F-14 Top Gun Pilot Mike Rabens

[trojanalum]

It was an honor to work on the Tomcat as a maintainer because of pilots like Mike Rabens. We worked hard and played even harder. At my time stationed with him as LCDR. Rabens, a classy "Naval Officer and Pilot", that always too the time to thank us maintainers for all we did.

[KLRGTKR]

What an incredible seminar. Loved every minute of it. "With the upgraded F-14D, I could go up against any fighter out today maybe except the JSF because of the weapon systems". F-14 is the greatest fighter made, in my opinion.

[woooster]

Outstanding career, outstanding gentlemen.. thank you for bringing us these excellent videos. All the best from the UK

[humanerror]

Tomcat 21..Damn that would of been nice to see!! Got to see the last performance of the tomcat at Dayton international a long time ago. When it flew straight up, slow rolling with the afterburners lit, the ground vibrated under me and it sounded like I had a tuba in each ear..It was a religious experience, will never forget it.#F14ANYTIMEBABY

[hueycobra]

Thank You 🙏 Mike For Your Service to Our Country in the U.S. NAVY as a F-14 Tomcat Pilot 👨‍✈️

[Nakedguy]

Could listen to these stories about the f-14 forever great job

[marbleman]

I was in the Naval air squadron VAQ-33, an Electronics Counter-Measures outfit home based at N.A.S. Norfolk, Va., from 71-75. We were at Miramar for exercises and I was out at the fuel pits waiting for our birds to come back and get hot re-fueled before taxiing to their parking spots. I saw the first operational F-14's arrive. They came in so slow, with wings at full forward sweep, touching down oh so lightly, and turned off the main runway in an incredibly short distance...far less than a football field length...50-60 yards...?? Whatever it actually was, it was amazing to watch..!! I always loved the F-14..!!

[taofledermaus]

Fantastic video! I bet he has some great stories he couldn't share with a mixed audience!

[meg]

Excellent, I learned a lot. I was one of those people thinking the F14 was worn out and suffering corrosion issues etc. Glad I found out different.

[jamesprice]

as i left Miramar n VF-114 in 1982 you came onboard! never forget it either!

[rifletwist]

It seems like the A-10 and F-14 are aircraft we need to either keep or to build brand new with upgrades.

[stephenhoda]

Wow Mike! I grew up a couple of miles south of Grumman, in Farmingdale, L.I. My dad worked for Grumman and Republic, til no longer feasible, so he became a building contractor. I pumped gas as a 13 year old thru high school, for flight time at KFRG, working for Flight Safety, Inc. I dreamed of becoming a Naval Aviator. Unfortunately, while in 7th grade, I found out I was color blind, w 20-30 vision. Not U.S. Navy Aviation Material. So I became an engineer, specializing in power generating plants and stations. The joy of you, sharing your experiences w others, not as fortunate to be you, is so greatly appreciated by me. As an engineer, your presentation was really well done, just love hearing you speak. Really glad at least one of us was lucky. your presentation is entertaining for everybody. I'm gonna watch this over and over. (No, I'm not a stalker) Just wish I could find a good F-14 simulator. I'll write again, your stuck w me. Stephen Hoda

[patrickyoung]

As an outsider " from Ireland " my mind was blown, my jaw is still on the floor. You talk about Africans coming out of the jungle the technology in use today you just keep up with the developments . The presenter made a very technical presentation very easy to understand . Many thanks

[akawireguy]

For 25 years I drove back and forth along Miramar Naval Air Station, every week day the last 8 years of my career. I never got tired of watching the Tomcats fly. It was a sad day when they sent them to Nevada and Miramar became Miramar Marine Air Station. Nothing against the F-18's, but there is nothing like that roman nosed Tomcat.
I still have air show pictures of the huge hangar with top gun painted across the front, and the control tower.
Now I live in Arizona's Sonoran Desert, and my favorite here is the Warthog, although a pair of Hercules' flying over my head 100' above the Santa Cruz River south of Picacho Peak is pretty awe inspiring too..

[leveretth]

Kewl! I was aboard Enterprise on that deployment first he mentioned! I was an MM2/MM1 #3 Reactor Plant. Mike was in VF-114 Aardvarks if I recall correctly. That Tomcat was one *sexy* aircraft!

[johng]

Gosh, I would love to talk with Mike and just ask him 100 questions. What an awesome and humble guy!!

[theplanesdinosaurslover]

Hello there! I love this video of U.S. Navy veteran F-14 Tomcat fighter pilot Mike Rabens! It is very smart and informative! But I have happened to research more about him online and I saw he was born in 1957, went to flight school from 1973 to 1979, then was a U.S. Navy fighter pilot flying the Northrop Grumman F-14 Tomcat from 1980 to 2006. I what I also researched was that he has been working at Northrop Grumman Aerospace since 2006 being a test pilot flying E-2 Hawkeyes, C-2 Greyhounds, and more! He seems like a interesting guy to talk to and ask questions with! Thanks!

[zeppelinfan]

I don't care what this guy says about himself...if he can maneuver and fly an F-14, HE IS A ROCK STAR!

[elendshuraglump]

A very interesting video about the F-14, illustrated by a real top gun pilot. AMAZING!!!!

[robw]

Great video! Listened to every word. What a career Mike has had- 23 years well spent.