In this thrilling episode of the Hazard Class Podcast, Jake sits down with retired U.S. Navy Commander Tom “Pager” Page, a real-life Top Gun pilot and instructor. Pager shares his incredible journey through the skies—from his early inspirations to the intense world of aerial combat training and a near-death carrier landing in the Indian Ocean. The conversation dives deep into UFOs, Top Gun culture, carrier landings, call signs, and how Hollywood stacks up against reality.
Segment Breakdown & Timestamps
00:00 – 01:06 | Intro & Guest Introduction
Jake introduces the episode and guest, retired Top Gun pilot Tom “Pager” Page.
01:07 – 03:40 | The Wheel of Stupid Questions: UFOs & UAPs
Discussion of alien sightings, UAPs, and drone threats in modern aviation.
“We're not the smartest thing out there in the universe.” – Pager
03:41 – 06:10 | Becoming a Fighter Pilot: Dreams and the Naval Academy
How a childhood dream and a timely football game led Pager to the Navy.
06:11 – 09:17 | Flight School and Jet Selection
The intense training path from prop planes to F-14 Tomcats.
09:18 – 12:04 | Flying the F-14: Power, Limits, and Precision
Pager explains the leaps in aircraft complexity and the importance of pushing the envelope.
12:05 – 14:19 | Turbulence, Formation Flying, and Control Sensitivity
What it’s really like flying in close formation and how fighter jets handle turbulence.
“Let go of the stick... rock solid. It’s called pilot-induced oscillation.”
14:20 – 16:21 | Formation Flying Techniques and Trim
Insights into throttle and stick control when flying tight formations.
16:22 – 21:05 | Carrier Landings 101
An in-depth look at how pilots practice and execute carrier landings with the help of LSOs.
21:06 – 34:05 | The 1989 Barricade Landing Story
A harrowing tale of a low-fuel night landing in rough seas that required a rare barricade catch.
“They drained the remaining fuel... we had 90 seconds of flying time left.”
34:06 – 37:06 | Life After That Night: Returning to Top Gun
Pager’s career path post-incident, and how he got “Pager” as his call sign.
37:07 – 41:00 | Top Gun: The Movie vs. Real Life
How accurate were Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick? Very, it turns out.
41:01 – 44:20 | Why Fighter Jets Feel So American
What makes jets and the Top Gun legacy resonate so deeply in American culture.
44:21 – 47:02 | Carrier Life & Final Reflections
Pager honors the young crew members who keep jets flying and reflects on his final launch.
Key Quotes
“Train like you fight, fight like you train.”
“You hit the number... they had to barricade us.”
“You don’t really know how you’re going to react until stuff hits the fan.”
“Fighter squadrons are basically... we’re all just big kids.”
“If you get pissed off at a call sign, it’s going to stick—game over.”
Resources & Mentions
Naval Academy – https://www.usna.edu
Top Gun School – https://www.navy.com/what-to-expect/naval-aviation
F-14 Tomcat History – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F-14_Tomcat
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