Topgun Days cover art

Topgun Days

Dogfighting, Cheating Death, and Hollywood Glory as One of America's Best Fighter Jocks

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Topgun Days

By: Dave "Bio" Baranek
Narrated by: Jeremy Arthur
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About this listen

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' 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 audiobook ends with his reflections on his career as a skilled naval aviator and his enduring love of flight.

©2010 David Baranek (P)2012 Audible, Inc. Air Forces Armed Forces Military Military & War Aviation Biography War Military Fiction

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Editor reviews

Topgun Days: Dogfighting, Cheating Death, and Hollywood Glory as One of America's Best Fighter Jocks is a focused description of one man’s exhaustive climb to the pinnacle of his career as fighter pilot. This autobiography by Dave Baranek will prove enjoyable to those generally interested in military life as well as those who wish to live vicariously through an expert fighter pilot. Baranek explains the patience and discipline required to ascend the fighter pilot career ladder. He segues into his life as role model for Hollywood’s glamorized version of topguns. Assigned to create action footage for the Tom Cruise vehicle Top Gun, Baranek himself briefly becomes a pop phenomenon. Baranek’s pride and sincerity can be heard in narrator Jeremy Arthur’s entertaining recital.
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A must listen for anyone interested in aviation or anyone who is interested in Topgun. One if the most exciting books I've listened too.

Brilliant

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bio has some great tales and some great insight into the world of naval aviation.
not too heavy in the technical stuff but enough to keep enthusiasts interested

great stories from the back seat

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Really enjoyed listening to this on my commute. A few military terms pronounced slightly differently to how I’d expect them to be, but otherwise a decent narration.

Thoroughly recommended.

Great story - a must for any Top Gun fan

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The book describes the days of a Radar Intercept Officer in an F-14. the RIO is the author, David Baranek. the story is written and narrated very well, it takes you back to a laid-back 80's era. i strongly recommend this audio book, or the printed book to any aviation enthousiast!

Great book about the real topgun in the '80s

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If you enjoy US Navy aviation, this is a thoroughly good read. The author leaves you in no doubt as what the process of going through Topgun is like.

A thoroughly good read.

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I found it really interesting, good level of detail.
Looked on his website for some of his photos - they're really good for setting the scenes.

I feel the need, the need to go and watch the Top Gun movie again now (for about the zillionth time)...

Loved it!

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What a great listen! If you are a Top Gun fan, this is the best book. A real great insight in to the real life of a Topgun instructor and F14 REO!
Also, the description and insight from an Aviators perspective on the filming of Top Gun is great. Really interesting facts.

Amazing!!

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An interesting insight into the reality of life as a TOPGUN instructor. Not quite as glamorous as the films but still pretty cool from where I am standing.

Hollywood v reality

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So #TopgunDays by Dave "Bio" Baranek. So you want to know what it's like to fly the F-14 and play with the boys? Then this book is right up your street. Just as action-packed as #TopGun the quality of writing is matched only by the fighter jet on afterburn. 📚5/5🌟 #BookReview

Awesome as playing with the boys

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sorry to say that there was too much own trumpet blowing right from the start.

didn't even finish the intro

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