U.S. NAVY AIR POWER AT SEA F-14 TOMCAT TOP GUN DOCUMENTARY 81214

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Made in the 1980s, AIR POWER AT SEA may have been the movie that inspired "Top Gun". Narrated by Cliff Robertson and featuring the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, the film shows F-14 Tomcats, A-7 Corsairs, A-6 Intruder, S3 Viking, Sea King helicopters, and E2C Hawkeye and EA-6B Prowlers and other aircraft operating at sea. Guided missile cruisers, guided missile destroyers, and submarines are also shown in the task force.
Created by Grumman Aerospace Corp. in the 1980s, "Air Power at Sea" profiles the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing Eight. For many years this was the central film shown at the USS Intrepid Air Sea Space Museum in New York City, and it remains an enduring portrait of carrier-based air support and the lives of U.S. Navy personnel. The film was shot during Carrier Refresher Training in 1982, prior to the Nimitz departing for operations off the coast of Lebanon in support of a multi-national force deployed there. One fun side note, is that this same carrier and air wing, with much the same aircraft, are seen in the film "The Final Countdown" made in 1980. That film did not however feature the narrator of this film, the venerable actor and accomplished pilot Cliff Robertson. (Also note, some people have speculated that this film helped inspire 1986's Top Gun starring Tom Cruise.)
At the 14 minute mark, various drills are seen including a barrier arrest, rapid arming of aircraft under simulated combat conditions, and more.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@richardgeorge3136]

I was onboard Nimitz while this was being filmed. Jet engine mechanic with Fighter Squadron VF-41 the Black Aces ♠️ I recognized some of my old shipmates. Fly Navy.

[@Pwj579]

Grumman definitely ponied up to be part of the production of "The Final Countdown" in 1979. Not surprised they re-used the film's awesome score to highlight the then Modern Nuclear Carrier Battle Group and Air Wing, it was a perfect match. I've never seen this, but it's a lot of the alternative shots that did not make it into the final film, including the @2:20 to @2:49 the long continuous shot of the USS Nimitz from Stern to Bow during UnRep. Favorite part is @9:47 when they utilize the section of the score when the Air Wing strike group reappears in 1980 after going back through the time storm and successfully trap. Great track by Mr. John Scott. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS GEM!!! Love @PeriscopeFilm.

[@rogermahajan7586]

According to Jerry Bruckheimer himself, he say a picture of F-14A doing a hard bank left on a magazine cover in 1982 and he was blown away by the picture and inspired him to dream of a fighter based movie. The movie ended up being "Top Gun"

[@GoSlash27]

The man who took the picture was CJ "Heater" Heatley. Avid aviation photographer and a helluva fighter pilot. He was the CO of VF-21 "Freelancers" aboard the Independence when I was in.

[@MrMountainMan]

@@GoSlash27 There's a great book with his photographs named, 'The Cutting Edge.' What are getting harder to find are some of his prints.

[@benjaminperez7328]

Incorrect. It was NOT the cover story. Watch this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6rafIyri7GpZsU

[@Jeffei-qs7kp]

Who the he'll is Jerry Bruckheimer himself?

[@1930Granada]

​@@GoSlash27Heater's still around, but unfortunately he's battling cancer

[@oipr80]

At 10:57 splash the Zero 😹 The final countdown was a great film for its time, this documentary is gold!

[@luistpuig]

I used to sneak out of classes in West New York in New Jersey, just across the river from New York City back in 1985, to go to the Intrepid museum and watch this documentary again and again... and again. This is when I felt in love with the US Navy, and joined it a few years later... one of best decision I ever made in my life...

[@fsantiago5957]

I used to call in sick from work, just to spend a day at CV 11. The video was the highlight. Circa: 1982-1989. 1989, I got married. 😃

[@TowGunner]

I visited the Intrepid in 1982 when it first opened. I distinctly remember watching this awesome video on board and getting goosebumps listening to the music. The huge Jolly Roger’s on the Tomcat is/was badass.

