Grumman F-14 Tomcat

That said, he did get to fly in the scenes at the end.

around in the world war ii era few million dollar p-51 mustang as to why on this one it's because he's an adult and nobody could stop him because well it's his plane his mustang was originally built in 1946 ultimately finding its way into life as a museum piece in illinois before being restored in 1997 and purchased by crews in 2001. he's been flying it ever since no word on whether the studio compensated him on his flight hours on that one although given his reported 10 cut of the gross of the film which earned 1.5 billion dollars we're guessing either way he's not too upset he's also not going to have to sell his golf stream 4 which apparently has a jacuzzi in it because well why wouldn't you moving on from there how about how realistic it was that maverick absolutely destroyed his students in top gun maverick former top gun senior instructor dave burke rings in on this saying it's very accurate quote the most proficient instructor is significantly better than the most proficient students like a big big big difference as for why this just comes down to the instructors practice the scenarios over time massively more than the pilots taking the extra training at the school former top gun instructor guy snogra also concurred stating that when he was being evaluated to become an instructor himself at top gun after graduating the course he was likewise handily outmaneuvered and shot down by his instructor and figured he did poorly on the tests because of it but not so with his evaluator stating to him after no one ever beats their instructor and where they felt he shines and far more important to them was his analysis of what he had done wrong and how he could improve next time they were also in general evaluating his character and temperament in those defeats all of which in his case were deemed ideal to become an instructor there once again illustrating the importance of finding pilots who are extremely teachable and willing to learn rather than the more hot shot overly confident Maverick types whose egos often get in the way of real improvements and their rule breaking a major liability to their fellow service members and respective missions Moving on from there, going back to the agreement between the US military and the studio for Top Gun Maverick, if you know anything about the F-14 Tomcat, you're probably wondering where they got one flying, given the US military doesn't have that amazing jet anymore.

And indeed, nobody has a flying one except for Iran, which, owing to sanctions, the film studio couldn't use.

So how did the studio handle all of this for the film? In the agreement, it states that the F-14 shown during the ground scenes was borrowed from the National Naval Aviation Museum, and that they approved repaint the aircraft with the nnam approved paint scheme remove ejection seats for on-stage filming and conduct maintenance to power aircraft have control panel and exterior lights operational in support of filming all costs related to transporting painting and maintenance are the production company's sole expense It's a scene which has played out in countless medical dramas.

The patient flatlines, the long piercing tone of the heart monitor, an answer to the audience that they've shuffled off this mortal coil.

But our team of intrepid medical heroes isn't ready to give up just yet, as one doctor pounds on the patient's chest and applies the kiss of life, another reaches for the twin metal paddles of a defibrillator.

Then,

out of nowhere, Kenny Loggins' Highway to the Danger Zone fires off an F-14 Tomcat full afterburners.

It's kick-ass, I love it, and that's what makes the high-concept movies so much fun to watch.

Now, I will do an essay on Top Gun one of these days, but today I want to talk about Don Simpson the man, and specifically what kind of person he was to work for.

Well,

in that Mavid movie, he flies an F-14 that's all broken down at the end.

That's Chad on the case loader.

Broken windshield wiper.

The Ames Regional Economic Alliance will host its 2026 annual luncheon on December 1st from 11 a.m. to 1.30 p.m., and that'll be at the Cornerstone Church in Ames.

Carrie Lorenz, a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot and the Navy's first female F-14 Tomcat pilot, will deliver the keynote address sharing insights on leadership, perseverance, and performing under pressure.

Lorenz is also a best-selling author and leadership expert who has worked with organizations including Cisco, Deloitte, Verizon, and State Farm.

Registration prices will increase November 1st and more information and registration is available on the Ames Regional Economic Alliance website.

F-4, the 18s and everything.

Even that F-14 at the end, a little homage to the end.

And by the way, they stole it from Iran and captured it.

But the movie was great.

And so I think the question I've been struggling with is, why is that so hard for the U.S.? I went back and I don't have a slide on this, but can I

can I share a thought here? Because the last time you were on here, we were talking about the 70s when the F-14 and, you know, we were talking about the Og-9 radar for six years or five years.

These aviators are flying around with this radar.

bubble, this situational awareness that no one else had.