Homepage The Admiral who disliked TOPGUN and forbade Section Taxiing at Miramar

Naval Air Station Miramar

The Admiral who disliked TOPGUN and forbade Section Taxiing at Miramar
Cold War Era / Military Aviation

The Admiral who disliked TOPGUN and forbade Section Taxiing at Miramar

By 
Donald Auten
Sep 9 2026

Thanks to our partners

Mortons new banner
Script Medium
Key Publishing is a content hub with global reach. Through unrivalled passion and media technology, we connect enthusiasts around the world through expert, informed and engaging content.
Partner perks
‘It moved like a flash from our 10 o’clock high position to 3 o’clock.’ US Navy F-14 pilot recalls odd UFO sightings he had while flying the mighty Tomcat
Military Aviation

‘It moved like a flash from our 10 o’clock high position to 3 o’clock.’ Navy Tomcat pilot recalls odd UFO sightings he had while flying the F-14

Dec 14 2025
By 
Dario Leone
VX-4 pilot recalls the F-14 IOT&E flight where he evaluated the Tomcat’s performance against the TA-4J Skyhawk
Cold War Era / F-14 Tomcat / Military Aviation

TOPGUN: A Navy Fighter Pilot and his Dream Deployment

Dec 9 2025
By 
Donald Auten
US Navy Crusader Pilot explains why a carrier landing in the legendary F-8 was a real challenge
Cold War Era / Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation

US Navy Crusader Pilot explains why a carrier landing in the legendary F-8 was a real challenge

Mar 11 2025
By 
Dave Bio Baranek
Sponsored by: Tomcat RIO
‘It moved like a flash from our 10 o’clock high position to 3 o’clock.’ US Navy F-14 pilot recalls odd UFO sightings he had while flying the mighty Tomcat
Cold War Era / F-14 Tomcat / Military Aviation

‘It moved like a flash from our 10 o’clock high position to 3 o’clock.’ US Navy F-14 pilot recalls odd UFO sightings he had while flying the mighty Tomcat

Jun 23 2024
By 
Dario Leone
Bringing Home the Legends: Carrier Landing in the F-8, F-4, and F-14
Cold War Era / Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation

Former US Navy F-8 Pilot explains why a carrier landing in the legendary Crusader was a real challenge

Apr 9 2023
By 
Dave Bio Baranek
Sponsored by: Tomcat RIO
Former F-14 pilot tells the story of when he and his wingman pushed their Tomcats to Mach 1.2 at 1,000 feet at night to outrun Libyan SA-5 Gammon SAMs
Cold War Era / F-14 Tomcat / Military Aviation

“We reached 18,000 feet in less than thirty seconds!” Tomcat RIO tells the story of when on his third F-14 flight his pilot did a memorable unrestricted climb

Feb 26 2023
By 
Dario Leone
Sponsored by: Tomcat RIO
The story of the US Navy F-14 Tomcat aircrew that inspired the Legendary Top Gun Movie
Aviation History / Cold War Era / F-14 Tomcat / Military Aviation

The story of the US Navy F-14 Tomcat aircrew that inspired the Legendary Top Gun Movie

Jun 11 2022
By 
Dave Bio Baranek
Vintage Video features VF-124 Gunfighters F-14 Tomcat landing without its port wheel at NAS Miramar
Cold War Era / F-14 Tomcat / Losses and Aviation Safety / Military Aviation

Vintage Video features VF-124 Gunfighters F-14 Tomcat landing without its port wheel at NAS Miramar

Jan 27 2022
By 
Dario Leone
Key Publishing is a content hub with global reach. Through unrivalled passion and media technology, we connect enthusiasts around the world through expert, informed and engaging content.
TOPGUN was not as credible of an adversary without the F-16N: why the retirement of the F-16Ns was a blow to the Navy Fighter Weapons School
Aviation History / Cold War Era / Military Aviation

TOPGUN was not as credible of an adversary without the F-16N: why the retirement of the F-16Ns was a blow to the Navy Fighter Weapons School

Jan 26 2022
By 
Dario Leone
Sponsored by: Schiffer Military
IAF Fighter Pilots Explains why Israel Picked the F-15 Eagle over the F-14 Tomcat
Cold War Era / Military Aviation

IAF Fighter Pilots Explain why Israel Picked the F-15 Eagle over the F-14 Tomcat

Oct 20 2019
By 
Dario Leone
The Life and Times of an S-3A Viking Sensor Operator, Part Two: Livin’ in the Real World
Cold War Era / Military Aviation / U.S. Navy

The Life and Times of an S-3A Viking Sensor Operator, Part Two: Livin’ in the Real World

Jul 2 2019
By 
Edward Chang
F-14 Pilot recalls when Air Traffic Controllers asked him to buzz the tower so that they could see for themselves a Navy
F-14 Tomcat / Military Aviation

“It’s time to buzz the tower:” Former F-14 RIO explains how the legendary Top Gun tower fly-by scene was filmed

Sep 16 2018
By 
Dario Leone
Exclusive: former Topgun instructor presents the original article that inspired legendary Top Gun movie
Cold War Era / F-14 Tomcat / Military Aviation

EXCLUSIVE: FORMER TOPGUN INSTRUCTOR PRESENTS THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE THAT INSPIRED LEGENDARY TOP GUN MOVIE

Dec 28 2017
By 
Dave Bio Baranek
The story of the A-4 Mongoose, the light attack plane that became the perfect adversary aircraft
Aviation History / Military Aviation / U.S. Navy

THE STORY OF THE A-4 SCOOTER, THE LIGHT ATTACK PLANE THAT BECAME THE PERFECT ADVERSARY AIRCRAFT

Nov 3 2017
By 
Dario Leone
LOOK MA, A MiG-28! OH, NO WAIT. IT'S A VFC-13 FIGHTING SAINTS F-5 TIGER!
Military Aviation

LOOK MA, A MiG-28! OH, NO WAIT. IT’S A VFC-13 FIGHTING SAINTS F-5 TIGER!

May 7 2017
By 
Dario Leone
VF-24 F-14 in Zone V
Books / F-14 Tomcat / Military Aviation / U.S. Navy

BEFORE TOPGUN DAYS: REVEALING TRUE STORY ABOUT U.S. NAVY FIGHTER TRAINING

Feb 8 2017
By 
Dario Leone
Advertise
Back to top