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Made in the 1980s, AIR POWER AT SEA may have been the movie that inspired “Top Gun“. Narrated by Cliff Robertson and featuring the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, the film shows F-14 Tomcats, A-7 Corsairs, A-6 Intruder, S3 Viking, Sea King helicopters, and E2C Hawkeye and EA-6B Prowlers and other aircraft operating at sea. Guided missile cruisers, guided missile destroyers, and submarines are also shown in the task force. Created by Grumman Aerospace Corp. in the 1980s, “Air Power at Sea“ profiles the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and Carrier Air Wing Eight. For many years this was the central film shown at the USS Intrepid Air Sea Space Museum in New York City, and it remains an enduring portrait of carrier-based air support and the lives of U.S. Navy personnel. The film was shot during Carrier Refresher Training in 1982, prior to the Nimitz departing for operations off the coast of Lebanon in support of a multi-national force deployed there. One fun side note, is that this same carrier and air wing, with much the same aircraft, are seen in the film “The Final Countdown“ made in 1980. That film did not however feature the narrator of this film, the venerable actor and accomplished pilot Cliff Robertson. (Also note, some people have speculated that this film helped inspire 1986's Top Gun starring Tom Cruise.) At the 14 minute mark, various drills are seen including a barrier arrest, rapid arming of aircraft under simulated combat conditions, and more. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit
