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.

@georgerehak1424

2 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.

@ElliotComposer

2 жыл бұрын

God Speed to him!!!

@Maxislithium

2 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.

@WildernessForever

2 жыл бұрын

😥💔

@TerryMundy

2 жыл бұрын

So sorry that that happened. 😔

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.

@docsavage8640

2 жыл бұрын

Aesthetically my favorite

@illusion9966

2 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..

@majorpayne4795

2 жыл бұрын

facts, The only plane i ever wanted to fly and the only one that made me want to join the Navy.

@Erick-rf6lc

2 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

@jessicalacasse6205

2 жыл бұрын

su 47 mig 44

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.

@michaelmcginnis9029

2 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

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!

@edwinlegatie2459

2 жыл бұрын

I was there in V1 division. Everything you said is the way I witnessed it too.

@williamdobbins3131

2 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.

@austins9950

2 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 😔

@generalshepherd457

2 жыл бұрын

I was also there, but I was not in command of the whole operation.

@timwrobel5603

2 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.

If a kid hasn't seen Top Gun, his parents should be charged with neglect 🤣

@hopsta5628

3 жыл бұрын

Why ?

@DobermansRock

3 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.

@billywashere6965

3 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.

@aberamagold7509

3 жыл бұрын

@@billywashere6965 🤣 real men? Like you?

@billywashere6965

3 жыл бұрын

@@aberamagold7509 Abso-freaking-lutely.

I work for the railroad as a locomotive engineer. I view Unstoppable the same way you view Top Gun.

@SuperBigdaddy1954

3 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?

@miamijules2149

2 жыл бұрын

Is it true that all kinds of crazy, nefarious happenings take place on our nations railways that are largely covered up?

@robertdigby4504

2 жыл бұрын

Hmmm I worked on A-4’s I call bullshit on the stabilator being the same size as a Skyhawks wings

@masjienistje

2 жыл бұрын

Hey colleague do u also have that nightmare where you apply the brakes and they are totally not working.

@The_ZeroLine

2 жыл бұрын

@@miamijules2149 Yes

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.

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 KZread 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.

@volvodoc01

2 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.

@scotty2307

2 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.

@eddierodrgz77

2 жыл бұрын

IYAOYAS! Go Navy!

@Wheeler590

2 жыл бұрын

@@volvodoc01 What Scott M said! Which makes the "Who knows what nation?" in TG2 an absolute! lol.

@jester_killzem3005

2 жыл бұрын

My VA here in Georgia is named after Carl Vinson

I've been obsessed with the Tomcat since seeing Top Gun as a child. Even at 44 I still enjoy watching KZread videos about them.

@Whiskey11Gaming

3 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! :)

@BlackKnight288

3 жыл бұрын

You should try DCS. It has the F14 as a clickable cockpit, and RIO seat options with friends flying the pilot seat

@TheGrandexeno

3 жыл бұрын

F14 is for kids, F15E is for men, A10 is for men of culture.

@ab5olut3zero95

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheGrandexeno as a Tread-Head, I approve your culture sir. Nothin better than a Thunderbolt pullin overhead cover, God bless em!

@juleshathaway3894

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheGrandexeno The F4 is for men who wear their briefs outside their flying suits!🤣

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.

@jemakrol

3 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. :)

@jeremymtc

3 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.1259

3 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!!!

@unnamedchannel1237

3 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.williamcomm7693

3 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.

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.

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.

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.

@WardCarroll

3 жыл бұрын

Those are the days we'll never forget. Thx for commenting.

@ITTTom

3 жыл бұрын

That day will always be with all of our fellow Hunters Chad

@travissmith2848

3 жыл бұрын

Man..... that's rough.

@fanch1072

3 жыл бұрын

@@maxbuffet4493 One of the most laid back and friendly Officers we had!

@fanch1072

3 жыл бұрын

@@ITTTom Dec 23rd! I was second mech that day and helped him strap in.

Fascinating Ward! Now I need to re-watch Top Gun. It must be about 25 years since I’ve seen it :)

@WardCarroll

3 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

@NorthsideJonnyBeato

3 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

@rossandcarol

3 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.

@brianmessemer2973

3 жыл бұрын

Wow pretty cool seeing Rick Beato commenting on an F-14 video 😅👍👍

@zaphodb9213

3 жыл бұрын

@@WardCarroll Wow, that's a deep read. Thank you!

