#fighter pilots

[beccawise7]

The boys having some fun... enjoy.🤙

~beccawise7💜🖤

[am--afmil]

Amazing United States Air Force Work in complete unison as a team at the Nellis Air Force Base combined arms demonstration at the 2025 Aviation Nation Airshow!

[krumpkin]

North American P-51B Mustang , First Flight ( 1940 ) 😁

[ontarom]

12 year old me looking at these StarCraft units: "Waoooo they look so cool. Anyway I wonder if this will have any influence on what i'm sexually attracted to in the future"

[skybrushus]

Rainbow Dash twist her wrists and her bent arms as she used the age-old method of using her hands to illustrate the aerial engagement.

"So I came out of my awesome roll with my nose point up at his butt. I was inside of his turn now and the noob had no idea where I'd gone! He was still turning hard and dumping energy like crazy. I got a tone from the seeker head on a the training pod so I triggered it and recorded the kill! It was over in a few seconds. Then he started cussing up a blue streak on the radio, and I told him he was lucky he could be flapping his lips like that! If this had been a really fight he'd be nothing but a cloud of burning debris and feathers!"

Lightning Dust finished taking a swig from her water bottle. "Wait a minute was this Sky Ripper?"

RD shot a shit eating grin at the other mare. "Yep!"

"The one that was boasting before today's mission that he was totally not afraid to go up against us instructors?" Lightning Dust smiled wickedly.

Dash looked up the sky. "Yeah. I took him down a notch or two today." She looked up at clouds for a moment. "His fundamentals are solid, but right now he can't adapt when the other side doesn't agree to play with his plan. We need to get him onboard with the program right away."

Lightning looked up at the clouds. "He's not the only one who's got that problem. Several of them are sticking too rigorously to the manual. They have to learn when to think on their own."

The prismatic mane mare glanced over. "Time to activate their awesomeness."

Her fellow instructor grinned. "Yeah. Time for awesome!"

A recently completed commission for Lightning Dust. I could see RD and Lightning eventually become Aerial Combat Instructors for the Royal Equestria Air Force's equivalent of the former USN Top Gun program or USAF Red Flag schools.

[stone-cold-groove]

American astronaut, Major Gordon “Gordo” Cooper - 1963.

[rainonaparade]

~𝑩𝑰𝑻𝑻𝑬𝑹𝑺𝑾𝑬𝑬𝑻~

[pete mitchell x oc]

☆masterlist

chapter 6: to hang the moon

pairing: pete mitchell x oc

summary: Ness and Victor’s wedding was something Rhett was looking forward too. Not anymore.

word count: approx 1.7k

warnings: swearing, mentions of alcohol, lots of arguing

a/n: *deep breath* AGHHHHHHHHHHHHH, Rhett why Rhett why. Stop being like this. Stop it. And alternate title to this chp cud be Rhett being a little shit for 1.7k words straight. Anyway I’m not a huge fan of this chp but I hope you like it <3

Rhett had a press conference the next day. She presumed that was Iceman’s doing, but she wasn’t saying no to the opportunity. Anything to become Admiral. It was a helpful excuse to go to Victor and Ness’ wedding anyway.

She hadn’t believed her eyes when she got the invite. Victor was still just a little kid to her. She wondered how Ice must be feeling.

“Excellent, they’re giving me the good drivers again,” Rhett said, as she made her way to the sleek black sedan.

“Always a pleasure to serve you, ma’am,” Leonard responded. He had been her chauffeur the whole time she had lived in San Diego. He had become her gossip buddy. The drivers in Virginia weren’t the same.

“It’s been an eventful five years,” Rhett said.

“Then you’ll have to fill me in, ma’am,” He said, opening the door to the car. Rhett moved to get inside when her eyes locked onto none other than Maverick. He was standing alone tapping his foot, phone in hand. Rhett took a deep breath. Leonard took notice.

“A new lover?” He suggested.

“No,” She denied sharply.

“An old one? Is that the Maverick you’re always talking about?”

“I don’t always talk about him,” She frowned.

“Sure,” Leonard said. Rhett pressed down the skirt of her dinner blues. She waited for a second longer before walking up to him.

“Captain,” She greeted. His gaze landed on her, his eyes lighting up. She pretended that didn’t affect her at all, “Commuting by motorcycle?”

“Uh, no. I was thinking a cab, but these things take forever to book,” He said, fiddling with his phone. She nodded before looking back at her car. Then at Maverick.

“Well,” She began, “You could come with me? I get a car for free after all,” Mav stopped, furrowing his eyebrows. That was spontaneous. Rhett did not do spontaneous.

“I mean,” He paused, scratching his eyebrow, “If you’re offering…?”

“I am,” She said, her voice leaning on cheerful. She didn’t know what she was doing herself. Mav gave her a confused smile.

“Who are you and what’ve you done to my wife?” He muttered as he walked behind her to the car.

They were quiet for a while, the only sound being Leonard’s soft humming. Rhett opened the Daggers group chat. 270 unread messages. Where do they find the time?

Harvard: attachment. These are way too many ice creams

Fanboy: yale will inhale them dw

Yale: I am actually

Yale: so hurt right now

Rhett rolled her eyes. They just refused to type everything out in one message.

