Topgun: The US Navy Fighter Weapons School: Fifty Years of Excellence

This book provides a unique, illustrated history of the US Navy Fighter Weapons School's 50-year history. Currently located at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada, TOPGUN was formed in late 1968 at Naval Air Station Miramar, California, to create a graduate-level course in fighter tactics for Navy pilots deploying to Vietnam. Before TOPGUN, Navy F-4 Phantom II fighter crews in Vietnam managed only a 2.5:1 kill ratio versus Soviet-built MiG-17 and MiG-21 fighters: after TOPGUN formed, the community tallied a 12.5:1 kill ratio. Since then, TOPGUN has become the standard-bearer of Navy fighter and strike fighter tactics and training and is recognized worldwide as a center of excellence. TOPGUN's tactics and pilot training are explained, as well as changes and developments throughout the years to the present day. All aircraft flown at TOPGUN since its founding are shown. A-4 Skyhawk T-38A/B Talon F-5E/F Tiger II F-16N Viper F-14A Tomcat F/A-18 Hornet F-16A/B Falcon F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Brad Elward has written on military aviation topics since 1997. He has authored articles on TOPGUN for The Hook and Combat Aircraft magazines and has published 11 aviation books and over 50 aviation articles.