Topgun: An American Story

The 1986 blockbuster Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise as a hotshot U.S. Navy fighter pilot, was so popular that recruiters set up desks in theaters to attract the next generation of combat aviators. This is the time to publish the real story of the actual risk takers, disruptors, and innovators who revolutionized the art of aerial combat and created the center for excellence and incubator of leadership that thrives to this day.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 16 May 2019
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

With the immense global success of the film bearing the same name, Top Gun etched its name into the hearts of households worldwide. The 1986 blockbuster, featuring Tom Cruise as a skilled U.S. Navy fighter pilot, achieved unprecedented popularity, raking in a staggering $356 million worldwide. The film's immense appeal even prompted recruiters to set up desks in theaters, eagerly seeking to attract the next generation of combat aviators. Much like how The Right Stuff revolutionized the realm of astronauts, Top Gun had a profound impact on Navy pilots.

As we approach the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the real-life TOPGUN, as the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons program was known, in 2019, and with the upcoming sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, slated to shoot next year, it is an opportune moment to present the untold story of the courageous risk-takers, disruptors, and innovators who revolutionized the art of aerial combat and established the renowned center of excellence and incubator of leadership that continues to thrive today.

Here, we delve into the inside story of TOPGUN, told by the man who was chosen to lead it at its inception, navigating the transition from war to peace and back to war again, both on and off the flight line, and across six decades. While Pedersen played a significant role in the early stages, many other remarkable pilots carried forward the legacy, and he is eager to pay tribute to them, ensuring that the book becomes a celebration of the entire TOPGUN community.

This captivating tale is replete with intriguing characters and a rich history that deserves to be recognized by the American public. It is a story that resonates with bravery, innovation, and the indomitable spirit of those who have shaped the course of aviation.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 164 x 238 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780316416269