Interview with Top Gun Dave Baranek

Welcome to episode 75 everyone and I have another different guest for you. Some of you have been waiting excitedly for this one too – so welcome on board Flight Instructor Dave Baranek (aka callsign “Bio”).

So Dave was an officer in the USA Navy and not only flew (he’s a radar intercept officer) in the f-14 Tomcat’s but managed a squadron too! Not only that but Dave has ties to one of the most famous aeroplane films ever – Top Gun! Yes, he helped with instructing on the film and is credited too.

Dave is a very friendly guy who is happy to share details of his career, which included shooting pictures whilst he was flying! It’s another interesting guest who started life with film cameras like the Konica fs1 (+ft1) and talks to us how he coped with his work and still taking some lovely images. He tells us a little his talk in the navy and what he’s done since too.

So listen out for:

how Dave’s vision affected his path
instructing at the top gun school
Shooting through plexiglass
Tripods + ejection seats
Konica cameras
Technicians vs Artists
Navy photo labs
Reconnaissance missions
Film choices
Dangers of photography & flying
Importance of hard work

I have to say Dave’s life is very different to most, but he is still a humble man so hope you like this one. My favourite quote from this show was “connected a tripod to the ejector seat” – I nearly choked when he said this!