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Top Gun: 50 Years of Naval Air Superiority hardcover

  • SKU: 9780760363546
  • Article code: 9780760363546
  • In stock

Top Gun: 50 Years of Naval Air Superiority begins with a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of the blockbuster film that helped America shake off the trauma of the Vietnam War and once again take pride in its military. The book then launches into the e

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Top Gun: 50 Years of Naval Air Superiority hardcover

Fly with the best in Top Gun: 50 Years of Naval Air Superiority—the definitive, highly illustrated, in-depth look at the Navy's famous fighter unit, including its history, technology, and culture.

Top Gun: 50 Years of Naval Air Superiority begins with a fascinating behind-the-scenes account of the blockbuster film that helped America shake off the trauma of the Vietnam War and once again take pride in its military. The book then launches into the even more incredible story of why and how such men consistently capture the imagination of children, adults, pilots, and audiences around the world.

Chapters spotlight pivotal military movies and television shows that presaged the movie Top Gun, including edge-of-the-seat vignettes and anecdotes of pilots and their lifestyles, the origin of the Navy’s fighter pilot program and its rigorous training, and how it inspired 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 advances that transformed aerial combat from the dangerous, unsynchronized machine guns that bounced bullets off propellers in World War I to today, where air-to-air missiles are launched by pilots who have no visual contact with an adversary, and finally illustrates how drones are adding a new dimension to the meaning of Top Gun.

Finish with an in-depth look at Naval Station Fallon, one of the most modern and renowned American naval stations, located outside Fallon, Nevada. Top Gun: 50 Years of Naval Air Superiority concludes with a look at Top 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 Superiority is the must-have guide to the fastest, deadliest, most storied aerial combat squadron the world has ever known. 

Published May 2019, 160 pages, over 200 black & white and colour photographs, hardcover, 11" x 9"

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Reviews

User reviews 3 / 5 Reviews: (1)

  • CC By Craig C on 16-08-2020 19:42

    3 / 5

    Very nice book as far as print quality, presentation and photos. However, there is far too much general military aviation content in comparison to naval aviation. Considering the book is called Top Gun : 50 years of Naval Air Superiority, I expected a lot more naval content overall. The book gives some nice information on a few of the early naval fighter aircraft, but hardly mentions the F14, F18 or F35's role in maintaining the U.S. Navy's air superiority. More than half of the book deals with aviation history prior to the Top Gun program. Less than half of it is on the 50 years of air superiority that the title seems to be referring to. As mentioned in some of the other reviews, several major typos also take away from the book. Several references to the 'F18 Tomcat' will be annoying to those that know that it's incorrect, confusing to those that are somewhat knowledgeable and just plain wrong information to those who are just learning about naval aircraft.
    I did enjoy the book, but it feels like it is missing several chapters post Top Gun school. Author needs to add some chapters or change the title, although I'm not sure what would be a better title.

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Top Gun: 50 Years of Naval Air Superiority hardcover

Top Gun: 50 Years of Naval Air Superiority hardcover

C$ 41.95 (C$ 41.95 Incl. tax)