 жыл бұрын
CVA-62! that’s both awesome that, that happened ( because no one got hurt ) and kinda terrifying. my grandfather served on board during its initial deployment in vietnam so it’s cool to hear and see things referencing it and seeing and hearing others that served aboard her. shame that it’s been sold for scrap 😔
@generalshepherd4572 жыл бұрын
I was also there, but I was not in command of the whole operation.
@timwrobel56032 жыл бұрын
This happened in April 95. I was in AIMD walking through the hangar bay back to my shop when they called "man overboard, man overboard! This is not a drill!" on the 1mc. Not even a month after HS-14 lost a helo and 2 aircrew out of 4 at night.
@ericthered72262 жыл бұрын
My dad, a Vietnam vet, did two tours. One on the USS Constellation and one on the USS Kitty Hawk. He was getting out of the Navy as the F14 was just coming into service. All of his time was spent with the F4.
@michaelmcginnis90292 жыл бұрын
My dad was on the kitty hawk in the 80s and 90s. He did the guns and missiles
@magnumdash7281 Жыл бұрын
My favorite. Worked of Jet engines onboard Midway/Kittyhawk
@DonFanningThe Жыл бұрын
My own father was a munitions loader in the Air Force, and I knew a F4 crew chief who both said that the biggest problem with the F4 was with how sooty the F4 was while flying. All the enemy SAM operator or enemy pilot had to do was track the end of a black line in the sky and pull the trigger. While the B-52 was meh to my dad, he preferred the OV-152 as it was nimble and easy to work on. It was portrayed (with a civilian version) in the movie "BAT21" starring Danny Glover and Gene Hackman. The F-111 which was in competition with the F-14 during that era of DoD technologies evaluation (The Navy picked the F-14 while the F-111 went to the Air Force) hardly ever flew during Vietnam due to "immense jungle humidity" issues impacting the avionics and electrics within the aircraft.
@DaveTaste Жыл бұрын
@@michaelmcginnis9029 my Dad did the planes and helicopter
@donkraemer503 жыл бұрын
If a kid hasn't seen Top Gun, his parents should be charged with neglect 🤣
@hopsta56283 жыл бұрын
Why ?
@DobermansRock3 жыл бұрын
@@hopsta5628 Because its a litmus test to see if your son is gay or not. Duh every parent knows this to be true.
@billywashere69653 жыл бұрын
@@hopsta5628 It's how real men are built. And real men are needed to build up and maintain a country. Never neglect feeding your son real men media. It will save the country from tumult one day.
@aberamagold75093 жыл бұрын
@@billywashere6965 🤣 real men? Like you?
@billywashere69653 жыл бұрын
@@aberamagold7509 Abso-freaking-lutely.
@poysunivey3 жыл бұрын
My grandfather used to take me out on the departure end of the runway at NAS Miramar in the 80’s when I was a kid. Those F-14s were a sight to see. The roar as they ripped overhead was deafening and my grin was as big as it could get.
@jemakrol3 жыл бұрын
I can imagine. Wow! Just... wow! If I ever could turn back time, I'd make sure I could watch that too. That and the SR-71 up close when starting. I can only comfort myself having watched the JA-37 Viggen depart a road strip. From pretty much no distance at all. :)
@jeremymtc3 жыл бұрын
I used to see pairs of them sortie when camping at Silverwood Lake with my family as a kid. Seeing them dice around and hit afterburner at low altitude was just the best thing ever to young me.
@markb.12593 жыл бұрын
Standing on the flight deck of the HARRY S. TRUMAN, 50 feet from a VF-32 Tomcat at full military power is quite a rush as well!!! WOW!!!
@unnamedchannel12373 жыл бұрын
@@jemakrol ever heard of a lucid dream? Go research it entirely possible to recreate this in a dream. Sure because you have not actually seen it, it will be just what you think it looks like but it will be very real to you
@r.williamcomm76933 жыл бұрын
We used to do PT near the end of a USAF runway. Lying on your back doing sit-ups looking at an C-5A passing over where you think you could hit it with a rock (optical illusion) like an Imperial Cruiser from the opening scene Star Wars (Ep IV) was so cool. Was amazed that they stayed up. Of course the fighters were incredible & split the sky.
@scotty23072 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the great explanation. I was on the Carl Visnon from 1983 to 1987 as an ABF (grape). The F-14 was my favorite aircraft. Most people have not had the opportunity to stand next to one of these aircraft, and to realize just how massive they are. A loaded F-14 was 22 tons, and roughly the size of a Greyhound Bus. It is a wonder that they could move around the sky the way they did. I never tired of watching them take off and land. I remember that, despite their size and power, with the relatively high bypass engines and variable geometry exhaust nozzle they were the gentlest aircraft to stand behind on a cold day when they were idling on the deck. I witnessed 1 ejection event while onboard. It was during a night time recovery. I was at one of the starboard aft fueling stations. An F-14 came in and caught one of the wires, and then I saw the afterburners light up. Just about the time I was thinking "Hmm, that's odd" I heard the frump frump of the ejection seats. My jaw dropped open, and I received a mouth full of wadding from the ejection seat rockets. The RIO landed on the deck suffering a broken collar bone, and the pilot was safely recovered from the water with no injuries by one of the helicopters. I later found out that the arresting hook broke but had slowed the aircraft too much to take off again. I remember that an F-14 was sort of like a Harley Davidson in that it leaked every fluid that it contained. Twice I can remember being pissed on by a Tomcat during fueling. It was during the time that I was a fueling crew leader, and it is the crew leaders job to stand in the catwalk and operate the fueling station while your two man crew were on deck fueling aircraft. If the plane captain didn't signal you to stop fueling in time, the tanks would over pressurize and dump out the fuel jettison ports. If the tail of the aircraft happened to be directly over the fueling station, guess where that fuel went? Right on the operator. It would soak you to the point that your boots would even be full of fuel. You would then have to run in to take a shower and change clothes. We were only issued 1 pair of boots, so we just had to dump them out and wear wet boots. None of this effects the fondness I have for the F-14. The first I knew of the model being removed from service was when I ran across a KZfaq video showing the decommissioning ceremony of the last F-14 in Naval service. I had no idea that this was happening. By the end of the video I was in tears.
@volvodoc012 жыл бұрын
I love hearing these stories from those who flew/fixed/fueled the F-14! Thank you for your service!! The F-14 should NOT have been retired yet…. And wasn’t going to… and there was plans for a super tomcat…. But dick Cheney wanted the F-14 retired and no super tomcat. (I can’t validate the truth to this, fwiw). … the only flying F-14 (and a “D” model too!) is in Florida owned by a private museum that actually flies the planes in their collection! Idk how they got it/allowed to keep, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒍𝒚 it, but they do! as far as I know, every single F-14 was destroyed (or made a permanently unusable static display), so there was no way Iran could get any parts for their F-14s.
