Topgun Days: Dogfighting, Cheating Death, and Hollywood Glory as One of America's Best Fighter Jocks [Hardcover]

Dave "Bio" Baranek (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2010

Dave Baranek (callsign "Bio") was one of 451 young men to receive his Wings of Gold in 1980 as a naval flight officer. Four years later, seasoned by intense training and deployments in the tense confrontations of the cold war, he became the only one of that initial group to rise to become an instructor at the navy's elite Fighter Weapons School. As a Topgun instructor, Bio was responsible for teaching the navy's and Marine Corps's best fighter pilots how to be even better. He schooled them in the classroom and then went head-to-head with them in the skies.

Then, in August 1985, Bio was assigned to combine his day-to-day flight duties with participation in a Pentagon-blessed project to film action footage for a major Hollywood movie focusing on the lives, loves, heartbreaks, and triumphs of young fighter pilots: Top Gun.

Bio soon found himself riding in limousines to attend gala premieres, and being singled out by giggling teenagers and awed schoolboys who recognized the name "Topgun" on his T-shirts. The book ends with his reflections on his career as a skilled naval aviator and his enduring love of flight. 50 color photographs

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The author is a retired Naval flight officer, who made several cruises aboard various carriers as the radar operator in the back seat of an F-14. One of those cruises included an ejection when the ship’s arresting gear failed to arrest the F-14 before it went overboard. Even more challenging were his two assignments to the Topgun program, the Navy’s elite fighter-training school, first as a student, then in the coveted position of an instructor. During that second assignment, he also helped with the Navy’s support and the flying sequences of the classic movie Top Gun. (See above for the correct spelling.) The author is a straightforward, even plain writer, but he also has an eye for detail, and gives those details in full measure about experiences for which there is an abiding, even devouring, curiosity among aviation buffs. They will enjoy. --Roland Green

Review

“The author is a straightforward, even plain writer, but he also has an eye for detail, and gives those details in full measure about experiences for which there is an abiding, even devouring, curiosity among aviation buffs. They will enjoy.” (Booklist )

“Dave Baranek isn’t just an observer in this world; he has flown with and taught the best.” (Ed Ruggero, author of The First Men In )

“An engagingly written retrospective.” (Barrett Tillman, author of Victory and Clash of the Carriers )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing; 1st ed edition (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1616080051
• ISBN-13: 978-1616080051
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #325,699 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Is How It Really Was, June 21, 2010

By 

CAPT Spike Prendergast, USN (Ret.) (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Topgun Days: Dogfighting, Cheating Death, and Hollywood Glory as One of America's Best Fighter Jocks (Hardcover)

I enjoyed this book and thought it was exceptional. The cover subtitle may be deceptive since the book is really an excellent six to seven year mini-biography of the author's long journey from being a brand new Naval Flight Officer ensign out of flight training, through transition training to become a Grumman F-14 Tomcat Radar Intercept Officer (RIO), through his first squadron tour and two deployments, to his time as a Topgun instructor. During his two years in Topgun, "Bio" worked hard to become a polished and highly respected instructor giving threat and tactics lectures, flight briefs and, of course, flying on regular training exercises. During the latter part of his tour he became involved, as many others at NAS Miramar did, in the filming of the major motion picture "Top Gun" and in making it the success it was. His behind the scenes descriptions about the filming of the movie and his helping make the actors dialogue more creditable is fascinating and informative. Additionally, his insider perspectives on the natural tension between "absolute reality and authenticity" and the often competing requirements of creating a compelling and commercially successful cinematic experience, and how the major active duty Navy pilots and RIOs assigned to the project were able to strike a balance and make credible compromises between fact and fiction are compelling and make for a greater understanding of the movie version.
First and foremost, however, "Bio's" narrative is an exceptionally un-affected and honest telling of the trials and tribulations of a "new guy" trying to learn all there is to know about flying the F-14, adapting and finding his place in squadron life, and the growing pains along the way. His narration of his time in Topgun describes the high professionalism and dedication of the instructors and yields a very humble description of his first "murder boards" and the work and long hours that went into the preparation for every lecture he gave and every flight on which he flew. In addition to his personal story, "Bio" includes numerous sidebars or "intel briefs" that explain in greater detail aspects of Naval aviation like aviator call signs, why there is a RIO in the F-14, Topgun's origin and mission, and simulating enemy aircraft and tactics in the air. These intel briefs help the reader understand the story and the environment the author populated.
Anyone wanting a genuine and honest peek at Naval aviation and the effort required to get there and excel will find "Bio's" book a must read pick for the 2010 summer reading list.

CAPT Spike Prendergast, USN (Ret)

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The 'Real Deal', May 25, 2010

By 

Russell S. Novak Jr. - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Topgun Days: Dogfighting, Cheating Death, and Hollywood Glory as One of America's Best Fighter Jocks (Hardcover)

'Bio's' exeptional narrative style really puts you in the cockpit and tells it like it must have been back in the Topgun glory days. I've never seen a clearer, easy-to-understand description of carrier flight operations. This is a must-read for anyone who is interested in behind-the-scenes insights into the making of the Topgun movie, and should be required reading for future and aspiring naval aviators. The book's photos themslves are worth the purchase price! Great read!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great peek into the life of a fighter jock., January 2, 2011

By 

Matthew A. Snyder "tifosi77" (San Pedro, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Topgun Days: Dogfighting, Cheating Death, and Hollywood Glory as One of America's Best Fighter Jocks (Hardcover)

Bio's book - "Top Gun Days" is a great read that offers a seldom-seen perspective into the world of Naval Aviation; that of the Radar Intercept Officer. RIOs in the Tomcat community were every bit as important as the guy in the front seat, and Bio's accessible yet engaging style of writing gives you a clear picture of what it meant to be shot off the end of a really big boat and yet not have any direct control over whether or not you made it back aboard in one piece.

RIOs finally get there due!

Any Naval Aviation enthusiast would welcome "Top Gun Days" to their bookshelf.