Page 53 - Combat Aircraft (January 2020)

the establishment of a ghter weapons environment we will also instruct each nished with their rst tour in the eet
school dedicated to teaching individual one of our students on the ways that they will put in an application package to
1-v-1 aerial combat. Myers says, ‘That was they can continue to teach the tactics, TOPGUN, which — along with the east
really the start of TOPGUN’s charter — Above left to right: techniques and procedures that they learn and west coast weapons schools as well
training aviators that are able to teach and Larger missions at the class to others. as other constituencies, including the test
towards the end
instruct the rest of the eet to accelerate of the course ‘Selection of our students has absolutely community — will parse through and pick
the learning throughout the US Navy.’ Over see the TOPGUN changed throughout the years. When the best and most quali ed for the class.
the years, TOPGUN’s model has changed. instructors being TOPGUN was rst established, basically Once they are accepted to TOPGUN they
supplemented
It started 50 years ago as a multiple-week with either the squadron commanding o cer would are assigned follow-on orders to either
course but has now expanded into a contract be ‘convinced’ to give up a couple of their one of those weapons schools, the test
multiple-month course, currently standing adversaries or by aviators for a period of time to get the community, NAWDC Strike or potentially
the resident F-5s
at 13 weeks. It has also evolved from of VFC-13. extra training. They would provide them to stay on as TOPGUN instructors, and
mainly 1-v-1 air combat — ‘dog ghting’ to TOPGUN, which would train them then they will serve an entire two-and-
— into section (two-ship) and division Although F/A-18Cs for several weeks in aerial combat and a-half to three-year tour in an instructor
have all been
(four-ship) tactics. Myers adds, ‘While we’re retired by fl eet then return them to the eet. What has capacity at one of those schools.
focusing on individual mechanics and units, NAWDC changed over the years is that TOPGUN ‘Talent goes beyond performance in
the combat employment of our aircraft in retains a large students are really on a continuation the aircraft. While talent in the aircraft
fl eet of these
both the air-to-ground and the air-to-air aircraft. of a career model. Once students have is fundamental to credibility, it must

TOPGUN’s F-16s are Block 15 A/B
models that were destined for
Pakistan but were embargoed.
Unlike the earlier F110-GE-100-
powered F-16N adversary aircraft
that were retired by 1995, the
current jets have Pratt & Whitney
F100 engines.

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