Photo By Courtney Pollock | NAVAL STATION ROTA, Spain (May 27, 2022) – Community members pose for photo with the...... read more read more
The original 1986 Top Gun was the movie that catapulted naval aviation into everyday pop culture for many Americans. The movie had fast jets, naval officers in their dress whites, and most importantly, comradery and friendship.
Thirty-six years later and Tom Cruise’s Maverick is again touching down with the returned of the highly anticipated sequel, Top Gun: Maverick. Naval Station (NAVSTA) Rota community has been buzzing in anticipation for the past few weeks for this release and over 300 community members came out to enjoy premiere at the installation’s drive-in theater, May 27, 2022.
One of the excited community members was NAVSTA Rota Commanding Officer, Capt. David Baird, who has eagerly awaited Top Gun: Maverick since rumors of the sequel originally took flight.
“I remember watching the original Top Gun on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, not far from Kitty Hawk where the Wright Brothers first flight took place,” he said during remarks prior to the premiere. “It was because of this movie that I felt the need for speed and set my sights on becoming a naval aviator.”
Baird was not alone in that the movie inspired many young Americans to consider a career in naval aviation. He was able to make that dream a reality when he attended the Naval Academy and later flight school to become an F/A-18 Super Hornet pilot. During his naval career, he served with numerous squadrons, was the commanding officer of the storied Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195 “Dambusters,” and attended Navy Fighter Weapon’s school, more affectionately known as TOPGUN School by the naval aviators.
The drive-in parking opened two hours prior to the movie’s show time. Rota Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) had several activities and live music to keep community members busy. There were bouncy houses, a photo spot with flight suits, and a paper airplane challenge.
In the paper airplane challenge, contestants would create their best paper airplane and then test its performance through accuracy, distance, and landing on a carrier. There were plenty of laughs and design modifications throughout the evening.
As the show time neared, there was the playing of the Spanish and American national anthems, presentation of the winners for both the paper airplane challenge and Toro Cup command competition (held in the weeks prior), and a short video highlighting the mission and operations of NAVSTA Rota.
As Baird began the countdown for the start of Top Gun: Maverick, community members were treated to a flyover by a Harrier aircraft from the Spanish Navy. Then the opening notes of Top Gun: Maverick hit the big screen and community members climbed into their vehicles or camp chairs to view the newest Top Gun movie.
“The original Top Gun was what catapulted me into naval aviation and now as my time within the Navy comes to a close, it seems fitting that I was able to watch the new movie with fellow aviators and community members on an overseas Navy base,” said Baird. “Top Gun: Maverick was an awesome sequel highlighting the professionalism, diversity, and talents of our naval aviators.”
While Maverick and Baird’s naval aviation story ends here, hopes soar high that Top Gun: Maverick will invigorate and energize a new generation of Americans to start careers in the Navy and write their own chapters in the naval aviation storybook.
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 06.07.2022 15:08 |
| Story ID: | 422334 |
| Location: | ROTA, ES |
| Web Views: | 1,290 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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