@scotty23072 жыл бұрын
@@volvodoc01 Ah! And that is the catch to the Iranian F-14. They can't get parts! What a splendid joke on them. Thanks for your consideration though I do feel that my service was amply repaid by the adventures I got to have.
@eddierodrgz772 жыл бұрын
IYAOYAS! Go Navy!
@Wheeler5902 жыл бұрын
@@volvodoc01 What Scott M said! Which makes the "Who knows what nation?" in TG2 an absolute! lol.
@jester_killzem30052 жыл бұрын
My VA here in Georgia is named after Carl Vinson
@thunderbolt5132 жыл бұрын
There's nothing better in a video than listening to someone who knows what he's taking about. And Ward does it perfectly. Opposite to some youtubers around. Congrats Ward.
@MBailey19773 жыл бұрын
I've been obsessed with the Tomcat since seeing Top Gun as a child. Even at 44 I still enjoy watching KZfaq videos about them.
@Whiskey11Gaming3 жыл бұрын
Do you play DCS World? You can fly a study level sim of both the A and B in it... with a look of you really want to enjoy the Tomcat! :)
@BlackKnight2883 жыл бұрын
You should try DCS. It has the F14 as a clickable cockpit, and RIO seat options with friends flying the pilot seat
@TheGrandexeno3 жыл бұрын
F14 is for kids, F15E is for men, A10 is for men of culture.
@ab5olut3zero953 жыл бұрын
@@TheGrandexeno as a Tread-Head, I approve your culture sir. Nothin better than a Thunderbolt pullin overhead cover, God bless em!
@juleshathaway38943 жыл бұрын
@@TheGrandexeno The F4 is for men who wear their briefs outside their flying suits!🤣
@katieandkevinsears77243 жыл бұрын
I work for the railroad as a locomotive engineer. I view Unstoppable the same way you view Top Gun.
@SuperBigdaddy19543 жыл бұрын
I'm a rail fannet and that movie drove me crazy.... should I hook up the brake hoses, I dunno do you want the damn train to move?
@miamijules21493 жыл бұрын
Is it true that all kinds of crazy, nefarious happenings take place on our nations railways that are largely covered up?
@robertdigby45042 жыл бұрын
Hmmm I worked on A-4’s I call bullshit on the stabilator being the same size as a Skyhawks wings
@masjienistje2 жыл бұрын
Hey colleague do u also have that nightmare where you apply the brakes and they are totally not working.
@The_ZeroLine2 жыл бұрын
@@miamijules2149 Yes
@MrDan71712 жыл бұрын
I was a Structural Mechanic in VF32 from 1990 to 1994. We worked on the A models and they were a maintenance nightmare. I love the F14, my favorite fighter but working on them was hell. I worked for Northrop Grumman when they discontinued the F14, sad to see the go even though they took up a lot of my time keeping them flying. Retired in 2020 working on Blackhawks for the Army, but my true love was the F14.
@Quillons12 жыл бұрын
Hi Wade. I only recently found your videos and thank you for posting them. I'm a civilian pilot (as a stubborn teen I didn't join the military) and had a good friend that flew as a RIO in your squadron, VF 34. He was a good guy and was unfortunately killed off of Cape Hatteras in 1994 right before deployment. His plane experienced a mid air collision and he and his pilot were killed instantly. The other fighter landed safely. Your videos made me think of him and how much we mourned his loss. Thanks for what you did, most people forget how dangerous it is because of the majesty it holds in the flying world. Keep the blue side up.
@fanch10723 жыл бұрын
We lost a bird due to a flat spin while dog fighting an a-4. They were in a scissor maneuver when it happened. The bird only went 50 ft when it hit the ground. Unfortunately we lost our RIO on that flight. When the canopy jettisoned it bent the release pin for his ejection seat. The rockets did fire but the seat never released. The pilot made it our safely. Still remember that day very vividly.
@WardCarroll3 жыл бұрын
Those are the days we'll never forget. Thx for commenting.
@ITTTom3 жыл бұрын
That day will always be with all of our fellow Hunters Chad
@travissmith28483 жыл бұрын
Man..... that's rough.
@fanch10723 жыл бұрын
@@maxbuffet4493 One of the most laid back and friendly Officers we had!
@fanch10723 жыл бұрын
@@ITTTom Dec 23rd! I was second mech that day and helped him strap in.
@ETCJPACE3 жыл бұрын
I was active duty in the 80s. Battleships and Tomcats. What a navy it was!
@brianvosburgh17202 жыл бұрын
VFA-132, 86 to 89. Didn't realize it then but those are some of the best years of my life. 👍🇺🇲
@machinistmikethetinkerer48272 жыл бұрын
Damn skippy
@frikkievarkpiel58542 жыл бұрын
Now it's pronouns and race theory.
@chrismarshva2 жыл бұрын
Give me the F 18 and the F 35 B
@chriswelder27772 жыл бұрын
Nice to listen to a man who DID SOMETHING WITH HIS LIFE.
@klparker764012 жыл бұрын
My husband was a RIO in VF1 - his squadron was in Top Gun. It was a fun time in our life for sure. Your video popped up, I suppose because of Top Gun Maverick. We saw the movie yesterday and loved it.
@egger462 жыл бұрын
Ward, I have completely fell into your rabbit hole and I just can't seem to get enough of your content. You're a natural presenter and explain things very clearly with outstanding tact. I'm thoroughly enjoying your channel. Thank you for your service sir, much respect.
@WardCarroll2 жыл бұрын
Thanks, James! Great to have you here!
@ghelms453 жыл бұрын
You want to hear something sad…. After I got back from my time in Afghanistan (VAW-117), i was invited to my high school to give a talk to seniors on what we did over there from 9/11 to just before Christmas 2001. I tried to use Top Gun as a reference. Not one kid knew what Top Gun was. Never felt so old.
@DrewLSsix3 жыл бұрын
Well shit! Go back and talk to THEIR kids! Someone's bound to have seen the new one.
@adamdejesus40173 жыл бұрын
Gabe, that happened to me in 2005 with a class of VAW FRS students. I literally ended the class, assigned Top Gun as homework, and we picked up the lesson the next day!
@ghelms453 жыл бұрын
@@adamdejesus4017 lol! How have you been Adam? You still in or retired? Scary that it seems like just yesterday, but i retired in 2009.
@adamdejesus40173 жыл бұрын
@@ghelms45 I'm retiring in October after 24 years. What a whirlwind, it's hard to describe all the things we've done, isn't it? Congrats to you of course, hope you are well.
@ghelms453 жыл бұрын
@@adamdejesus4017 yeah, it’s a different kind of life, that’s for sure. I really miss the camaraderie. You don’t see that in civilian life very much.
@toddwoods5823 жыл бұрын
AT1 Woods, NAS Miramar, VF-124 Gunfighters, F-14 Tomcat. "Any Time Baby" I miss those days :)
@TheBubagrunt2 жыл бұрын
Love revisiting old episodes. Thank you for your service. God’s blessings Ward. We love your content and perspectives.
