Warbird Information Exchange

All I can say is: The people who voted for "Top Gun", obviously have had a very LIMITED exposure to decent flying flicks. Top Gun wouldn't even be in my top 20. I also don't understand the fascination with 12 O'clock High. OK it was a good look at what went on between the people who flew 'em, but as far as actual "flying" scenes go, they were minimal.
I'm sure a few of youse troops will 'splain their particular attraction to 12 O'clock High to me.
I'm not averse to changing my opinion. (Just obstinately resistant.)

Mudge the open minded

ps. Would somebody please 'splain that "Rumack...Oever" thing to me. Maybe you had to be there. Never seen "Airplane".

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Land of the free because of the brave

How many people remember going to see He11's Angels originally vs. Top Gun? Those old movies never really stood a chance in this case.

At least "Soul Plane" didnt win!

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Taylor Stevenson

Ah, yes, the opinions of the current majority, such a useful barometer of quality. It's an interesting world out there - pity so many won't visit. More for us!

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

I agree. I also suspect that younger people are more likely to use the internet and thus be able to vote on something like this (Mudge notwithstanding).

You also have to remember the setting that you are going to watch it in. While 12 o'clock high and movies of that nature are great for us aviation buffs to watch at home, a movie liek Top Gun is cooler to watch on a big screen out doors.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Most of the WIX commentators seem to be Republicans. Didn't any of you guys vote for that great movie (well TV anyway) where the C in C; Commander in Costume descends out of the heavens to the deck of the aircraft carrier with the big Mission Accomplished sign? Interestingly that slogan seems to have gone out of fashion a bit the last few years. I didn't notice it on the stage last night behind the candidates at the debate.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Great movie. Just edit out the love scenes.

Patrick

I was surprised that Battle of Britain was second. I may be little prejudiced as my plane was one of the 2 two seat Spitfires that did the aerial filming for the movie. The other one was flown by Connie Edwards and he had to make a forced landing due to an engine fire. I think The Great Waldo Pepper is my first choice, and then perhaps Midway, BoB.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

I know that personally Top Gun had a big effect on me when it came out. I was in Junior High School at the time with an older brother who was a Navy ROTC Midshipman and headed for flight school after graduation.

We don't really see it now, but that was a pretty groundbreaking movie at the time. As someone who had been flying in and on airplanes nearly my entire life, a movie that explored military jet flying in the very flashy and exciting way it did was very, very exciting. Although I personally credit seeing the Thunderbirds at an airshow in 1983 as being the actual impetus for me wanting to become a USAF pilot, seeing Top Gun 80 times in the theater and Lord knows how many other times on home video also had an impact.

Today as a fighter pilot, I think Top Gun is a very cheesy and inaccurate picture of what it means to fly military fighters...but only because I know better. That being said...there are some tantalizing bits of realism in there that most people probably don't see when they watch the movie. Of note is that the original Top Gun script is MUCH closer to the 'truth' than the end-product movie was/is. Had the movie been closer to the script, it may have satisfied more actual aviation buffs.

Hey Bill, it was at KOSh Theatre in the Woods last year that I saw BOB. I loved it, and I bought a copy right away to enjoy at home.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Mr. Greenwood,
Let's not make this a political debate like other threads have become.

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Taylor Stevenson

Ok, Taylor at your request; on one condition, you got to stop calling me mr. Thanks, Bill, and I will asnswer Randy by a pm.

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Bill Greenwood
Spitfire N308WK

Without The Defender on the list, how was anyone suppossed to take the list seriously....

12 o'clock High is a great film, but I'm surprised Strategic Air Command with Jimmy Stewart didn't get picked. How can you beat B-36 Peacekeepers, B-47 Stratojet bombers and F-80 Shooting Stars? I could probably do without a whining June Allison, but its still a classic film and its filmed in Technocolor! Top Gun is way overrated IMHO. Like I am so sure you are going to feel like carrying on a casual conversation in an F-14 Tomcat while pulling 7 g's! Give me a break!

Jim