[@whatgoesaroundcomesaround1376]

The 1981-'82 USS Nimitz Med cruise was my final cruise. I was an AQ (Aviation Fire Control Technician) with VA-82. Good times!

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Thanks for your service to our great nation.

[@Benjimac379]

Thank you for your service very much! 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@wxchaserz1434]

I was a yellow shirt on the roof, 2000 - 2004.

[@hiigara2085]

It's so cool we have so many Nimitz documentaries over the years. Here she is with tomcats and then theres videos like her drydocked for a year or ones where now she has F-18 and F-35!

[@live4life767]

Anyone remember the intro music? The movie “The Final Countdown” is a 1980 American science fiction war film about a modern nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that travels through time to the day before the December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor. Produced by Peter Douglas and Lloyd Kaufman and directed by Don Taylor, the film contains an ensemble cast starring Kirk Douglas, Martin Sheen, James Farentino, Katharine Ross and Charles Durning. This was the final film by Don Taylor. Kaufman also served as an associate producer and had a minor acting role. The film was produced with the cooperation of the United States Navy's naval aviation branch and the United States Department of Defense. It was set and filmed on board USS Nimitz, filming operations of the modern nuclear warship, which had been launched in the early 1970s. This is one of my childhood into to the navy, aircraft carriers & jet planes! A few years later my uncle took my to New York City to go on the decommissioned aircraft carrier museum “The Intrepid” wow I was as happy as a pig in mud!

[@R281]

Yes, I wonder if it was filmed at the same time.

[@Mob1us0ne]

Also the music itself is from The Final Countdown

[@systemadminsavannah]

Thinking the same thing!

[@HEROSMUSIC1]

OLD,GOLDEN,COLOURFUL DAYS OF NAVY WITH THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FIGHTER AIRCRAFT EVER BUILT;THE F-14 TOMCAT.MISS OLD GOOD DAYS OF 1980'S,AND 1990'S OF US NAVY.

[@kevinmccorkle7476]

1981, USS Nimitz, VF-41, & the Gulf of Sidra. "Anytime Baby"!

[@phx4closureman]

4:31 *sailor climbing under that S-3 Viking has got BALLS OF STEEL*

[@gzftomcat]

I believe this documentary used to run on the Intrepid museum in NYC. And it did not inspire the movie Top Gun. A magazine article inspired it, it's right in the closing credits of the movie.

[@TowGunner]

It absolutely did run on the Intrepid. I remember it like it was yesterday (1982)

[@EmilVelasco]

If I remember correctly, this was being shown on the Intrepid before her renovation back in 2006. There was a big screen on near the front of the carrier, below decks. Glad I found it.

[@gzftomcat]

Yup, I just commented about this. I remember it well from the Intrepid.

[@MorePlanes]

Yes and I've been looking for a copy of it for almost that long! Summer of 1982 was my first visit to Intrepid.

[@phx4closureman]

13:01 *MAJOR AUDIO SNAFU/mismatch* starts at 12:04

[@simflier8298]

Love it! Lots of Final Countdown movie footage

[@mridulsingal1233]

ɷɷ I Haveeee Watchedddd Thissss Movieee Leakeddd Version Hereeee : - t.co/RlKbv1hghK

[@B1900pilot]

The most exciting, challenging, rewarding, swashbuckling adventure of my life was on a United States Navy warship.

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Thanks for your service to our great nation.

[@ryankc3631]

I concur.

[@wxchaserz1434]

Ah, the Nimitz. I called her home from 2000 - 2004, Air V-1.

[@HighRail62]

Final Countdown Music always did quicken the pulse! :) BM-3 USS Nimitz CVN-68 1981-1985

[@wxchaserz1434]

ABH3, Air V-1, 2000 - 2004.

[@georgeb424]

1986-1990 USS NIMITZ Eng. Dept./Aux. Div. (A-GANG!)/Aircraft Elevators! Miss those days getting to work on the flight deck!