@blast48982 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your service and spending time teaching us your knowledge of the F-14 Tomcat that you’ve flown. It’s by far my favorite aircraft and not just because of top gun lol. I genuinely love the look and how it can fold/unfold her wings. Awesome stuff
@justicegusting24763 жыл бұрын
Your insight and expertise are priceless to anyone interested in aviation, aerodynamics, high-performance aircraft, or anyone who has ever dreamed of being a jet pilot had they not lost an eye at eight years old.
@juststuff87423 жыл бұрын
That's very very specific
@justicegusting24763 жыл бұрын
@@juststuff8742 It’s a life-arc changer, thats for sure.
@juststuff87423 жыл бұрын
@@justicegusting2476 sounds to be
@jdmapple2 жыл бұрын
Wasn't that from Christmas Story? Ohhhh fuuuuudge, too soon?
@picklefish742 жыл бұрын
I've always wanted to be a military pilot, but I've already lost the vision in my right eye due to a tumor that has repeatedly tried to blind and/or kill me.
@RickBeato3 жыл бұрын
Fascinating Ward! Now I need to re-watch Top Gun. It must be about 25 years since I’ve seen it :)
@WardCarroll3 жыл бұрын
Here’s the article I was referring to, Rick: www.military.com/off-duty/2019/07/22/79-cringeworthy-errors-top-gun.html/amp
@NorthsideJonnyBeato3 жыл бұрын
Ward - I doubt Rick watched the movie the first time around - he was too immersed in the jazz scene I on the other hand at the time was studying the guitar stylings of Steve Stevens
@rossandcarol3 жыл бұрын
@@WardCarroll That's list is hilarious! Thanks for writing it up. We all knew of most of these errors, but it sure was nice to have some great Navy flying scenes on the big screen for the first time in decades. Just off hand I can only think of Final Countdown, Midway, and The Bridges at Toko-Ri before that....all, of course, worthy of another lengthy list.
@brianmessemer29733 жыл бұрын
Wow pretty cool seeing Rick Beato commenting on an F-14 video 😅👍👍
@zaphodb92133 жыл бұрын
@@WardCarroll Wow, that's a deep read. Thank you!
@Chris-dg7vk2 жыл бұрын
Being a navy special operator.. I am proud of you too sir you accomplished a lot 2000 hours and the F14 is a hell of an accomplishment.. God-bless you sir and maybe you continue to have Many hours in the air and you enjoy them awesome Sir God-bless and God-bless this nation and God-bless all our vets and our active military because they are the ones that keep us safe.. God-bless
@kenday7942 Жыл бұрын
I stumbled across your channel and ended up binge watching about four or five presentations at that time. I really enjoy the way you present things and find your take on things very interesting, informative and professional. I am a Vietnam era army veteran but was subsequently involved in Air Force and Navy related matters when I later worked on the Paveway II & III and other derivative programs for many years. Due to my civilian relationship with Air Force and Navy matters, I find your channel very intriguing and enjoy your presentations very much and have subscribed and look forward to more ‘war stories’.
@WardCarroll Жыл бұрын
Thanks, Ken. Great to have you here.
@flienlow62813 жыл бұрын
I never will forget being a young sailor and watching my first Tomcat Landing. Having never seen one, I was astonished at the size and power of them.
@kylrean38913 жыл бұрын
Top Gun (the movie) was what drew me to the Navy like so many others. I'll never forget the first time sitting up on vultures row watching them. Very surreal moment. I never had the opportunity to work in a VF squadron, (all E-2's and MH60S's) but I never got tired of watching them while they were still around.
@jasonsimmons50412 жыл бұрын
They look like a turkey haha
@SW-Lopez19802 жыл бұрын
Thank you fpr ypur service Justin Smith
@pettytoni19552 жыл бұрын
Jason simmons - nope. The F-14 was the sexiest, most bullish jet to take off and land on the carrier or practice touch and goes on the line at night.
@Rheubie3 жыл бұрын
I absolutely love that I happened upon this video, because I've been referring to "79 Cringeworthy Errors in Top Gun" for years (I'm RCAF). "Um, tower, there’s some dork riding a motorcycle down one of the taxiways shaking his fist at us."
@WardCarroll3 жыл бұрын
One of the best things I ever wrote. 😀
@carlcdp3 жыл бұрын
Hilarious!
@WardCarroll3 жыл бұрын
@Thunderbolt Very well. We're USNA classmates. Love that man.
@WardCarroll3 жыл бұрын
@Thunderbolt He was great on "Survivor." Did us proud.
@jfabiao3 жыл бұрын
ahahahahahha is right Tom is a dork :-) Terri was a visionare
@knskumo2 жыл бұрын
Nothing but respect here for a Tomcat pilot. My favorite fighter ever. And very good explanation of the scene and the actual flying. My flight instructor always says, "forget the hand, use rudder" for almost everything.
@stuartsherman59752 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your service. The F-14 Tomcat was always my favorite jet fighter, ever since I was a kid. This was well before the top gun movie came out. My dad worked what was called Grumman at the time. My dad told me all about the F-14 even though he worked on the EA-6B Prowler. Keep up the great videos.
@c2dvr3 жыл бұрын
I were a crewman onboard USS Enterprise in 1986 during the Top Gun filming.Then in 1991 I became a member of VF-211 Fighting Checkmates flying the F-14B Tomcat.No I'm not aircrew,but enlisted.A great moment in my Navy career.
@pettytoni19552 жыл бұрын
Robert Hightower, I was with VF-124 when we transitioned VF-24 and VF-211 (buddy squadrons) to the then new F-14 aircraft, in the 70's. The Tom Cat was the most supple and gorgeous plane on the flight line. I never got a carrier, but I loved watching them practice touch and go's at night in the squadron.. Good old Miramar.
@c2dvr2 жыл бұрын
@@pettytoni1955 Truely The Best of Times!
@artdrtr23 жыл бұрын
(Mavrick) "Ice, come off high right" ... Iceman comes off high left! Iceman is at fault and responsible for Goose's death!
@robertdigby45042 жыл бұрын
Whose fault is it you can’t spell Maverick right?
@mnr4972 жыл бұрын
Yes, Ice broke left then barrel rolled right, throwing his wash in Mav’s path. However, this only contributed to the spin. Goose not jettisoning the canopy before pulling the handles led to his death.
@sbuyce12 жыл бұрын
@@mnr497 but there wouldn’t have been a spin had Iceman had listened. Iceman killed Goose
@mnr4972 жыл бұрын
@@sbuyce1 There wouldn't have been a spin if congress had funded the engines Grumman/Navy had specified in the first place. Regardless, in-flight emergencies happen, that's why there are emergency procedures. Goose failed to follow established procedures, and died because of it.
