Top Gun

Fly with the best in Top Gun:50 Years of Naval Air Superioritythe definitive,highly illustrated, in-depth look at the Navys famous fighter unit, includingits history, technology, and culture.Top Gun:50 Years of Naval Air Superiority begins withafascinating behind-the-scenes account of theblockbuster film thathelped Americashake off the trauma of the Vietnam War and once again takepride initsmilitary.The bookthen launches into the even more incredible story of why and how suchmen consistently capture the imagination of children, adults, pilots, and audiences around the world. Chapters spotlight pivotal military movies andtelevision shows that presaged the movieTop Gun, includingedge-of-the-seat vignettes and anecdotes of pilotsand their lifestyles, the origin of the Navy's fighter pilot program and its rigorous training, and how itinspired the Air Force's counterpart, Red Flag. Other chapters highlight what it takes to be a pilot in other branches of the armed forces, and takes a look back in time at the most notorious (and feared) pilots of World War I and World War II from all around the globe. Fast forward to the jet age, when the first aces flew hair-raising missions over Korea and Vietnam, and learn how past and contemporary aerial dogfighting really works. The book also reveals the many technological advancesthat transformed aerial combat from the dangerous, unsynchronized machine guns that bounced bulletsoff propellers in World War I to today, where air-to-air missiles are launched by pilots who have no visualcontact with an adversary, and finally illustrates how drones are adding a new dimension to the meaning of TopGun. Finish with an in-depth look at Naval Station Fallon, one of the most modern and renowned American naval stations, locatedoutside Fallon, Nevada.Top Gun:50 Years of Naval Air Superiorityconcludes with a look atTop Gun 2, the highly anticipated sequel to one of the biggest action movies of all time and the one that made Tom Cruise a worldwide superstar. Featuring over 200 photos, new interviews and stories from aces, engineers, commanders, and more, and written by best-selling author and president of the Military Writers Society of America, Dwight Zimmerman,Top Gun: 50 Years of Naval Air Superiorityis the must-have guide to the fastest, deadliest, most storied aerial combat squadron the world has ever known.