A Top Gun Instructor Reveals What the Fighter Pilot School Is Really Like
Thanks to the iconic 1989 movie Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise, public perception around what it takes to become a Navy fighter pilot. Lt. Kyle "Washjob" Haith, a pilot and instructor at the Navy Fighter Weapons School (commonly called TOPGUN) recently took to Reddit and dispelled some popular myths around the program in an 'Ask Me Anything thread'.
"Like tons of other kids, I dreamt of becoming a fighter pilot when I grew up," wrote Haith. "When Top Gun made its Hollywood debut, a stereotype about cocky pilots was born. But I'm here to set the record straight: not every flight is set to an 80s power chord soundtrack. There are shockingly few cheesy bar serenades and beach volleyball montages here. And at the real TOPGUN, ego doesn’t fly. The men and women I have the honor to fly with are humble, approachable, and credible. Together, we share one unifying goal: creating the world’s best Strike Fighter Tactics Instructors to train the fleet and ensure victory in combat. We don't fly for fame, and we're not in the business of 'good enough.'"
Haith was quick to clarify that behind the glamor of the job is a ton of hard work and collaboration. "For every hour of flying we do during a training mission, there’s countless hours of preparation, rehearsal, briefing, and debriefing," he said. "Just as important as being a good pilot is being humble enough to learn and being able to teach others."
He explained that the percentage of time a pilot actually spends in the air during the program is probably a lot less than many people might assume: "During the TOPGUN course the students normally fly once per day, twice depending on the types of missions we’re training to (e.g. Dogfighting)," he wrote in reply to one comment. "On average we probably log 5-8 flight hours per week. As far as the longest time anyone has spent in a cockpit, I’ve heard stories from friends deployed overseas that have spent as many as 8 hours in the jet at one time."
And sorry if this ruins the illusion somewhat, but according to Haith, nobody in the real TOPGUN has a cool nickname like Maverick or Iceman, as he revealed when explaining the origins of his own moniker.
"Unlike the Air Force, Navy pilots aren't allowed to have cool call signs," he said. "Even if it sounds cool, there's always an embarrassing story behind it. Long story short, when we were underway on the aircraft carrier, I got sick prior to going flying. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize it until I strapped into the cockpit. Within seconds, I was leaning over the side of the canopy painting the side of the jet with my lunch. In the Navy, when the maintainers have to wash the aircraft, they call it a 'Wash Job'. From then on, the call sign stuck."
"At TOPGUN, I’ve gotten to do some of the most exciting flying I've ever done in my career," he continued. "However, to me the most satisfying part about my job is getting to teach the trainees that come through the TOPGUN course and watching them get better on a daily basis."
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