Monster 1986 soundtrack hit (peaked at #2), back in play this weekend as the sequel soars to record opening numbers worldwide, even without Russia and China box office. And because there hasn't been a Navy pilot in 35 years who doesn't hear this in their head every time they do a carrier cat shot. You had to know this was coming today, right?
The first time I watched Top Gun as a little boy, I wanted to be a Combat Naval Aviator. My eyesight ruled me out, so I followed dads foot steps and become a Combat Engineer with the Big Green Machine instead. My first love was the F-14 Tomcat. Love at first sight. To this day, I'm still in love with it. She looks fast, just sitting on the flight deck. I'm fortunate enough to live a stones throw from Whidbey NAS, so I routinely see and hear the Super Hornets flying overhead. Sound of freedom, indeed.
ReplyDeleteGuess I'm showing my age but I was like that with the F4 Phantom and somewhat unrelated, the Cobra Helicopter. When I went to Army Flight School, I wanted that so bad but they were being phased out...then they phased me out with a knee injury ;)
ReplyDeleteAfter becoming a Combat Engineer, I was scheduled for Warrant Officer Flight Training, as the Longbow variant of the Apache was first being introduced into service. Ft. Lewis was the first squadron to see operational service with them. As I was National Guard out of Lewis, had I graduated WOFT, I was slated to be assigned to the first Longbow squadron. But alas, I messed my ankle up, and was formally discharged a week before attending WOFT. Oh, what could have been.
DeleteI was a 6532 when this was released. Sorry, I was cheering for Jester and Viper in the ACM sequences...
ReplyDeleteThey were driving A-4s, after all...
Other than my love affair with the Tomcat, I always thought the A-5 Vigilante was a sexy beast. But withdrawn from service before I would have joined...
DeleteKenny Loggins: the soundtrack of the 1980s.
ReplyDeleteTop Gun was the last movie that I enjoyed in the company of my father.
ReplyDeleteMy father flew 65 combat missions in the ETO, in the F4/F5 photo recon version of the P-38. The P-38 rather spoiled him for aircraft after that, he had no use for a P-51 considering it noisy, prone to wander on takeoff (the massive single prop). Dad flew those for the South Carolina and North Carolina Air National Guards, finally transitioning to the F-86 in the late 1950s.
Me, I was a crew chief in the NC Army guard, OH-58s, UH1Hs, UH-60s, and AH-64s. I did get to fly in the front seat of an AH-64 by special arrangement while TDY at Fort Hood.
Then I became a commissioned officer, saying good bye to military aviation forever.
Saw the new one today. You were right.
ReplyDelete