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Before Topgun Days: The Making of a J..., Baranek, Dave

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Located in: Montgomery Illinois, United States
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eBay item number:277002195930
Last updated on Nov 11, 2025 08:07:51 PSTView all revisionsView all revisions

Item specifics

Condition
Good: A book that has been read but is in good condition. Very minimal damage to the cover including ...
ISBN
1634506553
EAN
9781634506557
Publication Name
N/A
Type
Hardback
Release Title
Before Topgun Days: The Making of a Jet Fighter Instructor
Artist
Baranek, Dave
Brand
N/A
Colour
N/A
Book Title
Before Topgun Days : the Making of a Jet Fighter Instructor
Publisher
Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated
Item Length
9 in
Publication Year
2016
Format
Hardcover
Language
English
Illustrator
Yes
Item Height
0.9 in
Author
Dave Baranek
Genre
Transportation, Biography & Autobiography, History
Topic
Aviation / General, Military / Aviation, Military
Item Weight
17 Oz
Item Width
6 in
Number of Pages
236 Pages
Category

About this product

Product Identifiers

Publisher
Skyhorse Publishing Company, Incorporated
ISBN-10
1634506553
ISBN-13
9781634506557
eBay Product ID (ePID)
218939280

Product Key Features

Book Title
Before Topgun Days : the Making of a Jet Fighter Instructor
Number of Pages
236 Pages
Language
English
Publication Year
2016
Topic
Aviation / General, Military / Aviation, Military
Illustrator
Yes
Genre
Transportation, Biography & Autobiography, History
Author
Dave Baranek
Format
Hardcover