@Lee05682 жыл бұрын
Its NOT REAL,its all made up BULLSHIT
@wadeconner32002 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your service and memorializing your experiences in this amazing plane. Top Gun was a movie that I took my wife of over 30 years on for our first date - Never forget.
@commercialpilot19762 жыл бұрын
I was an AE2 (AW) in VF-14 from 1995-2000 and I miss that airplane! I hated to see her go. Thank you for taking the time to make such a great video.
@jamesbowman50623 жыл бұрын
Aussie fan, thank you for your service from a grunt who appreciated air support and loves the F-14. Even if I’ve never seen one up close and never would in my role, it was always the most fascinating fighter aircraft to me.
@WardCarroll3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching, James.
@waydagotc3 жыл бұрын
Growing up I was obsessed with TopGun and going to air shows. I love aviation and hearing your stories. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos. Fascinating! And thank you so very much for your service ♥️
@jameslipke3542 жыл бұрын
First of all, Thank You For Your Service Sir. Radar Intercept Officer. "C'mon Mav, do some of that pilot sh!t!" When by BFF of 43 years, since we were 13 years old, went to see Top Gun at the theater when it was first released, she went to see the guys...I went to see the F14's, tha take off and landing on an aircraft carrier and the dog fight scenes. Dad was a Marine and said the time he spent aboard an aircraft carrier and watching the intricate ballet of fighter jets being brought up to the flight deck, how disciplined the flight deck crew was every single take off and landing and just watching those bad ass pilots take off, do touch and go's and land was AMAZING. I miss my Dad and his stories. For the past 36 years i have wished for and dreamed of going up in the RIO seat just one time in my life. Wishing doesn't make it so...Thanks for sharing! ~ APRIL LIPKE
@joeslayter58412 жыл бұрын
Thank you for posting the video. I do not know why it finally showed up in my feed after a year but I am happy it did. My dad was an electrician at Miramar for decades, and was used as an extra in a few scenes in Top Gun, so the movie means a lot to me, and it was extremely nice to see someone explain so well parts of that show.
@kukrae2 жыл бұрын
If possible, have your Dad write up his experience as an extra for the film. Great tale to have in his words for anyone doing genealogy in your family!
@joeslayter58412 жыл бұрын
@@kukrae I would love too.. But sadly, my dad passed away in 1997. His comments about the film that I remember well were that it was fun to do, and that a young Tom Cruise was extremely nice to him. He (and a co-worker who's name I sadly cannot remember) walk right thru the scene behind the stars while they are singing Great Balls Of Fire.
@kukrae2 жыл бұрын
@@joeslayter5841 I hope you can write it up for him then :) Take a screencap of he & his coworker in that scene. Your family will really appreciate it down the road :) :)
@mrdddeeezzzweldor50393 жыл бұрын
You sir are reminiscent of the professional jet jocks who flew Red Flag training missions at Nellis during my time supporting in the mid 70's. I was a first term enlisted and looked up to you guys as the pinnacle our profession. Your stories bring life to those guys in my youthful memories.
@ajv8023 жыл бұрын
Goose didn't die, he faked his death to get away from his family. He now lives in Kentucky under the name Jeremy Fischer and runs a small sporting goods store.
@mdfogarty3 жыл бұрын
Munny and his children abandoned their farm and are rumored to have moved to San Francisco, prospering in dry goods.
@lauridsd3 жыл бұрын
I assumed (after faking his death) he went back and found that number to that truck driving school and continues to drive big rigs across the country
@TonySpike3 жыл бұрын
Naaah he faked his death so that he could join a secret rescue organisation as its chief designer ....he never told mav just how smart he was
@davidbarlee47223 жыл бұрын
He didn't just fake his death once but twice. He was seen working in a hospital ER in the 1990's before faking his death and moving on again. The guys a ghost !
@terrybaird31223 жыл бұрын
I know Jerry. I never knew.
@OMA_MetalDetecting2 жыл бұрын
I could listen to you talk about paint drying for hours. Very humble, very knowledgeable and somebody everyone needs to subscribe to. Thanks for the work that goes into making these videos. New subscriber here 👍
@mikesommers5242 жыл бұрын
Blown away! Thanks Ward your info is much appreciated and has been absorbed!!
@larrypuckett10753 жыл бұрын
I was a Plane Captain/AD on the A6-E Intruder when Top Gun came out. I pick that movie apart every time I watch it.
@petermcgill13153 жыл бұрын
Always fun to watch with a nit picker.
@curtiskretzer88983 жыл бұрын
your movie is Flight of the Intruder(which is miles above the tripe that is Top Gun).I will watch Intruder over & over again
@scallen38413 жыл бұрын
I was a AD as well , on the fa-18c
@curtiskretzer88983 жыл бұрын
Larry!the line from the bar about"Fighter pilots make movies.Bomber pilots make HISTORY!" (just kills me)
@jessewilson86763 жыл бұрын
I put lots of fuel in A6-E’s and KA6-D’s .....va-176
@brianmccanonbmccanon19973 жыл бұрын
I’ve watched several of your videos because like many old salts, I’ve always had a real appreciation of the Tomcat. One of my good friends was Trey Higgins (Sting) who I flew with several times in private planes and was always an enjoyable outing. When the Navy decided to retire the F-14 and go with plastic planes as he called them (F-18’s) , he decided to get out and started flying planes owned by government organizations with three letters. He tragically died in a hang gliding accident six years ago and now I learn more about the actual hands on flying to try and see what life was like aboard the Tomcat. Thanks.
@KevinSmith-bg9tt2 жыл бұрын
Thoroughly enjoyed this video. Thank you, Commander Carroll, for your years of dedicated service and for making this video. I always loved the F-14 Tomcats. It was retired too early but of course, there were a lot of bad decisions during Dubbya's years. God bless.
@jsboening2 жыл бұрын
Just love listening to your stories as well as others here in the comments. Have great memories of the Tomcat at a few airshows with my dad. I’ve got pictures somewhere of Dale Snodgrass next to his F-14. I was always in awe of the size of the f-14 in real life. I don’t think Top Gun portrayed that well enough. Thanks for your great videos. I plan to watch them all.
@pettytoni19552 жыл бұрын
Jeff X, watch the new Top Gun Maverick.
@blujnbabee13 жыл бұрын
My husband was actually on the ship when the Tomcat crashed! It is something that he will never ever forget
@peterangelina40083 жыл бұрын
I made the first F-14 flat spin ejection at Pax river in March 1976. Great description of Tomcat flat spin, only comment is the canopy did not hit my helmet. The canopy hovered over the aircraft for several seconds and tore 2 panels out of my fully inflated parachute canopy! I descended a bit faster than my pilot and we drifted over Hoopers Island on the eastern shore and I fetched up in a pine tree. I had a big rubber survival suit on and slide 70 feet to the ground and ran to a clearing where a Pax helo cabled me up 150 feet into the helo. We made 38 1/2 high eyeball out g turns before we ejected around 12,000 feet
@stewscuda2 жыл бұрын
I love your Videos & Honesty about Military Life. My Dad recovered from a flat spin in a F-100 in the early 60s, He let go & set trim for take off..... the nose finally dropped & he recovered. Thank God he had enough altitude for that to happen, keep up the good fight Sir, wish you well
@danieljones19398 ай бұрын
Your passion for the F14 is the reason I subscribed to this channel. Thank you for doing all this work.
