Our long national nightmare is over.

Only appropriate that on 4th of July the American once again conquers the Brit.

And that ‘dip’ the Tomcat did behind the Zeke was an actual stall, for the F14 had a hard time flying being so slow to keep on the propeller’s six o’clock. It is said that everybody clenched, RIO inclusive.

You mean the early Pratt&Whitney motors, known as Crap&Shitty. They would frequently cough on the cat stroke, or at high AOA. Just what the guys I flew with said (VF to VFA transition guys).

you are talking about the TF30s, the GE F110s were gold.

I know the Tomcat had its fair share of trials and tribulations, those F110's were shit. SHIT.

Still, it’s better than flying the Warrior I am...

I really need to get a better job...

In my view, there is no comparison between The Final Countdown and Top Gun...while the camera work was clearly superior in Top Gun, the story, the aircraft usage, the enemy aircraft (except the shootdown of the Zeros...the poorly filmed models) was far more genuine.

Fun fact: The scene with the Tomcats fighting the (replica) zeros, one of the tomcats (2:39 in the second clip, wasn’t the zero’s ‘acting’ like they were surprised. Instead the wash of the Tomcat’s flyby wrenched the controls out of the hands of both zeros pilots.

If only the Super Tomcat came to pass...

As a current Boom Operator, I can verify (second-hand) that it is indeed possible to tow a fighter with the boom. I’m not sure when it was introduced but we actually have a checklist procedure.

It's excellent to drive. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

I recommend you go drive one and form your own opinion. Most of those negative opinions came from NA and NB owners that were disappointed that it didn't feel exactly like what they are used to. Is it different? Yes. Better or worse? Purely a matter of opinion. Is it still a blast to drive and better than 90% of what…