Top Gun is on TV tonight. Twice in a row. The second airing just began. just prior to the initial ACM engagement, the CAG asks someone else in the room, “are we supposed to have visitors today?”
What is meant by this question?
-was he wondering if VIP’s might be present on the ship who would happen to be observing this real enemy contact?
or
-was he suspicious that this entire enemy contact incident was some kind of drill, with the enemy planes being simulated by friendlies?
Or…?
It’s been over a dog’s age since I’ve seen this movie, but if I remember the scene you’re talking about, the visitors he’s talking about are the enemy planes.
What are these enemy planes doing in our airspace?
‘Is there a war game scheduled? I’m not aware of one. What are these planes doing in my airspace?’
Picture the shotgun-wielding protagonist of a traditional action film saying it just as a group of thugs burst through the door.
Think “inbound aircraft which as of yet may or may not be friend or foe”.