[Dale Sorel]

For those who don't know, this guy was the model used for Tom Cruise's character in the movie Top Gun.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/....ap/index.html

The guy was a total ace in Vietnam. Too bad

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by Dale Sorel

For those who don't know, this guy was the model used for Tom Cruise's character in the movie Top Gun.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/11/....ap/index.html

The guy was a total ace in Vietnam. Too bad

I can't tell if those are tears of shame or joy. He just made 2.4 million bucks.

[olePigeon]

dp.

[Chuckit]

Originally Posted by olePigeon

I can't tell if those are tears of shame or joy. He just made 2.4 million bucks.

He actually just forfeited 2.4 million bucks in the plea agreement.

In his defense, though, he has yet to jump up and down on Oprah's couch.

[::maroma::]

Check your six! Direct hit! Mayday! Mayday! You're goin down!

[Stogieman]

I feel the need... the need for greed.

[ghporter]

How was this guy the "model" for the Cruise character in "Top Gun?" Yes, he was an ace in Vietnam, yes, he used an interesting manuver to get the advantage on an aerial adversary, but how did that wind up making him "Pete Mitchell?" (Hint: the Navy has a history of "sudden deceleration" manuvers-the speed brakes on the F4F Corsair in WWII were particularly useful in evading Zeros and putting them in the Corsair pilot's crosshairs.)

[Demonhood]

good thing Goose isn't alive to see this.

[alligator]

I hated Iceman. Maybe this was that guy.

[BRussell]

Originally Posted by alligator

I hated Iceman. Maybe this was that guy.

No, Iceman died in 1971.

[JoshuaZ]

Topgun is so gay.

[chabig]

Originally Posted by Dale Sorel

For those who don't know, this guy was the model used for Tom Cruise's character in the movie Top Gun.

I don't think that's right. That was simply a fictional movie, not based on any real person.

[SpaceMonkey]

Originally Posted by chabig

I don't think that's right. That was simply a fictional movie, not based on any real person.

You obviously missed the second beach volleyball scene (too hot for theaters) in the Ultra Director's Cut in which Maverick accepts a bribe from Iceman, purposefully throws the game, and is then torn between Goose's homoerotic gaze of hate and Iceman's homoerotic gaze of longing.

[Dale Sorel]

Originally Posted by chabig

I don't think that's right. That was simply a fictional movie, not based on any real person.

From the article:

Cunningham, 63, a former Navy fighter pilot who shot down five MIGs during the Vietnam War and was a role model for Tom Cruise in the movie "Top Gun"...

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0623-04.htm

[jcadam]

And I thought taking bribes (money, sexual services, etc.) from lobbyists was one of the perks of being a congressman.

P.S. Presidents get to bang Marilyn Monroe and/or their 19-year old interns.

[::maroma::]

Originally Posted by jcadam

And I thought taking bribes (money, sexual services, etc.) from lobbyists was one of the perks of being a congressman.

P.S. Presidents get to bang Marilyn Monroe and/or their 19-year old interns.

That's because they're the President, not some dime-a-dozen lame ass Congressman.

[chabig]

An LA Times article is not authoritative when it comes to determining whether Cunningham was a role model for Top Gun or not.

Chris

[rozwado1]

Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham says he now knows "great shame" after pleading guilty Monday.

[as2]

Originally Posted by JoshuaZ

Topgun is so gay.

HOW DARE YOU!

[Dale Sorel]

Originally Posted by chabig

An LA Times article is not authoritative when it comes to determining whether Cunningham was a role model for Top Gun or not.

Whatever They said the same thing on one of those Wings shows.

Anyway, here a cool website depicting some of Cunningham's tremendous accomplishments from earlier in his life: http://www.acepilots.com/vietnam/cunningham.html

Once again, he met the MiG-17 head-on, this time with an offset so he couldn’t fire his guns. As he pulled up vertically he could again see his determined adversary a few yards away. Still gambling, Cunningham tried one more thing. He yanked the throttles back to idle and popped the speed brakes, in a desperate attempt to drop behind the MiG. But, in doing so, he had thrown away the Phantom's advantage, its superior climbing ability. And if he stalled out ...

The MiG shot out in front of Cunningham for the first time, the Phantom’s nose was 60 degrees above the horizon with airspeed down to 150 knots. He had to go to full burner to hold his position. The surprised enemy pilot attempted to roll up on his back above him. Using only rudder to avoid stalling the F-4, he rolled to the MiG’s blind side. He tried to reverse his roll, but as his wings banked sharply, he briefly stalled the aircraft and his nose fell through. Behind the MiG, but still too close for a shot. "This is no place to be with a MiG-17," he thought, "at 150 knots... this slow, he can take it right away from you."

Now the MiG tried to disengage; he pitched over the top and started straight down. Cunningham pulled hard over, followed, and maneuvered to obtain a firing position. With the distracting heat of the ground, Cunningham wasn't sure that a Sidewinder would home in on the MiG, but he called "Fox Two," and squeezed one off. The missile came off the rail and flew right at the MiG. He saw little flashes off the MiG, and thought he had missed. As he started to fire his last Sidewinder, there was an abrupt burst of flame. Black smoke erupted from the Fresco. It didn’t seem to go out of control; the fighter just kept slanting down, smashing into the ground at about 45 degrees angle.

Reads like it came straight out of the movie to me

[DigitalEl]

<nelson voice> HA-HA!