TCTTS said:
I've always wondered something about the end of the first movie...
How accurate is it that a bunch of guys who JUST graduated from Top Gun are called into action like that? Yes, it's ridiculous that it happens at their graduation, but I can forgive that as a movie contrivance/necessity. I'm wondering more about the overall pecking order. Like, why aren't pilots who are more experienced and graduated from Top Gun, say, three years ago, tending to the crisis at the end? Why do they ask a group of Top Gun rookies instead? I'm assuming that's just another movie contrivance, but I was wondering if there was any truth/accuracy to that, like fresh graduates are considered better because they've more recently been through intense training or something.
On that same note, can someone explain what "level" of pilot Maverick & co are in the opening sequence, at the beginning of the movie? Like, do those guys actually engage enemies as well or is that just a Top Gun thing? Also, is it accurate that Stinger would be in command of them at the beginning, and then also again at the end, after they've made it through Top Gun? Or is that yet another movie contrivance?
I know next to nothing about the Navy or fighter pilots or how any of that works and TexAgs seems fairly knowledgeable in these matters. I've always been somewhat curious, so I thought I'd ask.
From what I understand amongst those guys I know who were in the aviation community (an important distinction they make because "The Air Force has pilots; they land on runways. Naval Aviators land on carriers") there was a lot of little things they'd never do and a few big things.
Top Gun first of all has no trophy. Advanced training is tough enough. While flyers are very competitive amongst each other you just want to graduate.
Also once a guy gets back to his squadron they're responsible for teaching what he/she learned to everyone else. I can't imagine Mavrick being pulled mid deployment to go to advanced training.
Yes, the scene where they get their orders at graduation was just sexy writing. You would go with whoever was deployed closet.
For example NavDevGru or "Seal Team 6" had a squadron already rotated back to Little Creek from Iraq so they were chosen for Bin Laden. Could have just as easily been CAG (Combat Applications Group or "Delta Force" if you will).
What else? Stinger was (my guess) the CO of the CAG or Carrier Air Group. There's the ship's Captain and then there's the CAG who commands all the ship's aircraft squadons. If he was still deployed on Enterprise he could be CAG CO in the beginning and end.
Oh, and buzzing the tower once gets you court martial so that irks the tailhookers, too.
Truth is the Navy wanted this as a recruiting film. You show me an honest recruiter I'll show yow a guy not meeting his quota and being reassigned.
Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting.
Steve McQueen