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.

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

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.

@DrewLSsix

3 жыл бұрын

Well shit! Go back and talk to THEIR kids! Someone's bound to have seen the new one.

@adamdejesus4017

3 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!

@ghelms45

3 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.

@adamdejesus4017

3 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.

@ghelms45

3 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.

AT1 Woods, NAS Miramar, VF-124 Gunfighters, F-14 Tomcat. "Any Time Baby" I miss those days :)

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

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.

I was active duty in the 80s. Battleships and Tomcats. What a navy it was!

@brianvosburgh1720

2 жыл бұрын

VFA-132, 86 to 89. Didn't realize it then but those are some of the best years of my life. 👍🇺🇲

@machinistmikethetinkerer4827

2 жыл бұрын

Damn skippy

@frikkievarkpiel5854

2 жыл бұрын

Now it's pronouns and race theory.

@chrismarshva

2 жыл бұрын

Give me the F 18 and the F 35 B

@chriswelder2777

2 жыл бұрын

Nice to listen to a man who DID SOMETHING WITH HIS LIFE.

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.

@juststuff8742

3 жыл бұрын

That's very very specific

@justicegusting2476

3 жыл бұрын

@@juststuff8742 It’s a life-arc changer, thats for sure.

@juststuff8742

3 жыл бұрын

@@justicegusting2476 sounds to be

@jdmapple

2 жыл бұрын

Wasn't that from Christmas Story? Ohhhh fuuuuudge, too soon?

@picklefish74

2 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.

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.

@WardCarroll

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, James! Great to have you here!

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

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.

@kylrean3891

3 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.

@jasonsimmons5041

2 жыл бұрын

They look like a turkey haha

@SW-Lopez1980

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you fpr ypur service Justin Smith

@pettytoni1955

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.

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.

Love revisiting old episodes. Thank you for your service. God’s blessings Ward. We love your content and perspectives.

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.

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.

@pettytoni1955

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.

@c2dvr

Жыл бұрын

@@pettytoni1955 Truely The Best of Times!

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.

@WardCarroll

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching, James.

When I was stationed at the Fleet Combat Training Center Pacific (Point Loma, San Diego, CA), I took a drive over to NAS North Island one evening on a weekend as I had nothing better to do. I was driving my 1976 Pontiac Firebird Esprit, which sat low to the ground and was not a tall vehicle. I ended up down by the hangers where guys were working on some F-14s. The first thing that go my attention was how large they were (especially compared to my car). I don't know what the distance was between the underside of the fuselage and the ground, though it looked like I could've just about driven under one, with maybe the CB antenna on my trunk lid tickling the underside. NAS North Island (so does Point Loma) had some history behind it. I met the guy who was the personal pilot for Admiral Halsey and was a test pilot for the PBY Catalina (cool seaplane). I can't recall his name, but he was an interesting man for a (then) young squid to meet. While on a WESTPAC/IO cruise ('81-'82), I was a "topside" ET (Electronics Tech) on the U.S.S. Truxtun, CGN-35. Since we were a nuke ship, we often got to do picket for the Connie's battle group. One time, there was a Tomcat having mechanical problems--losing hydraulic pressure and was also low on fuel, and we were guiding him back to the Connie (for others, that was the U.S.S. Constellation, CV-64). The ET shop got an urgent call from Radio Central saying the radio that CIC was using to talk to the F-14 had gone down, since I had the most experience working on the AN/SRC-20 UHF transceiver, I quickly removed the chassis and put it on the bench, found the problem and fixed it, and had the unit back in operation in under 9 minutes. The guys in CIC were able to re-establish comms and he was able to land safely. I had heard the plane was quite low on fuel, though the pilot managed to get down in one piece. 👍 There were other times when Ivan would show up out in the Western Pacific. We had a TU-95 "Bear" bomber fly over with its bomb bay doors open. We called the Connie and they sent a couple of Tomcats out to encourage Ivan to "be elsewhere". Quite a sight (one of our guys got some photos that ended up in our cruise book). There were all sorts of "cat and mouse" games going on back then with the Soviets that most folks don't know about. Might make for an interesting topic one day.

