"Hit the brakes, he'll fly right by!" - Behind the Scenes with the REAL A-4 Pilots of TOP GUN

In part 1 of this two part interview with the A-4 pilots that flew in the movie TOP GUN, they discuss how filming was set up over the desert and the infamous "hit the brakes" maneuver by the F-14. https://www.cwlemoine.com

Robert "Rat" Willard is a retired United States Navy admiral who last served as the 22nd Commander, U.S. Pacific Command from October 19, 2009 to March 9, 2012. He previously served as Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet from May 8, 2007, to September 25, 2009. Prior to that, he served as the 34th Vice Chief of Naval Operations from March 18, 2005, to April 2007. On March 9, 2012, Admiral Willard retired from the Navy after 39 years of service having flown the A-4, F-5, and F-14. On May 9, 2012, he was elected president and chief executive officer of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_F._Willard

Lynn "Secks" Seckinger is a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel. After TOPGUN, Secks went on to fly the F/A-18 and eventually commanded MAG-42 Detachment A at Cecil Field. He also co-authored the requirements document that resulted in the F/A-18E-F Super hornet. Secks also flew the A-4 , F-5, and F-4.

Willie "Tex" Spence is a retired United States Navy lieutenant commander. After TOPGUN, Tex accepted orders to VFA-87 flying the F/A-18 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt, followed by a stour at the Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic. Tex spent 27 years at American Airlines, retiring as a Captain on the Airbus 320 in 2019.

Terry "Circus" McGuire is a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel. After TOPGUN, Circus transitioned to the F/A-18 and flew it for four years. He later transitioned to the Marine Corps Reserve where he flew the F-5 with VMFT-401 for seven years. He also flew for Delta Airlines for two years and FedEx for twenty five years, retiring in 2018.