@hldarte3 жыл бұрын
Great video! As a Marine I had the pleasure of working on the F-14a being a member of VF-124 MAD Miramar (Marine Air Detachment 74-75). My saddest day was when they took the F-14 away from the Corps and I had to go into the A6a community. Keep up the great work!
@jamesduncan31712 жыл бұрын
A Marine Corps "VF" squadron?
@hldarte2 жыл бұрын
@@jamesduncan3171 Yes The Marine Corps was forming the first F14 squadron in 1974, all Marines were attached to Navy squadron VF124 MAD (Marine Air Detachment) for training and flight ops. The squadron was to first be deployed on the first cruise of the Nimitz in the fall of 1975. When the new Commandant took office it was decided that the F14 was too complex and expensive for the Corps and the program was dropped in early 1975. Those working in the program were redeployed for retraining at MCAS El Toro or back to their old squadrons. I was sent to Mag 13 VMFA(AW) 242 a A-6A squadron.
@justinmurphy22273 жыл бұрын
You made me VERY PROUD to find you and your channel sir! I'm sitting here mending my 4th back surgery in as many years (12 screws, a cage, and 3 fusions) and LOVE aviation and OMG, the F-14 (A,B,C,D...lol). This was such as blessing to watch this morning as last week was 35 years since his passing when I was 10. He was a retired Air Force Colonel and injected years and years of aviation into me in those short 10 years I had with him. Next to the P-51 Mustang, the F-14 was his favorite aircraft. Yeah....who knew that both of these would be in the new Top Gun movie. I never got to watch the original Top Gun with him as he passed before the summer of '86 but I think the Hollywood aspect of it would have kept him from watching it. I saw this from him during several other movies we watched together as he (and why would he not?) would correct and educate me with what was wrong with what was going on on-screen. My dad (RIP also) was a 3 tour Vietnam Army veteran and he did the same thing with movies like Rambo and Platoon. I remember having to leave the theater while watching Platoon actually....as mom grabbed me and my brother up from the crowded theater to run after dad who had decided to exit his seat rather rapidly other try to sit and get frustrated and possibly "triggered". There's nothing wrong with veterans like yourself educating us, the civilians you put your life out there for, with what is wrong and correct in movies for the sake of entertainment. Thank you for making this channel and I look forward to watching more of your videos sir!!! Oh yeah.....was there a special place to keep the Polaroid camera in the back seat? LOL!!!!
@oldsalty3d1222 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for your service. I myself wanted to be a Navy pilot, but that didn't work out. I am happy to say that I did join the Navy, but as an Electricians Mate. I enjoyed your explanation of the F-14 Tomcat.
@ThejollyFrenchman2 жыл бұрын
Great video. Your storytelling style is really effective for conveying the basics of how the F-14 works for someone who doesn't know a lot about modern (ish) aircraft.
@phillanassa7593 жыл бұрын
My days in the Navy, among the F-14's aboard USS Nimitz as an AO, are among the best I ever spent. Watching the other aircraft from close up, none had that roar, that sexy look, the appearance that they ruled the sky's, and struck fear into the heart of any 'bogey' that they'd come up against. Photos I had taken of numerous launches and recovery's from Vulture's Row, are always the first thing people comment on when walking into the room. They remind me of days when I was young, and being in the Navy was all new and exciting. I was very sad when the political climate during Bush 2 pushed the F-14 into what in my mind was an early retirement. Having seen what Grumman had in store for the second generation F-14, the F-20 IIRC, I still think it was a monumental mistake in retiring them totally, letting the F-18 take their place. Certainly ground troops preferred the F-14, of for no other reason the fact that it could spend a lot more time on station in support roles, covering the boys from on high. While the F/A-18 is a decent aircraft it's no F-14. I served from 1985 to 1990, so I spent time among them both, along with the Harrier, A6, A7, E2-C, but the F-14 will always be my favorite aircraft of them all. For the record, I've seen Top Gun 100 times if I've seen it once, and corny as it is, I always enjoy watching it over and over. I can remember it being a new release in theaters when I was still in boot camp. Thanks for sharing your time and insight breaking down the specifics of the Flat Spin Goose death scene, Commander Carroll, and thank you for your service as well.
@KevinSmith-bg9tt2 жыл бұрын
With all due respect to your years of service, someone who spent so many years in the Navy on an ACC, should know that the plural of sky is skies, not sky's. Also, recoveries, not recovery's. These are plural, not possessive. Of course, a sincere thank you for your years of service. I appreciate all those who served their country when the chance came and didn't feign phoney foot issues. God bless.
@phillanassa7592 жыл бұрын
@@KevinSmith-bg9tt LOL, thank you Kevin for the respect regarding my service. It was my pleasure to do so. In the case of the juvenile spelling errors, I suppose I have Spell Check to thank. As many know, S/C auto-corrects whatever you type. This becomes is a more time-consuming process to recheck its grammar choices, in accessing some type of Thesarus of sorts, ensuring S/C used the correct spelling. So much for our modern Nanny State electronics which preemptively correct the many illiterate users of today. It was and remains lazy on my part not for checking my spelling syntax better before replying to any post. I'll try to do better in the future! I did however get a 98 on my ASVAB tests at recruitment, testing. I mention this so you and everyone else this reading this reply are aware that I'm not some mindless uneducated backwoods idiot faking his time in service, the way many often perpetrate online! In summary, I should have verified S/C using some type of Thesarus, double checking the used the correct grammar. So much for trusting technology blindly! Peace!
@ancientnuke4763 Жыл бұрын
@@KevinSmith-bg9tt Are you the Kevin Smith who flew F-16s and F-117s?
@boblinda17383 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your service Ward. I have two cousins, both retired Academy grads and Naval aviators. Very proud of them, as I am proud of my father who served and survived both WWII and Korea in the US Army and my grandfather who served in WWI. Because of our current government, I would never encourage a young person to join the military.
@jimmyhaley7272 жыл бұрын
Me too,, ole USN vet
@sctvfan13132 жыл бұрын
I love this video... thank you for making these! And thank you for your service and sharing it with us
@cdcarter1432 жыл бұрын
Outstanding Ward! I appreciate your non-biased and factual approach in these videos! I will definitely be following you and your videos. Thank you
@marklags23963 жыл бұрын
Thank you for you service sir. I worked for Grumman back in the 80's. Was an avionics wire rat for the E2C and F14"s. Did some referbs in Rota, Spain and Norfolk, Va.. The Tomcat was always my favorite to work on.
