Category: Dave ‘Bio’ Baranek

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Biggest Myth About The F-14 Tomcat: It Was Designed As An Interceptor

I asked Bio a question some months ago about the biggest myth about the Tomcat, and he managed to record a video for all of us to watch. Note: This video is the first in a series of new videos that Bio is recording, with flying stories & thoughts like this topic. If you enjoy…
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VF-2 Bounty Hunters and Miramar F-14 Awards in 1987-88

At the completion of my tour as a Topgun instructor, I went through a short refresher course in the F-14 training squadron and then reported to Fighter Squadron 2 (VF-2). When I joined the Bounty Hunters (squadron nickname) in June 1987, our Tomcats wore the letter “E” on the forward fuselage in recognition of winning…
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Names and Numbers on Navy Fighters

During my career as a RIO I was in three different fleet squadrons and I’ve seen two different methods for assigning names on the canopy rails. Before I get to them, here are rules that I think are common to all NAVY squadrons / carrier air wings. Each squadron is assigned a number series (100,…
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Operation Earnest Will: F-14 Role in Escorting Oil Tankers

During the 1987 deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (CV-61), the battle group spent several months in the northwest portion of the Indian Ocean, known as the North Arabian Sea, supporting oil tanker escort under Operation Earnest Will [note 1]. The actual tanker escort was carried out by US Navy surface combatants such as…
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Thoughts on Radar Modes of the AWG-9

The AWG-9 radar in the F-14A Tomcat fighter had good capability including several modes for the RIO to choose from. This article describes some considerations.

Did the F-14 Tomcat Have Flight Controls in the Rear Cockpit?

This has to be one of the most common questions heard by former F-14 Radar Intercept Officers (RIOs). RIOs were the back-seaters who operated the F-14’s weapon system, were responsible for communication and navigation, and performed other aircrew duties. During a radar intercept the RIO directed the pilot, so he was “verbally flying” the aircraft.…
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Tomcat RIO by Dave “Bio” Baranek

“Tomcat RIO” is the latest book to be written by former USN F-14 Tomcat Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) Dave Baranek. In his new book, Bio regales us with more tales of Naval Aviation adventures and excitement, and goes more into the personalities and misadventures he experienced. From Topgun to Squadron Command You’re in the cockpit…
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The Elevator Scene In Top Gun

Written by Dave “Bio” Baranek There are many technical and production details from “Top Gun.” A friend recently asked me about the Navy captain in the elevator scene. It begins around the 48-minute mark on my DVD copy: Maverick and Charlie in an elevator, a Navy captain enters. Who is the captain? Was he a…
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What Does An F-14 Tomcat RIO Do?

The team from DCSNZA hosted Dave “Bio” Baranek for a live streaming event earlier today. Dave spend time talking about what the RIO (radar intercept officer) did in the F-14 (a great insight into that world) and then he took to the virtual skies with the DCSNZA team in the Heatblur F-14 Tomcat, tanked with…
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Topgun Principle: If You Leave An Engagement, Don’t Go Back In

Written by Dave “Bio” Baranek One of the principles Topgun taught us was that if you leave an engagement, you should not go back in. There were examples from combat (and other Topgun classes) of fighters becoming engaged and bugging out, and then re-engaging with bad results, such as being shot down. On a 4vUNK…
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