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Top Gun Question of the Day


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I think we can all agree the first 4 minutes of Top Gun is some of the finest in film history. My question is, when attached to the cat in zone 5 looking aft (3:39-3:41 of this clip), what is the liquid falling to the deck directly behind the jet?

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Best guess; it is just water that was already on the deck that is just blown around by the jet wash.

Very correct, the water on deck gets blown around in a vortex off the JBD when it's raining or there is standing water on deck.

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Good catch fellas. After reading your posts, I went back and paused the shot only to see that it does in fact look like it was raining (moisture falling off the right nacelle) during that particular shot.

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Best guess; it is just water that was already on the deck that is just blown around by the jet wash.

I say good call.

The flight deck looks like it's wet all around in that specific scene view.

Note that said scene is a collection of scenes filmed over many days and have inaccurate launch scenes via different angles from supposed same launch. For example: That very scene at 3:39 shows an F-14 going to full power for take off and then launching. When they cut to the side view of the launch with the deck crew ducking, the a/c going past them is actually a KA-6D! They then cut back to an F-14 leaving the deck edge and becoming airborne. It implies that it was the same a/c being launched due to the rapid view changes of what looks to be one launch scene.

Right before that scene at 3:39, it shows a KA-6D being readied on a cat.

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I say good call.

The flight deck looks like it's wet all around in that specific scene view.

Note that said scene is a collection of scenes filmed over many days and have inaccurate launch scenes via different angles from supposed same launch. For example: That very scene at 3:39 shows an F-14 going to full power for take off and then launching. When they cut to the side view of the launch with the deck crew ducking, the a/c going past them is actually a KA-6D! They then cut back to an F-14 leaving the deck edge and becoming airborne. It implies that it was the same a/c being launched due to the rapid view changes of what looks to be one launch scene.

Right before that scene at 3:39, it shows a KA-6D being readied on a cat.

I just now noticed the very same thing!

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I just now noticed the very same thing!

Also; In that same scene they show someone holding up a 'pickle switch' implying that it is part of a launch sequence.

The pickle switch is what the LSO holds above his head when he's guiding an a/c down for landing. If the LSO doesn't like what he sees in the a/c approach or carrier deck position, he pulls the pickle switch (Like a trigger) and it turns on red lights around the meat ball signalling the pilot to abort the landing.

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The pickle switch is what the LSO holds above his head when he's guiding an a/c down for landing.

Yep. Another good catch. For bonus points, who can list the condition that warrants a pickle switch to be held above the LSO's head, as opposed to down low? :)

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Yep. Another good catch. For bonus points, who can list the condition that warrants a pickle switch to be held above the LSO's head, as opposed to down low? :)/>

I'll guess case 3 recoveries. I don't pay too much attention to LSO's unless they are in the way loitering and I can't get past:)

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I don't pay too much attention to LSO's unless they are in the way loitering and I can't get past:)

LOL. Fair enough. The pickle switch goes high during a fouled deck (an aircraft or object in the landing area while another aircraft is inbound - for those who don't know), down low for a clear deck.

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LOL. Fair enough. The pickle switch goes high during a fouled deck (an aircraft or object in the landing area while another aircraft is inbound - for those who don't know), down low for a clear deck.

Oh yeah, I knew that. Usually everyone is looking at the ding dong that crossed the foul line :)

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Why is today (May 13th) deemed "TOPGUN Day" anyway???

And can anyone tell me what the !@ Hemlock is?

I think it was intended to be May 16 when the movie was released, but something was screwed up along the line and something with Iron Eagle

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And can anyone tell me what the !@ Hemlock is?

From Wiki: "In ancient Greece, hemlock was used to poison condemned prisoners. The most famous victim of hemlock poisoning is the philosopher Socrates."

Edited by Slartibartfast
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Yep. Another good catch. For bonus points, who can list the condition that warrants a pickle switch to be held above the LSO's head, as opposed to down low? :)/>

Fouled deck??

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Fouled deck??

Yup, when FOD or a person crosses one of the foul lines during recoveries, the deck is considered fouled and no aircraft can land until it's clear. If you foul the deck, 9 times out of 10 that gets you a trip to see the Air Boss.

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