Motorbooks International Top Gun: 50 Years of Naval Air Superiority

This book does not have large colourful pictures of the aggressor aircraft used today, nor at the time the first Top Gun movie was made; very little to inspire a modeller to make a more accurate airplane model.-- The larger photos are black/white historic photos of the ww1, ww2, and Vietnam war era aircraft used by aces, and a history of why the Top Gun training program was necessary to create more aces quickly, with fewer casualties, to fulfil the navy's future needs for Ace Pilots.

Had expected a genuine, historical account of the US Navy's Fighter Weapons School. However, the first warning sign of this being little more than an attempt to cash in on the release of Top Gun Maverick came on the first page where the author referred to Maverick's aircraft as an 'F18 Tomcat' rather than a Super Hornet. Pretty important typo to have missed. From there, the book went downhill for me. I got fooled by the great looking front cover. Nothing to do with the US Navy's fighter weapons school. Left me quite disappointed.

Very nice book as far as print quality, presentation and photos. However, there is far too much general military aviation content in comparison to naval aviation. Considering the book is called Top Gun : 50 years of Naval Air Superiority, I expected a lot more naval content overall. The book gives some nice information on a few of the early naval fighter aircraft, but hardly mentions the F14, F18 or F35's role in maintaining the U.S. Navy's air superiority. More than half of the book deals with aviation history prior to the Top Gun program. Less than half of it is on the 50 years of air superiority that the title seems to be referring to. As mentioned in some of the other reviews, several major typos also take away from the book. Several references to the 'F18 Tomcat' will be annoying to those that know that it's incorrect, confusing to those that are somewhat knowledgeable and just plain wrong information to those who are just learning about naval aircraft.I did enjoy the book, but it feels like it is missing several chapters post Top Gun school. Author needs to add some chapters or change the title, although I'm not sure what would be a better title.

If you are looking for information on the real Top Gun I.e. USNFWS, this book is not for you. It has some info on the movie, tidbits about US Navy kills in the Vietnam War.

Nice book. Very professional looking.If you think it's all about the movie top gun then be forwarned, it's about the history of the top gun program and aviation. Great book to have it you like the world of aviation and fighter pilot school.