Evanna "Plague" Kazanksy, the daughter of Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, following in her father's footsteps was one of only a few United States Naval Aviators to be sent to TOPGUN.
Evanna, much like her father, flew with precision and accuracy. She flew wi...
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ᴀᴅᴍɪʀᴀʟ ᴛᴏᴍ "ɪᴄᴇᴍᴀɴ" ᴋᴀᴢᴀɴꜱᴋʏ
TOPGUN, a nickname for the tactical department of Fighter Squadron 21 created for the Navy's elite flying combat training school. The formal name of the training program is the Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program (SFTI).
It is part of one of 12 departments at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center, which is located at Naval Air Station Fallon in Nevada. The program is 13 weeks long, and it only accepts the top 1% of Navy pilots.
The program itself was created in the late 1960s out of necessity. Despite flying the most advanced fighter planes in the world, the Navy was sustaining unacceptable losses – both planes and crew – in Vietnam. It was determined that the aircrew needed additional training, and TOPGUN was born.
Initially, four aircrews arrived at Naval Station Miramar in San Diego every other month to learn and enhance their one-on-one aerial combat (dogfighting) skills to defeat Soviet jets in Vietnam. The program was only a few weeks long, and the aircrews were expected to share their training when they returned to their squadrons.
From then on, the top 1% of aviators were sent to TOPGUN to undergo training.
That is where Plague and Rooster found themselves early that morning.
Admiral Kazansky walked into the room giving a brief history of the program. "This group just so happens to be the top 1% of jet fighters in the nation." This inflated their egos. "That does not mean that you do not still having something to learn."
Iceman paced the front of the room making eye contact with each and every one in the room. "You will undergo 13 weeks of training exercises. Top Gun rules of engagement are written for your safety and for that of your team. They are not flexible, nor am I. Either obey them or you are history. Is that clear?" The room murmured a yes sir before he continued with his speech. "We will be finding, testing, and exceeding your limits. It will be brutal but you will come out acceptable in the end."
Bradley and Evanna side eyed each other before subtly fist bumping each other.
Hangman raised his hand. "Sir, what is the prize?"
Iceman raised an eyebrow at the man. "Is becoming a better aviator not enough of a prize, Lieutenant?" Hangman became a stuttering mess.
"Y-yes, sir." He struggled to find words. "I-I was merely suggesting the competition be made interesting." Plague and Phoenix made eye contact stifling their laughter behind a cough. Bradley's eyes twinkled in amusement.
