Random Top Gun thoughts - Page 3

Two callsigns on the list:

Cyrus (the Virus)
Supertard

Awesome.

Hi guys,

Just found this thread. I remember taking the girl I was dating at the time, an Army 2LT, out to see this movie. She found it totally uninteresting, which worked out pretty well for me!

Ok, on to the Q&A.

First, flying is voluntary, but you can't "turn in your wings" (They can be taken from you, however. I've never seen it happen.). In real life, Cougar would've told his skipper that he wanted to come off flight status and transfer to another community. The Navy probably would have turned him in to a ship driver, doomed to spend the remainder of his military commitment on the bridge of a warship (Ship drivers, like infantry officers for their services, are the backbone of the Navy. But it's a miserable job.). He would have continued to wear his wings, but under his new Surface Warfare Officer community insignia. Such people are referred to as "fallen angels."

Second, the canopy fires about half a second before the ejection seat. This is supposed to give the airstream a moment to whisk the canopy out of the way. An aircraft in a flat spin is basically a rock, so it is conceivable that Goose could hit the canopy.

Third, call signs are mostly a fighter guy thing. Though I'm not a fighter guy, I've had three call signs in my career and don't currently go by one. Often, a guy's call sign is something that would sound cool to an outside listener, but that actually refers to something embarrassing. For example, i once flew with a guy called "Fireball." He'd ejected three times, fireballing three fighters. For another, there was a guy in the next squadron over called "Deadeye." He accidentally fired his 9mm into the squadron duty officer's desk while he was clearing the weapon.

Fourth, there's no way a Tim Robbins could fit into an F-14, though he could fly a P-3 or C-130. Anthony Edwards could probably fit into most airframes. I don't know the actual parameters off the top of my head, but when you're in preflight training they give you all kinds of biometric measurements to help determine which aircraft you're eligible for.

Fifth, the ironic Iceman bite is now a standard part of the pilot's idiom.

Now, on to some cool "making of" trivia.

Cruise and Kilmer made no friends aboard ship during the filming of the movie. They wanted the star treatment, and that doesn't fly when you're at sea. Cruise learned that firsthand when he tried to cut to the front of the chow line in the pilot's wardroom, and again when he got angry over something and threw his sunglasses forward at the inside of an F-14 canopy. There's nothing like the stern hand of an unhappy CO on your shoulder to remind you what's what.

Do I really need to go seek out this Watchmen thread? I hated The Watchmen.

Goddamn Frank it's great to see ya back. Where have you been all this time?

This Q&A was great and confirmed what I always thought. Never fuck with your place in the food line.

I've been flying my ass off. I just got back from Bucharest, and I'm off to Rome tomorrow.

Yeah, I really really love my new job.

That's hilarious.

Frank, thanks for the [very informed] answers!

As a civvie, I am not sure if it is considered bad form to ask what your call signs were [and why you got them]...?

Oh, it's fine to ask. Here they are:

1. Sunshine. As in, "Good morning, guys. What a great day! Sea state six, deck rolling, iron seas and skies. It's like 'Victory at Sea!'"

"Shut the fuck up, Sunshine!"

2. Yak Man. I have this awesome, handmade Nepalese yak wool jacket. It's incredibly warm and looks very cool, if you go in for handmade Nepalese textiles. Shockingly enough, it drew a bit of attention. That's the call sign that's printed on some of my awards, which always makes for a rather convoluted explanation.

3. PD (pronounced like Petey), for "Perfect Diction." This one speaks (ahem) for itself.

PD eh? Well better PD that VD or ED in my view.

Just watched it for the first time in almost 17 years for my Blu-ray review. I hated it. But the disc was really good, A/V and extras.

I've been bugging my brother since this thread started to tell me some good ones.

He was a crew chief on a B1-B.


Not my brother.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxJt41xzfcQ

Like clown cars!

Uh huh. Having been to sea, I don't believe you.

Heh. I never thought of that.

Nevertheless, behold! Scenic Korea!

Look out, Frank! Someone's creeping up on your six!

They need to fertilize.

Is it me? Or do I keep hearing the theme from MASH everyime I see that picture?

(Cues Twlight Zone theme song)

Rightfully so. That photo was taken near an ancient wall near the South Korean city of Pusan. It's where the SK's were making there last stand when MacArthur wadedin.

It was also unbelievably cold.

Name a film or TV show that didn't have gay subtext staring Michael Ironside! Highlander 2, Total Recall, SeaQuest, starship troopers....

Also has any one tried to make a drinking game for each time Cruise is leaning over or bending over something when around taller people. Two shots everytime this occurs when he is half naked.

Ironside was in ER briefly. You saying that show had gay subtext?

It could also be a song for gay pilots.

That means you're gay. You might as well go out and buy a Miata now, sorry.

My cousin went through a period where he watched 'Top Gun' every night. Every single night. I don't know how long this went on, but I do remember him bringing his VHS copy when he came to visit us. To my knowledge, he didn't grow up to be gay or a fighter pilot, so I'm not sure what that was all about.