HC0025 - Cmd. Tom "Pager" Page - Top Gun Pilot

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