@WardCarroll3 жыл бұрын
Thx for keeping us flying, Mark!
@caroledward75893 жыл бұрын
My late husband (software engineer) also worked for Grumman (Long Island, NY) back in the 1980's on the F-14, his (and now my) favorite plane. He spent a ton of time on business trips to NAS Oceana and NAS Miramar. While on "vacation" in VA Beach, I was permitted to fly the trainer at NAS Oceana! What a thrill! I can still remember him yelling at me in the cockpit to pull up and me laughing that I was but it didn't do any good. When I walked out of the trainer, he was really ticked and started yelling at me and I shouldn't have been laughing! He loved the Tomcat so dearly, he asked his cousin the woodworker to carve it into his urn. It looks great. We saw the movie dozens of times in the theater with new critiquing each time from him. Then the day it came out on VHS, he had to be at work (Grumman) but my college classes worked out that I could be at Blockbuster when their doors opened. He had me to go to Blockbuster an hour before they opened to make sure I got there before the "line got too long" (there was none) and I had to call him from a pay phone to let him know I got the tape. LOL Thank you for the videos and the history, Ward. I love them! Thank you also for your service.
@marklags23963 жыл бұрын
@@caroledward7589 Great memories Carol. I probably walked past your husband a thousand times. You brought me back to a time of pay phones and Blockbusters. Such good times.
@Phalcineddie3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for that explanation. Since seeing the movie waaaaaay back when, I always wondered about both these items. I never flew anything with an ability to spin flat, so it was nice to see a bit of the mechanics involved with that problem. My last jet (A-37) just about had to be forced into a spin and then was super easy to recover. We had a 2Lt come face to face with a buzzard in the base turn in his A-37 and reacted by ham fisting himself into an erect spin. He bailed right away. Both he and his jet went into the water off the end of the runway. He was OK. The buzzard and the jet scored a tie.
@terryprice51282 жыл бұрын
Thanks Ward for the great explanation and of course your service! I immediately noticed your flight jacket. AW1... I was part of HS-11 during Desert Storm and spent a LOT of time on the America!
@sunrockit2 жыл бұрын
I was an AMH on the USS Enterprise, AIMD IM-2 Div....but sent TAD to Air Dept, V-1 Fly 1 as a blueshirt back in '82. I always smiled as the A-7 pilots seemed to envy the Tomcat crew as we got ready for air ops. Tomcat drivers always had that "swagger", lol. Loved how the Tomcat just looked like the one plane you could count on to kick some ass. VF-114 Aardvarks and VF-213 Blacklions....Anytime Baby! Great video as always....
@jakeforder94353 жыл бұрын
Thanks for these videos Ward. I grew up in the '80s between RAF bases Lakenheath, Midenhall and Bentwaters in Suffolk, England which, at that time, was tenanted by the USAF. Watching the aircraft taking off and landing - or screaming overhead, was a fascinating and magical experience, so it is great to hear real-life accounts of what it was like to fly and handle a 1980s fighter jet.
@goldenhide3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video! I'm a 10+ year Hornet Airframer (from the Green Side, now contracting) and eventually ended up at VMFAT-101 at Miramar (twice actually :( ), but the first time we had all these Chiefs and a few First Classes who had worked on the ol' Grumman Iron Works Tomcat, and got to leverage some sea stories about their maintenance (apparently they were absolute cows if you were a AMS). I remember Senior Sarao pretty well, he was an AMECS and while he was hanging around on a CQ Det (he was in charge) I asked him about the Tomcat canopy. Having only really had a lot of close up time with the Hornet, I figured canopies on all modern birds were equipped with rockets to get them out of the way. And yeah he corroborated what you said here in that very unique way only a CPO can :D and related the the real event you mentioned. He still had a lot of love for the Tomcat and kept a lithograph of one kicking rooster tails off the ocean above his desk in Control. It makes sense to me now as before I was under the impression the canopy is rocketed off, even in a vacuum it's going away and not lingering above the crew. Anyways, thanks for sharing. This is a fun and informative channel for a maintainer, aviation geek, and DCS player (when I can between work :D ).
@griddamus2 жыл бұрын
Interesting stuff! Thanks for taking the time to relay this information and explain it in a way non aviators can understand :) Subbed
@Oilspecialist2 жыл бұрын
First off, thank you for your service to our country, most have no idea what happens behind our daily lives in regards to our security. Second, you did an excellent job of explaining in layman's terms the dynamics of the aircraft.
@rodneyward83573 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your service brother. And thank you for breaking these things down for us. Top gun made me want to join the navy but I went Army because my dad was a soldier. I still love the movie but it also great to ALWAYS get the real world experience of a true professional that did what was portrayed but in real life. Just subscribed and very happy I did!
@cornwasher3 жыл бұрын
Hey, that was a terrific explanation of Tomcat characteristics. Look forward to more videos and a review of earlier reports... Thanks
@onesadtech2 жыл бұрын
Wonderful insights into the accuracy (or lack thereof) of Top Gun, as well as into the F-14 in general! Thank you for sharing! I will definitely be checking out some other videos on this channel!
@karitahannikainen47342 жыл бұрын
Pls do that! Thanx, Karita.
@mikemcgown63622 жыл бұрын
I'm glad you can give a technical explanation in layman's terms so civilian viewers won't be confused. I imagine experienced viewers would find some fault in your explanation. I have no Navy experience, or any military experience, but I can definitely appreciate your explanation and your service time. Thank you!
@privatepilot40643 жыл бұрын
My favorite Navy fighter of all time! As an aviator and a past Navy Plane Captain I just never really enjoyed Top Gun. It was definitely Hollywood. I appreciate someone calling them out. It was a pleasure to serve. VA-146 Blue Diamonds and VP-26 Tridents. Fair seas!
@hddun3 жыл бұрын
I am so surprised at your lack of Movie Espre de Corps as a fellow pilot-my view is you should have gone to Mrs Megan Goose and helped her over her grief and her loss...
@jasoncarswell74583 жыл бұрын
Was good for recruiting, though. From a PR standpoint, the Navy loved the hell outta that movie.
@cr2fabrication3 жыл бұрын
Ward, thank you for your insight!!! I love the techie part of aircraft, been around it my whole life. As a kid I help dad restore a couple of single engine Pipers, a J4 and a Tripacer. After seeing top Gun, me and a buddy of mine went straight to the Airforce recruiters office, without college, it wasn't likely we would fly, passed on that idea!!! Thank you for your service!!!
@WardCarroll3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@virginiapicker2 жыл бұрын
Thanks! I’ve always been wondering about these questions ever since seeing the movie in theaters when it came out. This is a great video. Thank you for your service.
@kleetus882 жыл бұрын
Fantastic content, grateful to Mr. Carroll and youtube for delivering this.
@profdc95013 жыл бұрын
You were a fighter pilot and a rock n' roll hero. What a life!
