Warbird Information Exchange

Hi,

I've been researching the Tomcats from the 1986
film Top Gun and through various other forums
it seems that the following aircraft were used:

BuNo.160681 / VF-111 / "Iceman" 114
BuNo.160694 / VF-51 / "Maverick, Merlin" 104
BuNo.160665 / VF-51 / "Maverick, Goose" 104

Can anyone add any information, corrections
or provide a contact to anyone who may have
inside information?

Thanks
Simon Beck
www.uswarplanes.net

From what I remember the maverick and Goose aircraft is in one of the aircraft carrier museums.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

My Uncle while at Miramar advised on the Top Gun film

Shay
_____________
Semper Fortis

That is cool. I have always wanted to get a pic of the hangars that say Fightertown USA on them.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I was there at Miramar right after the Fightertown USA was taken off the hangar. But you could still see the image clear.

_________________
Never drive faster than your Guardian Angel can fly!!

http://www.390th.org/
www.LSFM.org

Trae

Simon,

I was at Miramar during this time, I unfortunatley can't help with the BUNOs. One of the fleet a/c used in the flying scenes ended up a hangar queen in our hangar. I would have to watch the movie again to remember which one, I want to say it was iceman's but, not 100 percent. Only 20 plus years ago. Apparently, this a/c was hard broke, and for my duration at VF-124 it was parked in our hangar and canalibilzed for parts. I would be surprized if anything is left of that airframe. Maybe the remains made it to a pedestal or museum? During my stay at Miramar I was not into photography, in fact Miramar had signs all over the place posting no pics, so no cool pics to post and as a 20 year old I was more into chasing skirts and boogie boarding up in Del Mar than recording the numbers of the a/c that I worked on. Probably the best book to reference for that time period is the "Cutting Edge" by Heatley. Heater was the XO during my tenure in 124. He was also in the film, during the graduation scene poolside.

I miss the Fightertown USA sign. It kinda gave you a rush as you walked on base during an airshow and saw those big letters!

Wearing your Raybans and that cheap imitation leather jacket with all the patches on it!

Better than Hollywood!

Does anyone have any pics of the fighter town signs. And I think it is the Lexington that has Maverick's F-14.

_________________
Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager