Unique, Exciting Warbird Experience

We ran into one of our good friends, Bruce Moore, from North American Top Gun the other day while refueling our Cirrus G3 Turbo at Palatka, FL, (possibly the cheapest 100LL in the state, BTW -- and a VERY cool little airport) and got updated on the latest and greatest in the NATG universe. NATG offers one of the most exciting of the "Air Combat" programs available these days in that they conduct their program in real live Texans of the SNJ/At-6 persuasion.

Tell me you haven't wondered what it was like to be a fighter pilot during the romantic days of World War Two? Or what it felt like to do a loop or roll, or to engage in a high "G" combat maneuvers? We can tell you, personally, that the North American Top Gun program is one of the best we've flown and that it comes with our most sincere recommendation.

Well, NATG makes it possible to find out... and while sitting behind one of the most extraordinary radial engines ever built. Over the last seventeen years North American TopGun has put over 47,000 people in the cockpits of their high performance military Warbirds and given them the experience of a lifetime. With a skilled instructor pilot to show you the way, you can take the controls of a World War II Texan and fly like the aces of yesteryear. You can get an introductory flight lesson, indulge in graceful Warbird aerobatics or just bask in nostalgia on a leisurely sightseeing trip. The choices are all yours. TopGun operates the Navy SNJ and Air Force AT-6. For five months of the year these authentic World War II planes are on tour.

NATG notes that, "Sixty-five years ago these airplanes were equipped with machine guns, bomb racks and tail-hooks. Young men sat in these cockpits, held these joysticks… and went off to war. North American TopGun is dedicated to preserving the history and romance of World War II aviation and will be sharing that experience with over 1,000 lucky people this year. Today the machine guns and bomb racks are gone, replaced by three camera video systems to preserve new memories."

Who Can Fly?

TopGun's customers have ranged from 5 years old to over 90. These big Warbirds have large roomy cockpits with slide-open canopies that can easily accommodate people up to 6' 8" or 300 lbs. TopGun pilots talk to each customer to find out what their flying experience is (most are non-pilots and have never been at the controls of an airplane before) and this way they can custom tailor each flight to the individual. TopGun has flown World War II veterans looking to relive the experiences of their youth, airline and corporate pilots looking to increase their safety skills, people who come in wheel chairs, thrill-seekers looking for the world's ultimate roller coaster, kids and grandmas (and they even have a contract with the US Naval Test Pilot School to train Navy fighter pilots).

All TopGun pilots are certified flight instructors and all the planes are equipped with dual controls so that you (yes, you) can fly the plane…

FMI: www.natg.com