@richardjohnson42382 жыл бұрын
I've never been in the service. My total flight time is about 30 mins at the controls of a Cessna 152 with an instructor right beside me, but I sure enjoy your channel. You not only have done it, you can explain it so someone like me can understand it. Thanks.
@RobertHolster12 жыл бұрын
Good evening, Sir, from just east of Pensacola, Florida! Last night I read your article and was astounded. I watched Top Gun many years ago, but watched it again after enlsiting in the military in 2009 at the age of 37. While prepping for deployment in 2014, I was given an additional task along with two senior NCO's. As an additional duty, we were tapped as COIST NCOs. At FT Hood, prior to leaving for Kandahar via Romania, we watched Top Gun as a special assignment. Although we weren't in the Navy, much less in the Avation community, we all caught the part where "Maverick" told "Charlie" that the MIG encounter was classified, but yet he blabbed certain aspects of that flight in front of everyone. A fellow SGT and I stopped dead in our trakcs because that very day, a LT. Colonel had just told us "If it's classified, I don't give a $#it if the president thinks he should know, keep your trap shut!!" Not to mention other scenes of the movie that we wouldn't know, we also pointed out that if an officer shows up at a briefing wearing unauthorized headgear, someone's ass was in deep shit. Anyways, I reallt enjoy your vidoes. My late father served on the USS Ranger CV-61 from 63-66, V-2 Division. He was aboard during the "Rescue Dawn" incident involving LT Deiter Dingler. Thank you for your service, Sir.
@LukeDodge9162 жыл бұрын
Instantly subscribed. Great video. I've loved the Tomcat since first seeing Top Gun when I was probably 10 years old. Can't wait to see more of your stuff here.
@knuckletherapyserveothersf60923 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your service to our country. I'm forever grateful for it 🙏Go Navy. I have a lot of sailors in my family going back from world War 2. My brother retired around 5 years . He was a mustang I think that's what it's called. I really appreciate all you guys.. To all who never made it back I always say a prayer for them .
@devgru81973 жыл бұрын
If your brother was prior enlisted, then became an officer, then he would be considered a “mustang.”
@knuckletherapyserveothersf60923 жыл бұрын
@@devgru8197 yes sir he joined right after high-school and started as a combat medic in desert storm with the marines. And retired a L T Commander 0/4 I think. I think he was setting up mash units which is why they would call him a party planner. I would try not to ask him to much and not that he say anything that he's not supposed to talk about. But him being my brother. I tried not to ask him much because I wouldn't want him to get in trouble. Especially since he put so much into what he was doing. He was always committed on doing his best at what he did. Our family is very proud of him.
@georgemorley10293 жыл бұрын
@@knuckletherapyserveothersf6092 In my experience, what we call “SUYs” (Senior Upper Yardmen) were always the front runners in officer training and the ones that I sought to emulate and to follow the example of. I’m a Lt Cdr Royal Navy and I know just how you must feel about your family members and their service. It’s (mostly) not glamorous or anything like the way it’s portrayed in the media, it’s tough, stressful demanding work under testing conditions that you would never normally find yourself in, and it either makes or breaks people. It looks like it’s been the making of some fine servicemen in your family! Fair winds and following seas.
@devgru81973 жыл бұрын
Oh I see! Your brother was a corpsman in the navy, then became a medical officer of some sort. marines and navy call them corpsman; army calls them medics. Thank you for your brothers service. He accomplished a lot!
@knuckletherapyserveothersf60923 жыл бұрын
@@devgru8197 that's the word I was looking for. It was on the tip of my tongue but I just couldn't remember. Thank you sir. It's funny because when he started he was part of the ground forces in desert storm and the next time he went over there. I asked him a dumb question. What kind of weapon are you carrying as in what type of rifle. Then he said he only had a 45 and I started laughing are you crazy you better get something bigger. Then he said if I have to fight. That means we are losing. Thank God that wasn't the case. I never went to war and didn't know what I was talking about. Just young and stupid at the time. Didn't realize what he was doing at the time. I understand now . War is not a good thing. Especially when we put our loved ones in harm's way. I have so much respect for those who are courageous and fight for freedom of others. Those who serve are selfless. And now I understand it when a soldier says I'm not a hero. That the one's who never made it back alive are the real heroes. I get it.
@Beer-can_full_of_toes3 жыл бұрын
My dad had a hand in the design of the super hornet and was the final inspector for the line after its release into full production. Before that he worked on the eagle. He did love the tomcat though for many obvious reasons. During his service in the Air Force in the mid to late 60s he got to work on the blackbird which he told me about only a couple years ago. Super cool to hear from a guy who has the knowledge and experience from the other end of the aircraft’s operation.
@B-A-L2 жыл бұрын
Kind of ironic that the YF-17 was handed to McDonnel Douglas to navalise it into the F-18 and then Northrop then went on to merge with Grumman who hasn't built a Navy fighter since!
@lonewolf36s2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your service to all of us and this country, this was amazing to watch and learn from. Thank you!
@bldallas2 жыл бұрын
So glad I’ve found your channel…Really fascinating stuff. Thanks.
@lakelush97423 жыл бұрын
Thank you for your service and sacrifices. I was a Jet Mech in the 70's on A-7's in VA-174 Cecil Field Florida , the Hellrazors ATKRON 174. We were a training squadron so we had A-7 A and B's because there were some squadrons that still had the older aircraft the A's and B'S HAD the TF-30 engines in them.
@lawsonfan57972 жыл бұрын
Holy shit......I was a 41 mech (A school in 174) in 82-86 and did not know the A-7 had a 30 in it originally.
@ARAMP13 жыл бұрын
Speaking of "young kids these days haven't seen the movie Top Gun"...I'm a Navy Primary Flight Instructor who was one day out on an early syllabus flight with a young ensign flight student. We were departing the MOA and about to go practice pattern work when he asked "Sir, what's the best way to descend through the area and set up for the pattern?" My answer was that it depended on where you were, sometimes option A was the best and sometimes option B was the best and sometimes you just have to "do some of that pilot shit". His response was "what do you mean by that?" After I explained that it was a reference to Top Gun he admitted he had never seen it! Our debrief consisted of me telling him it was a lawful order that he had to watch Top Gun before we flew together again.
@michaelbosisto62593 жыл бұрын
He clearly lied on his resume.. he will never fly Mach 2 with his hair on fire.
@1337penguinman3 жыл бұрын
How do you become a Navy fighter pilot without watching Top Gun?
@tellyknessis62292 жыл бұрын
@@1337penguinman You read "Punk's War" and the follow-ons...
@b.p.8792 жыл бұрын
Dude, Surrender is absolutely my favorite Cheap Trick song! You're a legend!
@sydneystewart60592 жыл бұрын
I like the way that you explain things in you're video, you do a wonderful job.
