“balls to the wall”
First time I heard that expression it was a Navy guy saying it.
And he wasn’t a pilot.
"Balls to the wall" is a far older phrase than the age of flight. . . especially WWII Multi-engine bomber throttle planes. It comes from rowing and the order for speed to the oarsmen to put out maximum effort. So your sailor may be closer than aviation.
Another proposed derivation comes from steam engines. The governor on was a double set of spinning balls on a rotating valve that closed down the amount of steam as centrifugal force spun the balls faster and faster I.E. closer to the wall...
Finally, the term is said to derive from baseball. . . with the coach telling hitters to send their "balls to the wall" I.E., the out field wall, or fence.
All three of these make more sense than the bomber derivation as the phrase predates WWII. . . and the best and most efficient flying speed would