Dimensions

Item Height
0.9 in
Item Weight
17 Oz
Item Length
9 in
Item Width
6 in

Additional Product Features

Intended Audience
Trade
Reviews
"Many may dream of one day wearing Navy Wings of Gold, but few truly appreciate what is required to earn those wings and move from the street to the Fleet. In this book, Bio shows how he climbed from college student to experienced naval flight officer. Aircraft have changed, but that process continues on. Here s a great read for any aviation enthusiast, and especially for anyone considering a career in Naval Aviation." Vice Admiral "Streak" Chanik, USN (Ret.), former F-14 pilot and Topgun instructor "I couldn't put Dave Baranek's book downhe put me right in the cockpit of his aircraft and made me feel like I was a Navy RIO running intercepts on bad guys. Dave wanted to be a pilot; so did I, but our eyesight wasn t quite good enough, so we both chose to become backseaters. It doesn't matter where you sit in a fighter or bomber or reconnaissance planeit's all about flying; military flying; taking planes to the edge of the envelope. It's about tough training and besting the bad guys if and when you meet up with them. In "Before Topgun Days" Dave takes you from the day he reports to NAS Pensacola as an utter novice until he straps on an F-14 Tomcat and flies with a carrier at sea. What I liked best about the book is being part of his demanding trainingday by day, event by event. I love the book. This is an aviator's bookfor anyone who loves to reach for the sky." Wolfgang W Samuel, Colonel, USAF (Ret.), author of "German Boy" and "In Defense of Freedom" "Baranek describes a relatively little-known area of Navy flight training, that of the F-14 radar intercept officer or RIO, the guy-in-the-back, as skilled as his pilot up front but not as familiar to the average reader of modern aviation literature. Only someone who has actually experienced the demanding instruction required to earn this unique position in a flight crew, followed by the months of deployments in the fleet in a combat-ready F-14 squadron, could hope to tell this story in such deeply personal detail. As one who tried but failed, I found myself filling in many of the blanks as I read this lively adventure story. Great job, Bio!" Peter Mersky, author of "Whitey," "F-8 vs. MiG-17," and "US Marine Corps Aviation since 1912"", "Many may dream of one day wearing Navy Wings of Gold, but few truly appreciate what is required to earn those wings and move from the street to the Fleet. In this book, "Bio" shows how he climbed from college student to experienced naval flight officer. Aircraft have changed, but that process continues on. Here's a great read for any aviation enthusiast, and especially for anyone considering a career in Naval Aviation." -- Vice Admiral "Streak" Chanik, USN (Ret.) , former F-14 pilot and Topgun instructor "I couldn't put Dave Baranek's book down--he put me right in the cockpit of his aircraft and made me feel like I was a Navy RIO running intercepts on bad guys. Dave wanted to be a pilot; so did I, but our eyesight wasn't quite good enough, so we both chose to become backseaters. It doesn't matter where you sit in a fighter or bomber or reconnaissance plane--it's all about flying; military flying; taking planes to the edge of the envelope. It's about tough training and besting the bad guys if and when you meet up with them. In Before Topgun Days Dave takes you from the day he reports to NAS Pensacola as an utter novice until he straps on an F-14 Tomcat and flies with a carrier at sea. What I liked best about the book is being part of his demanding training--day by day, event by event. I love the book. This is an aviator's book--for anyone who loves to reach for the sky." -- Wolfgang W Samuel, Colonel, USAF (Ret.) , author of German Boy and In Defense of Freedom "Baranek describes a relatively little-known area of Navy flight training, that of the F-14 radar intercept officer or RIO, the guy-in-the-back, as skilled as his pilot up front but not as familiar to the average reader of modern aviation literature. Only someone who has actually experienced the demanding instruction required to earn this unique position in a flight crew, followed by the months of deployments in the fleet in a combat-ready F-14 squadron, could hope to tell this story in such deeply personal detail. As one who tried but failed, I found myself filling in many of the blanks as I read this lively adventure story. Great job, Bio!" -- Peter Mersky , author of Whitey , F-8 vs. MiG-17 , and US Marine Corps Aviation since 1912
Dewey Edition
23
Dewey Decimal
359.0092
Synopsis
Becoming the best doesn t happen overnight; you ve got to work for it. Before becoming an instructor in the Navy s Topgun program, Dave Bio Baranek was just another kid with a dream. Upon graduating from college, he joined the Navy with the goal of becoming a fighter pilot. But, his eyesight waning, he knew that he would never be able to reach that goal. Undaunted, he plowed ahead and found his niche as a radar intercept operator in the backseat of the sleek, new Grumman F-14 Tomcat. Join Baranek in "Before Topgun Days" as he takes you along for this greatest, most exciting time of his young life: training to become a naval flight officer. Taking place before the events recounted in his previous memoir, "Topgun Days," Baranek brings to life the anxieties and excitement of entering the fast-paced world of fighter jocks. From a green recruit to an experienced flyer, discover what it took to become a Topgun instructor. Skyhorse Publishing, along with our Arcade, Good Books, Sports Publishing, and Yucca imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Our list includes biographies on well-known historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, Nelson Mandela, and Alexander Graham Bell, as well as villains from history, such as Heinrich Himmler, John Wayne Gacy, and O. J. Simpson. We have also published survivor stories of World War II, memoirs about overcoming adversity, first-hand tales of adventure, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a "New York Times" bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.", Becoming the best doesn't happen overnight; you've got to work for it. Before becoming an instructor in the Navy's Topgun program, Dave "Bio" Baranek was just another kid with a dream. Upon graduating from college, he joined the Navy with the goal of becoming a fighter pilot. But, his eyesight waning, he knew that he would never be able to reach that goal. Undaunted, he plowed ahead and found his niche as a radar intercept operator in the backseat of the sleek, new Grumman F-14 Tomcat. Join Baranek in Before Topgun Days as he takes you along for this greatest, most exciting time of his young life: training to become a naval flight officer. Taking place before the events recounted in his previous memoir, Topgun Days , Baranek brings to life the anxieties and excitement of entering the fast-paced world of fighter jocks. From a green recruit to an experienced flyer, discover what it took to become a Topgun instructor. Skyhorse Publishing, along with our Arcade, Good Books, Sports Publishing, and Yucca imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Our list includes biographies on well-known historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, Nelson Mandela, and Alexander Graham Bell, as well as villains from history, such as Heinrich Himmler, John Wayne Gacy, and O. J. Simpson. We have also published survivor stories of World War II, memoirs about overcoming adversity, first-hand tales of adventure, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

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worldofbooksinc

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Founded in 2002, World of Books is a leading online destination for buying and selling both preloved and new books, committed to making sustainable reading accessible to all. With a mission to help ...
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  • d***0 (437)- Feedback left by buyer.
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    Item bought:  Ocean Ramsey Shark book * Item value for the money  5/5 * Condition matching as advertised  5/5 * Quickly dispatched  5/5 * Arrived on time  5/5 * Shipping cost for this type of item  5/5 * Packaging quality for this item  5/5 * Seller recommendation  5/5 * Communication:  NA (not needed as it arrived on time) * Comments:  Ty for your business!!
    Full Color Version WHAT YOU SHOULD KN..., Ramsey, Ocean (#317091156240)
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    The book was exactly as described and arrived quickly. The only problem is a recurring one with this seller and other similar sellers - the book is poorly packaged in a plastic envelope and gets heavily bumped in shipping. I would like to see the books wrapped before shipment, but I understand this can't be done for cost reason. Luckily it isn't an expensive book, and I will continue to purchase basic books from this seller. A+++++
    The Narrow Road to the Deep North and..., Basho, Matsuo (#316498951864)
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    Positive experience but could be better. Item description was accurate but, it was shipped in a simple bag with no carton or any protection. The bag was broken in places and the USPS bent the book like it was a newspaper and ruined what was an excellent looking book. That was clearly the USPS fault but a "Do Not Bend" or carton would help next time. Otherwise accurate description, value, condition and Fast shipping. I'm a returning customer and will keep buying from World of Books
    The Power of Limits: Proportional Har..., Doczi, Gyorgy (#355538879786)
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