@devgru81973 жыл бұрын
I had the privilege of serving aboard aircraft carriers with the F-14 Tomcat. In my opinion, one of the best aircraft ever built. She was a big aircraft. Remember her dwarfing the Hornets, and even the COD aircraft (c-2 greyhound), and E2 Hawkeyes. Rip F-14’s your forever in my heart.
@Bazwelle3 жыл бұрын
Airshows are not the same anymore without the Tomcat in it. Loved the video! Thanks! And subscribed.
@GeneralChangOfDanang3 жыл бұрын
I'm just happy to see an F-15 now. Even those are getting hard to find though.
@Bazwelle3 жыл бұрын
@@GeneralChangOfDanang I know! Pretty sad really but I hear that they are working on a next gen F-15, an upgrade so to speak. That would be awesome!
@Jaco_Schutte2 жыл бұрын
Great video. I was born in the 80s and as such the F14 was always one of my favourite aircraft. Saw Maverick last night, and the old girl has a proper star turn in the film! Was great to see.
@efry200894 Жыл бұрын
Thanks for the DFCS mention - I was the Project manager for the development team @ GEC-Marconi ;-)
@rectorsquid3 жыл бұрын
I recall learning stalls in a C152 and the rudder is very important in that plane too :) This video was very informative - thanks. Oh yeah, and thanks for your service!
@jesusnameaboveallnames60483 жыл бұрын
Cool. I was on the Big E as a crew member for a 6 month cruise in '96 plenty of F14s at that time. That was the last deployment of A6s. Thanks for your expert commentary. Very interesting.
@TexanUSMC80892 жыл бұрын
I was in VMA (AW)121 for a deployment. I wasn't an airwinger, but I found that the A6 was a lot cooler than I thought.
@BRS.Systems2 жыл бұрын
Haven’t seen this video but very good explanation for those unfamiliar. Thank you for your service Sir! Love the patch btw… This movie was partly what got me to join up. 89-92 USS America/ Flight Deck V4 Looking back my only regret was not seeing my time through and doing 20. Definitely the coolest job I’ve ever had!!!
@jeremybermender63222 жыл бұрын
Great stories and detail, love to hear them. Thanks!
@Stant1233 жыл бұрын
About that whole he's headed out to sea line... When I was younger, I had a pretty good idea about the way jets flew. My grandfather was a bomber pilot during WW2, so kind of learned things about planes early on. When I watched Top Gun and got to the flat spin part of the movie, I recognized the fact the plane had to be falling like a rock, not moving in some other direction as the tail vertical stabilizers would either sheer off or slow and eventually stop the spin. Since they didn't sheer off, and the spin never stopped, rock it must be. My interpretation of the "He's headed out to sea!" comment was that they were ejecting and going to be parachuting into the water, not that the plane still had forward momentum carrying them from over land, out to sea. Its been forever since I've watched it so I can't remember the visuals exactly, but from memory, I don't recall seeing anything visually that would suggest there was still horizontal movement in the plane during the flat spin, or anything to suggest they weren't already off the coast other then a side angled camera shot where you see land in the background not what they're over and dropping into, which is water, because I remember that clearly with the color die in the water so the helo can spot them. It wasn't until years later that I watched someone incorrectly demonstrate a flat spin and when I corrected them they cited Top Gun as their source and that confused me because I had never interpreted the scene that way. Everyone assumes horizontal movement purely based off of a comment that the viewer is likely misinterpreting the meaning of. Also Hollywood has been known to make edits of sequencing for greater effect while the script remains unchanged because reshoots are expensive, so it's not like it's not possible that in the script Iceman says that line after they eject, but in editing it got moved to before, which if he says it after they eject, it kind of makes a lot more sense.
@chrisdavidson9112 жыл бұрын
kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bsulksZeucWud6s.html They do show the altitude dropping like a stone, but don't really highlight that it isn't still going "forward" very much. They were already over the sea, so Ice Man saying he was headed there doesn't make much sense
@kevinhines79172 жыл бұрын
Negative. The scene shows them over land when before and after they enter the flat spin. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/oMt7arGC09vQkoE.html
@JoybuzzerX2 жыл бұрын
@@chrisdavidson911 Could've been his way of say, they're crashing into the ocean.
@dsdy12052 жыл бұрын
I choose to believe that the windspeed was 200 kts that day
@karitahannikainen47342 жыл бұрын
Totally Agree. How many things hidden? Won't say more-trouble..Karita.
@dukeofearl41173 жыл бұрын
I was in the Navy with the A-6 and later worked for Grumman until they were bought by Northrop. I’m was fortunate enough to have programmed the A-6, F-14 and the EA6-B. One of my friends at Grumman was a rear seat photographer who was involved with making Top Gun. His stories about the back seat experiences he had were very interesting.
@muskaos3 жыл бұрын
I'm former EA-6B maintainer, VAQ-140 2003-2007
@amcds28672 жыл бұрын
Thank you for this channel, Ward.
@JP-wd6hk2 жыл бұрын
Sir, I love the F14 & I personally thank you for your service. The plane debut was on my birthday in 1970. God bless!
@jakeweber60033 жыл бұрын
Great description! I was an FA-18 AME during most of my time in the Navy. Our system was a little different to help prevent this issue. I had always thought the interlock block would've prevented the RIO from impacting the canopy. Interesting to know about the procedural change. I was actually onboard the USS Independence when the incident you showed the video of occurred. Working night shift, I was in a dead sleep when the Man Overboard call came!
@guymorris65962 жыл бұрын
AME ? Airframe mechanic ejection or engineer ?
@Doggtyred2 жыл бұрын
@@guymorris6596 The Aviation Structural Mechanic - Safety Equipment (AME)
@MititeluRadu3 жыл бұрын
I have a funny feeling that more young kids know about RIO from DCS F-14 the then from the movie.
@TheSixStringGuy3 жыл бұрын
What the hell is DCS?
@GM-fh5jp3 жыл бұрын
@@TheSixStringGuy DCS= Digital Combat Simulator. It's the premiere dogfight game on the Net. Awesome in every way but expensive to gear up for. You'll need a very good PC with high end graphics, a high end joystick with rudder pedals and a head tracking device or a VR helmet such as the Occulus Rift etc if you want to compete with the pros.Many real fighter pilots play it as well as those in training for airforces around the world. Follow this link to one of the real stars of the game "Growling Sidewinder"....you will want to be in it. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Y9lxm9ar0NmqgH0.html
@TheSixStringGuy3 жыл бұрын
@@GM-fh5jp nice! I'll have to check it out
@randypatton74453 жыл бұрын
@@GM-fh5jp q
@GM-fh5jp3 жыл бұрын
@@randypatton7445 q?
@dustinsensenig97982 жыл бұрын
This popped up randomly, but it's informative. Thank you for your service
@Kevin-zg2wm2 жыл бұрын
cheers mate thoroughly enjoyed the informative work and undeniably said with warmth and feeling for the aircraft, well done