Page 59 - Combat Aircraft (January 2020)

was an advance, and these progressions
always create new opportunities and
challenges, and open up mission sets
that were previously closed. This is the
next challenge. Change brings risk and
we’re mindful of that fact. We’re currently
executing a dry run of [the] F-35 syllabus
in this class right now with just TOPGUN
instructors. We are dedicated to the
quality of the product we provide in
the class, we can’t experiment with the
implementation of this platform.
‘In my humble opinion Strike Fighter
Tactics Instructors — the product
of TOPGUN — are the soul of naval
aviation. We have a huge impact on the
direction and tactics, driving combat
excellence, which is ultimately our
mission, to be ready to conduct prompt
and sustained combat operations at
sea. TOPGUN has created the people
who drive the navy’s mission every
single day.’

Acknowledgements: The authors would like to
thank CDR Timothy Myers, LT Alex Beasley, LT Matt
Buss, LT Benjamin Witt, Mr ‘Zip’ Upham and all at
TOPGUN for their assistance in the preparation of
this feature. Left page:
This F/A-18C is
assigned to the
NAWDC and is
flown by TOPGUN
instructors as
an adversary
aircraft.
Left page inset:
TOPGUN
Instructors step
from the Fleet
Training Building,
where the school
is located, to the
hangar to get
kitted up before
walking to the jets
on the adjacent
flight line.
Left top to bottom:
A TOPGUN
instructor in an
F/A-18C waits for
two students to
taxi past for the
morning ‘go’.
A sight many
students see
in their mirrors
— an instructor
bearing down
in an adversary
F/A-18C.
A student flying
a loaned VFA-2
F/A-18F with a
GBU-12, recovers
to Fallon during
the air-to-ground
phase.

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