@karitahannikainen4734

2 жыл бұрын

I only say LARRY THORNE. Do understand some lingo...now not airborne-sleepy time, appreciate..Karita.

@pettytoni1955

Жыл бұрын

I was at Point Loma on a sub-tender, USS MCKEE, AS-41. But my first station was VF-124 at Miramar, across the street from the Top Gun school.

@karitahannikainen4734

Жыл бұрын

@@pettytoni1955 all respect! Karita.

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.

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."

@WardCarroll

3 жыл бұрын

One of the best things I ever wrote. 😀

@carlcdp

3 жыл бұрын

Hilarious!

@WardCarroll

3 жыл бұрын

@Thunderbolt Very well. We're USNA classmates. Love that man.

@WardCarroll

3 жыл бұрын

@Thunderbolt He was great on "Survivor." Did us proud.

@jfabiao

3 жыл бұрын

ahahahahahha is right Tom is a dork :-) Terri was a visionare

My husband was actually on the ship when the Tomcat crashed! It is something that he will never ever forget

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.

Saw one F-14 in flight at an airshow- I was stunned at the huge size- the sound- really a marvelous thing to see. Can’t imagine the thrill if being in it.

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.

@petermcgill1315

3 жыл бұрын

Always fun to watch with a nit picker.

@curtiskretzer8898

3 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

@scallen3841

3 жыл бұрын

I was a AD as well , on the fa-18c

@curtiskretzer8898

3 жыл бұрын

Larry!the line from the bar about"Fighter pilots make movies.Bomber pilots make HISTORY!" (just kills me)

@jessewilson8676

3 жыл бұрын

I put lots of fuel in A6-E’s and KA6-D’s .....va-176

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

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

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.

(Mavrick) "Ice, come off high right" ... Iceman comes off high left! Iceman is at fault and responsible for Goose's death!

@robertdigby4504

2 жыл бұрын

Whose fault is it you can’t spell Maverick right?

@mnr497

2 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.

@sbuyce1

2 жыл бұрын

@@mnr497 but there wouldn’t have been a spin had Iceman had listened. Iceman killed Goose

@mnr497

2 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.

@Lee0568

2 жыл бұрын

Its NOT REAL,its all made up BULLSHIT

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-bg9tt

2 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.

@phillanassa759

2 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?

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.

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 👍

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.

@mdfogarty

3 жыл бұрын

Munny and his children abandoned their farm and are rumored to have moved to San Francisco, prospering in dry goods.

@lauridsd

3 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

@TonySpike

3 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

@davidbarlee4722

3 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 !

@terrybaird3122

3 жыл бұрын

I know Jerry. I never knew.

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.

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.

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.

@pettytoni1955

Жыл бұрын

Jeff X, watch the new Top Gun Maverick.

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.

@jimmyhaley727

2 жыл бұрын

Me too,, ole USN vet

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.

@WardCarroll

3 жыл бұрын

Thx for keeping us flying, Mark!

@caroledward7589

3 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.

@marklags2396

3 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.

What I remember from flight training as a civilian studying Aviation Science in college, the time for recovery was when a plane enters an incipient spin, which was not shown in the movie. Another spectacular movie with a scene like that was "The Right Stuff." It represented a special rocket powered version of the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter. The F-104 in that movie was actually a retired European (maybe Italian Air Force) F-104. The Martin Baker ejection seat gives it away. Actual F-104s in the USAF had the Lockheed C2 ejection seat. Pilot had ball spurs on their boots that locked into the seats. Pilots thought it was very cool walking around with the spurs clicking on the floor. Lockheed also tried developing a successor to the F-104 Starfighter, called the Lancer, which also used the Pratt and Whitney TF-30 engine.

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.

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-L

2 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!

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 ♥️

It had never occurred to me that Mavrick's Tomcat was spinning like a frisbee, with horizontal translation; I'd always thought he was just, you know, flat spinning. And now I know.

@Redman680

2 жыл бұрын

Maverick* smh

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.

You were a fighter pilot and a rock n' roll hero. What a life!

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.

@chrisdavidson911

2 жыл бұрын

kzread.info/dash/bejne/apmpwcVmhMKwd9o.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

@kevinhines7917

2 жыл бұрын

Negative. The scene shows them over land when before and after they enter the flat spin. kzread.info/dash/bejne/nJl_mbCKntjSkrA.html

@JoybuzzerX

2 жыл бұрын

@@chrisdavidson911 Could've been his way of say, they're crashing into the ocean.

