[ jet taking off ]
[ emotional music playing ]
[ inaudible crowd conversations ]
What a lot of people that don't know this organization assume is that TOPGUN
pilots are egotistical and only think about themselves. In a reality, you know
everyone here is extremely humble, they're approachable, and it's an honor
to work next to these guys every single day.
[ dramatic music playing ]
You hear kids say I want to be an astronaut or I want to be a professional
basketball player, you know to me this was up there. I'd always have
posters up in my room and just kind of dream of flying airplanes. My dad also
would take me to air shows when I was younger and I just thought it was the
most amazing thing in the world.
Growing up I thought my chances of becoming a fighter pilot in general was
kind of a long shot. There's very few of us who actually get chosen to do
this and I had never seen anybody that looked like me that did what I wanted to do.
But once I started taking those steps committed myself took that leap of faith
I got closer and closer to that dream.
Three, two, one, hack, gents welcome to the tech to point-x red air brief.
Going through the TOPGUN course it was probably one of the hardest
things I've ever done. It was grueling, it was 13 weeks of pain but everybody
had the same goal and they had the same determination and drive. We all just kind
of leaned on each other at that point and we look to each other for motivation.
Alright gents, thanks for your time, plan to check in on TAC 5 OX at 10:45.
Being an aircraft sometimes it's nervousness a lot of times it's a
adrenaline.
Some of the flying that we do is a little bit more risky but being
able to execute those tactics that's an extremely fulfilling experience.
[ cockpit radio chatter ]
[ inaudible conversation ]
If you would have told me that one day I'd have the opportunity to be on the
TOPGUN staff, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have believed you.
[ suspenseful music playing ]
The whole goal of TOPGUN is we essentially teach the teachers and
that's been true since our founding over fifty years ago.
Good Morning! I'm Stu with the callsign "Gizmo" welcome to AM 120 Chalk Talk.
TOPGUN basically was founded as an organization to where we bring aircrew
from the fleet who are doing well and we'll teach them our techniques and then
send them back to their squadron so they share these tactic techniques with the
rest of the fleet.
As a TOPGUN instructor, one thing I try to remember is where I was when I first
showed up on day one. I had this expectation that I may not be good
enough, because we work long hours, typically six, sometimes seven days a week.
We're standing on the shoulders of giants, I think that is one of the
driving factors that makes us want to work harder and continue to improve
ourselves and prove our students and make sure that our brand going forward
is something that we continue to be proud of and something that's respected.
Can I please get a round of applause for Top Gun class 0-1-20?
How we're getting better in the aircraft really comes down to what mission set:
[ wind howling ]
air to surface or any kind of bombing runs,
air to air or we are actually out there getting you as a wingman or maybe it was three
women in a division, it's just mission rehearsal.
[ cockpit radio chatter ]
Every time we go fly there's always something that can be improved, always
something that we can work out.
I've said nothing can completely prepare you for how busy or how difficult the
course is. So, don't dwell on that because you know you're flying with some of the
best pilots in the entire world. It is definitely a strong bond between all the
instructors here and even though we just spent five 14 hour days
together it's still fun to hang out together on the weekends.
The family time is precious here, no matter how it's spent. It's time that you'd never get
back so you want to ensure that you're there 100%.
[ inaudible conversation ]
[somber music playing ]
The way I want my daughter to remember me is not just as a pilot but also, just the dad who was there for her.
I could be the coolest guy in the world but if I wasn't a good father you know
that's what will be remembered. Also, I do want her to embody the love of aviation
that I've enjoyed and maybe do this someday herself.
Same token as a Naval Aviator I don't think that there is an attainable goal
of a level of execution, I think that I will ever reach. The most dangerous
misconception for a TOPGUN instructor is to think that they have arrived and
that they are as good as they need to be because we are not in the business of
good enough.
[ engine starts ]
[ jet taking off ]
My name is Kyle Haith, my name is Stu Whipkey, my name is Orion Kelly and
[ All: ] I'm a TOPGUN instructor for the United States Navy.