[@allgood6760]

Awesome!... I saw Top Gun 2 the other day... Tom Cruise has not lost his cool and neither has the F14👍

[@favioalex]

miss the F14 in the fleet

[@benjaminperez7328]

Everyone does. Except the maintainers!!!! 😉

[@AffinitiYacht]

Brings back lots of memories as Flight Deck Medical Charge. Plank Owner Nimitz 1974-1976

[@wxchaserz1434]

Yellow shirt, Air V-1, 2000 - 2004.

[@AlfieGoodrich]

Nice choice of music! Final Countdown.

[@phx4closureman]

9:14 *THERE YA GO!!!!!!*

[@edgeflyer1]

Great, thumbs up :-)

[@AvengerII]

Heh... This film even uses The Final Countdown theme! Those look like the F-14 squadrons that were in the film as well as the Nimitz herself!

[@Mark36912]

knew it sounded familiar

[@WolfpackOne]

They were

[@HabitualButtonPusher]

Sounds like Cliff Roberts is the narrator. Nice seeing all the extra b roll footage not used in the film and repurposed for this.

[@Kgio-2112]

Maybe the final countdown inspired the movie top gun...

[@rhudoc3745]

1978 - 1981 CIC/NTDS/CATCC BOHICA (endearing term now : ) Did notice the opening music is theme from "The Final Countdown" movie

[@wxchaserz1434]

Air V-1, 2000 - 2004.

[@RightCenterBack321]

Is anyone aware of a different documentary that was shot aboard Nimitz during the 1982 - '83 timeframe?

[@thurbine2411]

Why does the same audio from the start replay at the end when they are doing case III?

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

Aide to the president '...Sir We have a Problem...', Joint Chiefs 'Where are the Carriers?'.

[@benjaminperez7328]

“Where’s the NEAREST carrier?”

[@Benjimac379]

Looks like these are scenes from the Final Countdown

[@sandmancz4756]

What was first? The Final Countdown movie used this footage, or this footage used shots from Final Countdown movie?

[@gzftomcat]

The latter. And the music is from the Final Countdown.

[@sandmancz4756]

@@gzftomcat Thank you. So movie was first and this documentary was made after the movie. Ok :-)

[@heymanchan9007]

The sound at the near 13min mark start to feel strange

[@AvgeekJoe]

I agree

[@ALSNewsNow]

NO!!! TOP GUN was inspired by a simple magazine article. You can read the directors of the movie themselves say that on the video series the making of top gun"!!!

[@charletonzimmerman4205]

No "TOP Gun" was Inspired by, Final count-down, film crew, filmed action scenes, on Nimitz& John F. Kennedy. went to sea, with my ship, 1980 CV-67

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Thanks for your service to our great nation.

[@yesitsvish]

top gun was actually inspired to an article in time magazine.

[@stevencranford7143]

VA-86 Sidewinders

[@jaehyunekim9341]

the voice that narrated this video must had been actor Jack Ging's

[@jaehyunekim9341]

I thought it was Hal Holbrook because he starred VietNam war TV movie "When The Hell Was in Session".

[@ilttpvvm]

Actually, the narrator is Cliff Robertson.

[@MrMountainMan]

Is the sound messed up at 12:55?

[@PeriscopeFilm]

Probably audio blocked by KZbin copyright police.

[@thetreblerebel]

The F14s computer system was beyond obsolete by 1985. In 1973 it was State of the art

[@Pwj579]

Which is why the F-14D was developed.

[@jb1934]

In general, I really love the dichotomy between the heights of analog technology (20 tons of aircraft packing 20 tons of thrust landing on 90,000 tons of steam and nuclear powered steel) and the primitive nature of the early digital technology. It's a marvellous combination, and no wonder that no other country of that era ever came close to the same achievements. Can't get enough of these old documentaries.

[@j.wagner8639]

2022: shame on you Navy

[@znazification]

It's a quadruple failure, by my seat the attempt has passed even the last option. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🪐