Sorry about asking questions that have probably been asked and answered before. I did search under “Top Gun” here, without any success. I’m sure a build of “Maverick’s” F14 has been done many times. But I’d still like to give it a whirl with the Old Revell 1/32 kit. In no particular order then:
A. Which squadron were Mav and Goose from ? And are there 1/32 lo-viz decals available ?
B. Whats was Gooses real name in the movie ? I think I could get a font to print up the Pilot/RIO names on the fuse, but I cant for the life of me remember his actual name in the movie. LT JG Nick Bradshaw ? is that correct ?
Does anyone have a link with pics of a completed build ?
The squadron markings on both Iceman and Maverick’s Tomcats change a few times. Both of the original markings are not real Tomcats squadron markings.
The film is chock full of errors. One example is how goose dies by hitting the canopy during the ejection. One side of the canopy is heavily weighted so that this scenerio couldn’t happen, even without any forward velocity.
The movie squadrons are fictional. Testors came out with a kit with the movie squadron decals. The Nov 2007 FSM has an article about building the movie Tomcat
Something I always wondered, in real life, did the Navy pilots bring their own aircraft to Miramar, or were there F-14s already there for training purposes?
Top Gun was a good film for entertainment value, only. I would not reccommend you use it as a reference to build an “actual” F-14. The squadron depicted in the film is fake. [:(]
There are too many factual errors in the film to list. The only good thing to come out of Top Gun, was the increase in NAVY recruitment, in the years following the film. [:)]
“Mav” & “Goose” flew with VF-1…Although the squadron patch said VF-1 it was actually the patch of VAW-110, the west coast E-2C Fleet Replacement Squadron or FRS or RAG. I attached a link to a military patch dealer, he has the old VAW-110 sq. patch which was the one Maverick and Goose wore and displayed on their Tomcat’s.
For some reason they didn’t use real squadron insignias for the movie. My squadron was used during the at sea launch and recovery scenes, I was in VF-114, although not until after the movie was out. The Turkeys used in the movie belonged to VF-51 Screaming Eagles. The only squadron depicted that was and still is an actual squadron was VF-111 Sundowners. They are now an agressor squadron flying the F-5E at NAF Key West, FL.
I think there’s one in Nevada as well…Nellis, maybe? Don’t have the sheets here in front of me for that info, but just picked up some Twobobs decals (set 48-015) for blue splinter-schemed aggressor F-5E’s. Mmmmmmm. [^]
Yep, the Navy and Marine Corps still fly the F-5E as an aggressor for dissimilar air combat training. VFC-13, VFC-111 and VMFT-401 all fly the F-5E. I don’t think TOPGUN operates them anymore, that’s why VFC-13 is at Fallon. TOPGUN operates the F-16N and F/A-18A&B mods for DACT. VFC-111 was a part of VFC-13 and a permanent det. at NAF Key West until early this year when they became a seperate command and took the disestablished F-14 Tomcat moto of VFC-111 Sundowners. As “dupes” mentioned, Two Bobs has all of the Navy/USMC aggressor decals.
One of you guys asked if the Navy still operates the A-4. No, no more A-4’s. A private company that flys DACT missions as a contract service still flys them though. The company’s called ATAC, here’s the link: http://www.atacusa.com/ They fly the F-21 Kfir, A-4 and the Hawker Hunter.
Since everyone’s posting their favorite quotes, here’s mine: “I can see it’s dangerous for you, but if the government trusts me, maybe you could?”
On a side note http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rg_SOI5Gggk check this video out. Now, I still love the movie, it got me to choose the Navy after high school, but this is a hilarious vid.
Yes the movie was inaccurate, but it wasn’t ludicrous like Iron Eagle, another attempt to recruit during the mid-80’s. After working in Naval Aviation for 9 years the movie also brings back a lot of good memories. I knew guys who were aboard Enterprise when they filmed the movie, they all said Cruise was a jag-off. The rest of them, including Val Kilmer were great guys and interested in their jobs, from the mess cranks to the wrench turners.
If you guys want to check out a video that depicts modern Navy TACAIR check out www.speedandangels.com . I saw part of it at the Tomcat Sunset in 06’ and bought it, it’s a great flick, the flying footage is amazing and if you’re a fan of the F-14 this movie’s the cats a$$.