TC rode a GPZ900R in it and I had one too. That's where any similarity ended.

Have always been upset at a Nav/WSO being referred to as a 'rear'.

Also, the best quote I ever heard in a film at that time. Contained the phrase '...long and distinguished....' I seem to remember.

The portrayal of a fighter pilot as a cringing, panic-stricken, frightened indecisive cry-baby did it for me. I saw it in Pompey the afternoon of doing decompression drills at Seafield Park. We laughed ourselves crosseyed.

A handful of good flying sequences but the rest was abject trash from end to end.

Parson
Even tho the two wing master race are often disparaging to GIBS (Guy in back seat) in this case I believe that the term used was RIO (Radar Intelligence Officer). Only found out when watching the film on the box with subtitles.

Dougie M - many thanks for clearing that up, I didn't know that :)

"Hello, Meg. Have you got any Courtney in you?" "Would you like some?"

Update after checking. RIO stands for Radar Intercept Officer. Most stupid made up name I've heard and Meg certainly would have got it then but the "modifications" she has undergone are a bit offputting.

It was the volleyball that made me want to join How disappointed was I when arriving at Cranwell in February.

'Hey Courtney ya big stuuuud'

'That's me honey'

'Take me to bed or lose me forever!'

'Show me the way home, honey!'

Top Gun.
 

Some of the best lines in aviation feature films ever……………..
“ Well, yer see,………..we were inverted……... “

However, the characterisations were embarrassing to anyone who’s been there.
Don’t think we were ever as dumb as that; at least, for a 22 year old, I like to think not ! Still, some great photography…..and Meg Ryan !

It also struck me that there was not a single mention of the half dozen RN AWIs’ connection. They basically set up the Top Gun course at Miramar to help the USN who were suffering too many losses in Vietnam. Still, American film I suppose. Bit much to expect !

One of the best has, I believe, recently passed on ; Lt.Dick Lord.RN, of 764 NAS, Lossiemouth.

Forgive a bit of thread creep, but Dick later became a Brg.Gen.in the SAA. Read his book, “Tail hooker to Mud mover” which contains quite a bit about the formation and development of “Top Gun” school.
Quite a career the like of which we are unlikely to see anymore.

Goes to show, 30 years ago being gay in the military was illegal, now it is apparently compulsory!

It is a very good principle never to go to any movie about anything you have the slightest knowledge of.

Warning. NSFW.

Hempy .... A simply excellent video find :D:D:D:D

Preferred flight of the intruder myself, a somewhat more accurate depiction....

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFZ7Woo53K4

Amazing gadgets those extendable little tape measures :E

Battle of Britain - pilot returns after a successful sortie and does a victory roll over the airfield - gets a huge bollocking from his CO.

Top Gun - pilot returns from a successful sortie and does a victory roll over the ship and is treated like a hero.

Sums up the Hollywood version of military flying.

Still in one respect Cruise makes a convincing FJ pilot - he is a shortarse after all!

A group of us sneaked into the cinema in central manchester (now a wetherspoons pub) aged 13. We picked out the oldest looking one of us to go and pay as it was rated 15. We had all given said boy £1 each and thrust him forward to the kiosk. We were most upset when the manager told us that if we were all 15 and above we would have to pay the adult price and not the child's price of £1.

In our deepest voices we all grumbled and chunnered to ourselves before stumping up a bit more cash to get in. We then sat on the back row, and smoked a pack of superkings between us.


It is still one of my favourite movies, but i do tend to fast forward any part which does not have aircraft in it.

Back in the 80s flying around Ireland at low level in the good old Wessex several of the pilots used to quote from the film at any and every occasion which prompted the comment from the crewman that Top gun was a film for ''Pilots and twelve year olds!!!!'' Still makes me smile when they repeat it on the TV.

Hey!!! I resemble that remark!