The 1986 movie Top Gun is about an elite training program for the US Navy's best fighter pilots. It was inspired by an actual school maintained by the Navy. As that movie is one of the most iconic of the 80s, students at the school are, of course, familiar with it. But they know better than to mention or quote it. Doing so results in a $5 fine.
Why? Former TOPGUN instructor Commander Guy Snodgrass explains in his new book about the school that everything about the school is serious. There's no time to make jokes. Business Insider reports on Snodgrass's book:
"But," Snodgrass explained, "when you get to TOPGUN, because it is such a professional organization and you want to emphasize that you are at the top of your game, that it's about professionalism, about good leadership, you don't turn TOPGUN into a joke by referencing the movie."
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"So, it is a part of our bylaws that if someone overtly references the movie — it could be a direct quote, it could be something that is really close to a direct quote — that's an automatic $5 fine. And it's enforced. And you are expected to pay right then. You pull out your wallet and pay the $5," Snodgrass said.
Old habits die hard though. "I think at some point we were all fined because it's so ingrained in our aviation culture," he told Insider.
-via Geek Tyrant | Image: Paramount
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Could not believe Snodgrass was a legitmate name until I looked it up. My Mom was nee Hoare, pronouced just like whore. It means white, as in hoare frost. Gotta admit, Snodgrass sounded made up!
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I don't care if they charge me 5 dollars or not - I'm still going to say You Can Be My Wingman Anytime.
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