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Typically, only the top graduate from flight school gets to pick their jet. That's how I got Tomcats. The numbers 2-4 in my class ended up in an A-6 Intruder. I know a guy who was number 1, but picked the Harrier. That does not happen often, though.

My understanding about McCain was that he killed 4 airplanes, two in flight school, which should have washed him out, except that his father and grandfather were Admirals.

As for Chris Matthews, I cannot bear to watch that fool.

Sort of figured with your screen name that you were associated with VF-143. My information was that John McCain did in five aircraft in his Naval aviation career, but my source was my late Father. He was a contemporary of John McCain, he flew F-4Bs with VF-96 for two tours in Vietnam and was the skipper of VF-41 flying F-4Js in 1968/69 in the Med.

Outside of the "Top Gun" movie image (which to tell the truth all Naval Aviators love just for the PR) I think that Naval Aviation is the crown jewel of the United States Military, far better than the Air Force (in which I have a brother-in-law) but hey, I'm biased...

True story: My Father was at the premiere of 'Top Gun' at National Airport (DCA) in 1986 and briefly met Tom Cruise. At the mass reception after the movie my Father jokingly commented to Cruise "I could take your anytime." Tom Cruise replied "All you Naval Aviators say that!"

On another subject, what is your opinion about the F-14A/B/D vs the F-18F given the future retirement of the F-14 fleet? I see that VF-41 has been recast as VFA-41 since they switched from F-14As to the F-18F. Did Cheny as SecDEF make a big mistake having the F-14 tooling destroyed so the the Super Hornet would be the only future for Naval Aviation? Or is the F-14 just too old a bird to keep maintaining vs the F-18E/F?

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