@dsdy1205

2 жыл бұрын

I choose to believe that the windspeed was 200 kts that day

@karitahannikainen4734

2 жыл бұрын

Totally Agree. How many things hidden? Won't say more-trouble..Karita.

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!

Thank you for your service. The F14 will always be my favorite war bird along with the F4U Corsair

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.

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 .

@devgru8197

3 жыл бұрын

If your brother was prior enlisted, then became an officer, then he would be considered a “mustang.”

@knuckletherapyserveothersf6092

3 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.

@georgemorley1029

3 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.

@devgru8197

3 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!

@knuckletherapyserveothersf6092

3 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.

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.

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!

I was at Top Gun on det {A-4's, East Coast Adversary} when they filmed this recruitment video. We, the enlisted, were told to stay off the ramp whenever they were filming. They didn't want that much reality it seems. So we stood back and laughed at some of what they were doing. Senior Chief was NOT amused. Then we were in Fallon when it came out. They actually bused us up to Reno for the debut. Last thing the Skipper told us before we got off the bus was, "Under NO circumstances are you to comment on the accuracy of this film. We have a public relations department for that." Seems the Navy learned a valuable lesson about that after the movie "Final Countdown". Once again, Senior was NOT amused by the laughter.

@Saltee323

3 жыл бұрын

Yea, but the Final Countdown was based on actual events. Two Zero's were shot down by what witnesses described as rocket planes that were never seen again. That's what I heard.

@eq1373

3 жыл бұрын

@@Saltee323 what witnesses? I know there was a yacht strafed by Zeros the day before

@mattmattingly479

3 жыл бұрын

Why was the f14 not able to drop the noise of the aircraft and dive out of the flat spin

@spvillano

3 жыл бұрын

@@mattmattingly479 can't drop the nose of a frisbee that's happily emulating a brick. You need a rather generous amount of airflow over the control surfaces to exert any kind of control. Airspeed is, by definition, zero. All while losing altitude at a minimum of 2700 feet per minute. Mr Ground is swiftly rushing up to make sweet love with your entire body and you now have two seconds to decide whether or not to punch out. Anything later has one's parachute not deploying before that sweet love thing or landing within the fireball of the crashing aircraft. My attitude on any military vehicle is, screw it, my rich and retarded Uncle has plenty more where that one came from. And I always remembered, my equipment came from the lowest bidder.

@W1ldTangent

3 жыл бұрын

@@spvillano This is one of the best comments I've ever read on KZread, actually laughed out loud. Thanks for sharing.

I think they just stuck the phrase "out to sea" in there to fix the continuity error that they'd filmed the dogfight over the desert range and their recovery scene had perhaps already been filmed clearly in a mid-ocean setting.

@marcdraco2189

3 жыл бұрын

I believe you are correct. That happens a lot in movies where someone drops the ball. (Obviously not Maverick because he had the ball earlier on.) I love reading shooting screenplays vs. the final product. Daniel Craig (in Casino Royal) often drifts off script but in character whereas Judy Dench is word perfect - a true professional and a wonderful actress. It’s a shame that Bond is getting “castrated” by the looks of things thanks to this pandering to the “woke” generation. Hopefully TG: Maverick will stay true to its roots.

@coldwarveteran4239

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, I always wondered how he could flat spin from the ACMR range in Yuma all the way to the Pacific Ocean. But it made for a good shot. F-14A, TF-30-P412/414 AD. Attended C school Miramar. Delivered ACMR pods to the flight line and back between classes.

@hddun

3 жыл бұрын

Umm...you should visit Southern California where the Top Gun school WAS located (Now its the Marine Corps Air Station). Its about 40 miles east of San Diego in the Great American desert. But if you take INTERSTATE 8 for about 45 minutes in a car, you will be in beautiful San Diego overlooking the ocean. It's very likely that airplanes out of San Diego do crash in the nearby ocean.

@matthewhunter467

3 жыл бұрын

Having lived in that area, I have asked that question. How did they get "out to sea". They were fighting over the Palmdale/Lancaster. Which is something close to 200 miles from the ocean.

