"How the Navy Stole the Show" Topic

…In a Movie About the USS Nimitz Going Back in Time to 1941

From Military: link

One of my favorite movies from the 70's. I watched it at a NASA area theater near Houston and the audience cheered when the Zeros were taken down.

Funny thing is the Air Force got the biggest bump in recruitment after Top Gun premiered!

The Navy gets the attention because they have the best uniforms. Top Gun inspired many to want to fly. After a little research, I determined the best opportunity to fly is in the Air Force.

Was there ever a plane as "cool" as the F14 Tomcat? That little F18 only has one of the two engines at the back. Plus it does not have the skull and crossbones on the tails. US Navy always got the best fighter planes over Air Force (huge contrast with UK of course and I will admit the P40 and above all the P51 as exceptions)

The film? I saw it in Leicester Square (by UK standards that was a big screen…a very big screen, with sound to die for in those days). I did laugh, even then, when the recon plane brought back a photo of Battleship Row (a genuine photo, but taken by the Japs in 1941 and showing the attack already underway, torpedo tracks and all). But the Tomcats stunting and chasing the "Zeros" (to this day I cannot find the fault in them and I have this on DVD). On a big screen I started to feel a bit dodgy. We were too near the front and I was out of my head anyway. Happy days

Great find, Editor in C

US Navy always got the best fighter planes

LOL. How do you define "best"? Best looking. Planes that are capable of landing on aircraft carriers have reinforced landing gear because of all the stress and forces involved. That equates to more weight, which is the last thing you want in aerodynamics. Navy fighters, especially the F-14 are dogs in an air-to-air fight.

"the F-14 are dogs in an air-to-air fight"

That is fascinating. I was from a generation that anything prop driven off a US carrier ruled the skies………just before we were born. Then came that Nam thing where Phantoms and Skyhawks where just so….well the term cool is so dated. But they were. Even I, as a long haired weirdo Grateful Dead fan (to this day), knew the Crusader was also past its best. But Yankee Station…glad I was not asked to serve, but grateful they did. Same age kids.

You make a very good point. Navy got the best looking planes your side of the Pond recently (ie last four decades). P40 and P51 as exceptions, Navy always did best. F15 Eagle is a beautiful plane I will admit. Every so often a couple fly low over our house even now…..stunning.

Navy guy here, and it does all come down to your definition of ‘best'.

For my money:

Best air-to-air: F-22

Best bomber/strike: B-2

Best CAS: A-10

All Air Force planes.

But none (except maybe the A-10 on a dare) are going to land on a carrier.

I'm just going to say it…"COOL"