While watching "Top Gun Maverick" during break with my son, I asked him what he would want his call sign to be. He informed me that call signs are chosen by others, and there is usually some excellent humor involved with the decision-making process. Call signs are not meant to be glamorous. Many times they are designed to keep egos in check.
He went on to tell me that a pilot is considered an Ace if he/she takes out 5 or more enemy aircraft in combat. Then he went on about a story of a rookie Navy pilot who was slightly off with his carrier landing. He ended up clipping the ends of the wings of 6 parked fighter jets. The were all able to be repaired, but were out of commission for a few days. Of course he ended up earning the call sign "Ace." That cracked me right up.
Whether or not this story is true (in my mind it is!), do any of you experienced pilots have any similar stories?
He went on to tell me that a pilot is considered an Ace if he/she takes out 5 or more enemy aircraft in combat. Then he went on about a story of a rookie Navy pilot who was slightly off with his carrier landing. He ended up clipping the ends of the wings of 6 parked fighter jets. The were all able to be repaired, but were out of commission for a few days. Of course he ended up earning the call sign "Ace." That cracked me right up.
Whether or not this story is true (in my mind it is!), do any of you experienced pilots have any similar stories?