@hddun

3 жыл бұрын

I worked on a project when Mira Mar was moving from Navy Air Station for Top Gun Training to a Marine chopper base in the late 1990's. The Marines had a base in Orange County very close to Los Angeles (about 1 mile from Irvine--El Toro Marine Chopper base). But in time, this area which was in the boonies when El Toro was build in 1940 became a HUGE URBAN AREA---the real estate there got PRICEY and I figure the Govt sold it for huge profit--its now a big mixed use commerical center. The Marines moved all their choppers to Mira Mar isn't very far from the Pacific--about 30 miles straight out to sea. I don't sea (pun) how it hard it would be to move out to the ocean in a jet at 600mph. But Poor Goose, alas, we miss your mindless banter and of course Mrs Goose (Meg Ryan') career went to the bottom the Pacific with Goose's demise...

I remember my first seeing a Tomcat up close. It was about 0200 on the flightline at Mountain Home AFB. It caught my eye on sitting on the transient alert ramp all alone. I had to drive over and checked it out. I don't remember any markings, but it was painted black. I thought, "man this thing is huge compared to the F-16". It was a beautiful aircraft.

I remember when the ARI System ( automatic rudder interconnect ) was installed on production aircraft. In fact I was the plane captain on the first production F-14 that it was installed on. In fact my grandkids were just here in NY visiting and we always take a trip to Grumman Memorial Park to see my name on the brick. They say can we go visit the shrine. It’s in rough shape but in it’s day I could watch it fly forever. 🇺🇸

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.

@michaelbosisto6259

3 жыл бұрын

He clearly lied on his resume.. he will never fly Mach 2 with his hair on fire.

@1337penguinman

3 жыл бұрын

How do you become a Navy fighter pilot without watching Top Gun?

@tellyknessis6229

2 жыл бұрын

@@1337penguinman You read "Punk's War" and the follow-ons...

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.

@muskaos

3 жыл бұрын

I'm former EA-6B maintainer, VAQ-140 2003-2007

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.

@kukrae

2 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!

@joeslayter5841

2 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.

@kukrae

2 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 :) :)

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.

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!

@hddun

3 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...

@jasoncarswell7458

3 жыл бұрын

Was good for recruiting, though. From a PR standpoint, the Navy loved the hell outta that movie.

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.

Thank you for your service to all of us and this country, this was amazing to watch and learn from. Thank you!

Your passion for the F14 is the reason I subscribed to this channel. Thank you for doing all this work.

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!

@jamesduncan3171

2 жыл бұрын

A Marine Corps "VF" squadron?

@hldarte

2 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.

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.

@lawsonfan5797

2 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.

Blown away! Thanks Ward your info is much appreciated and has been absorbed!!

Very interesting explanation about Goose’s collision with the canopy. I always remember my Phase 1 AAES lessons on the Martin Baker Mk 10 seat; as fitted to the Tornado ADV/IDS. As part of that particular system there were a few fail-safes for separation/passing through the canopy. Upon initiation of the ejection sequence, by pulling the Seat Pan Firing Handle (both command and non-command eject), the canopy would be unlocked and pistons (Canopy Jacks) would force it into the airflow. As a zero/zero system, it also had rocket packs that would initiate at ‘x’ travel, ensuring safe separation in zero forward situations. Should the seat move and the canopy remain; i.e. unsuccessful separation, the MDC would fire, shattering the canopy, allowing safe egress of the Pilot/WSO through the canopy. So, with a Tornado AAES system, the Goose situation couldn’t happen. Out of interest, did the F14 have any additional elements to the ejection sequence, such as described above?

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.

@TexanUSMC8089

2 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.

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!!!!

As a content creator myself, it's so impressive to see you do this entire video in a single take. Aside from how good the final product is, I'm so envious of how little editing you must need to do on each one of these awesome videos 😀

@swardmusic

Жыл бұрын

The yt kids these days do an edit every breath 😂😂

It's men like you that made my childhood amazing, I used to see fighter jets out all the time practicing where I stay and it would make my day when they would fly overhead low enough you could see the pilot, still get goosebumps when it happens as an adult.

It should be noted that in the scene in question when Maverick gives the command to "eject eject eject" he also says "watch the canopy!", which could be an attempt to warn Goose about the canopy jettison procedure but he was too late as Goose grabs and yanks the overhead ejection cords on his ejection seat less than a second after Maverick says that.

@mmpiforall5913

2 жыл бұрын

Yup, I hear ya! of course ejection sequencing is all designed so you don't hit the canopy, LOL it is manufactured drama in the movie! In some planes the canopy is 'break thru' design with bars at the top of the seat for that purpose.

@Orca19904

2 жыл бұрын

@@mmpiforall5913 Also some canopies are fitted with explosive charges that shatter the canopy. The AV-8B Harrier II is a good example.

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 ).

Awesome insight! My dad ejected out of an F-8 with VF-91 in `59 near Fallon after losing hydraulics. Lost his left nugget and shrunk 3/4" of an inch. Still have the ejection seat behind my bar. He flew for another 10 years. Ended up in A-3`s with no ejection seat.

Wow, who knew?! I always thought the ejection mishap was total movie BS. At the same time I'm sorry to hear it did happen to someone. Thanks for sharing!

@mickhorsley3169

3 жыл бұрын

I thought so too and I have experience of working on ejection seats. Also noted that the canopy in the clip he showed was flung backwards.

I never saw the movie in the same light after I became an F-16 crew chief.

@bearsmith3655

3 жыл бұрын

I totally agree. Same for me

I was a Checkmate (VF-211) when TopGun hit the screen. There were definitely those "wait, what"? moments, but for those of us at Fightertown it was a chance to stand up proud and tall, and say, "Yep, that's us". I remember the tower flyby, thinking, well, there goes a former Navy pilot.... Last time I saw the movie was on the flight deck of the Midway for the 30th anniversary. Memories....

Outstanding Ward! I appreciate your non-biased and factual approach in these videos! I will definitely be following you and your videos. Thank you

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.

I have a funny feeling that more young kids know about RIO from DCS F-14 the then from the movie.

@TheSixStringGuy

3 жыл бұрын

What the hell is DCS?

@GM-fh5jp

3 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. kzread.info/dash/bejne/X6d1ytWzm9asgKw.html

@TheSixStringGuy

3 жыл бұрын

@@GM-fh5jp nice! I'll have to check it out

@randypatton7445

3 жыл бұрын

@@GM-fh5jp q

@GM-fh5jp

3 жыл бұрын

@@randypatton7445 q?

I'm glad you talked about the flat spin, I was completing USAF Rescueman advanced training and this was when Top Gun first came out. We were showed that part of the film and the instructor talked about what you just did.

This popped up randomly, but it's informative. Thank you for your service

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.

In 1986 I was stationed at Kadena Air Base,Okinawa when "Top Gun" came out. My wife,who was also active duty,and I went to Camp Hansen marine base to watch it. I'm not sure how it is now,but at that time when you went to a movie theater on base,the National Anthem played before the movie started and everyone rose out of their seats and stood while the anthem played. Some Navel personnel were there as well and they would talk about the various aspects of the movie as it played. It was great to see "Top Gun" for the first time in that environment. Also: The SR-71 was based there at the time. We always knew when the SR-71 was going to fly that day because you could hear the V-8s that started their engines,running full throttle from everywhere on base. When they would take off,they would roll down the runway and then about halfway down they would takeoff and then go almost vertical like a rocket. Even at the time,it was a big deal to be able to see them out on the runway and taking off.But we never saw them land.

@dohc22h

3 жыл бұрын

I was at Bulk Fuel Co. in Camp Hansen in 1996 and there was nothin there but a pack of stray dogs and former pets running around together that nobody could catch.

@Bat21bravo

3 жыл бұрын

I sat on the tarmac @ Kadena AB aboard a MAC/747 flying back to the world from Deployment waiting for an SR-71 to land & taxi back to its hanger surrounded by MARINES who were locked & loaded, flak jackets & helmets

@ebayerr

3 жыл бұрын

@@Bat21bravo: Cool story. What year was that?

@ab5olut3zero95

3 жыл бұрын

Unless they’ve changed things on me in the last four years, we still play the National Anthem at the start of every movie on base. Good to know some things cross service branches- 12 years and counting, ARNG.

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.

I was a tomcatt fixer (AE), deployed 3 times with VF143 & spent quite a bit of time at VF101. DFCS was one of the best upgrades the tomcatt got. It was a fun aircraft to work on and the commeodary of the tomcatt world was the best experience I had while I was in the navy.

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!