Hangman: why do I have so many pictures of falcon and maverick on my phone why

Phoenix: attachment. Aaaand we got more baby. I swear mavericks eyes just lit up with joy

Rhett had to scoff. It was a picture of the two of them standing outside. Minutes ago. These kids were like spies. Eyes everywhere.

Halo: Can we call the ship rhettmav

Rooster: Okay no

Hangman: boo rooster, celebrate the rhettmav

She shook her head. Mav turned to look at her as she placed a hand on his arm.

“They created a group. To talk about us,” She laughed. Mav raised an eyebrow, scrolling up. His eyes widened in disbelief as he read message by message.

Hangman: I have a feeling Phoenix is hyperfixated on falcon n Mav

Halo: lol

Phoenix: shut it bagman

“Holy shit, how’d you get yourself added?” He asked.

“Stealth,” She said dramatically. He chuckled, handing the phone back to her. The sun was starting to set outside.

“By the way,” Mav asked, “What’s the press conference all about?”

“Oh, it’s a tri-force conference. Basically explaining to the general public what all three forces do together,” She explained.

“Didn’t know you did that stuff,” He said.

“Well, I’ve got to take these opportunities. If I want to become Air Boss—“

“Air Boss?” He interrupted, “C’mon, Rhett, you’re thinking too small,” Rhett scoffed.

“What am I supposed to say, Commander of the Indo-Pacific Fleet?” She asked sarcastically.

“You could do it,” He said.

“Don’t be silly, Mav,” She said, looking out the window.

“I’m being serious,” He told her.

“We’re here,” Leonard said, diffusing the tension. Mav gave him a weak smile before opening the door.

“Hey, you know what this place looks like?” He said, squinting at the entrance to the hotel. Rhett shook her head as he helped her out, “The entrance to the Ritz-Carlton. The one we booked,” They walked together up the stairs.

“Noooo, I don’t think so,” She said, involuntarily linking both hands around his arm, “Tell you what, it looks like the hotel we stayed in for our honeymoon,” They reached the front door together where a lady stood, scribbling onto a clipboard.

“Didn’t we… stay at the Ritz for our honeymoon?” He asked, scrunching up his face.

“I’m offended you don’t remember,” She laughed. The lady with the clipboard looked up at them. She read Pete’s name tag.

“Captain and Mrs. Mitchell?” She asked, pencil hovering over the clipboard. Rhett’s eyebrows shot up.

“What?” She unlinked their arms, adjusting her name tag, “No. Captain Mitchell and Admiral Wright,” She clarified sharply. The woman nodded, ticking off the names. Mav was quiet as they walked inside.

“That ashamed to be called my wife?” He teased, but she could see the hurt in his eyes.

“I’ve never called myself Mrs. Mitchell. Even when we were together,” She said. He shrugged, walking off. Rhett sighed as she glanced back at him. Go find Ness, she thought to herself. Ness giggled as she hugged Rhett.

“I’m married, Rhett, I’m married!” She kept saying and Rhett couldn’t blame her. Ness told her about the plan for the honeymoon, the meaning behind her wedding dress and eventually started crying. Rhett was happy she could be there for her.

“Oh my god, Maverick’s here,” Ness said, excitedly. Rhett still didn’t understand why she was so inspired by him. Mav was a lot of things but a role model was not one, “Did he travel all the way from the desert?”

“No, he’s stationed here,” Rhett said. Ness raised an eyebrow.

“Here? In San Diego?”

“Yeah. He’s teaching a mission at Top Gun,”

“You’re teaching a mission at Top Gun,” Ness realised, “You guys are stationed in the same area? Why didn’t you tell me! God, how are you? Hold on, isn’t that against the chain of command—“

“Slow down,” Rhett chuckled, “Yeah, it’s against the fraternization policy, but according to Cyclone, I’m the ‘only one who can keep him in line’,” She said, making air quotes.

“How are you two doing?”

“Ness, this is your wedding, and I don’t want to ruin it by talking about my drama,” She said, patting her shoulder. Ness shrugged. She eventually went up to Maverick, who was more than happy to discuss anything about planes with her. Rhett decided to go in search of Victor. As soon as she saw him, she hugged him tightly, messing up his hair.

“Aunt Rhett!” He scowled, fixing his hair.

“Look at you! Our little beetle’s a married man,” She said. A little Victor had sworn that if became an aviator he’d call sign would be Beetle. Vic wasn’t a navy man, though. He was better suited to politics.

“Yeah,” He said, nodding slowly, “I am,”

“You’re all grown now, Vic,” She said, “Soon enough you’ll be a senator—“

“We don’t know that,” He said.

“Kiddo, you’ve achieved everything you’ve put your mind to,” She told him. Just like your dad.

“That’s because I have such an awesome Aunt,” He said, grinning.

“Awesome because I encouraged you or awesome because I helped you sneak out all those times?” She asked. Vic chuckled. She smiled, “You happy, son?” Victor paused for a moment look at Ness, who was chatting away.

“Happier than ever,” He told her, “She’s… celestial. I look at her and see the world in her eyes,” Rhett’s smile faltered for just a second. Rhett had said that to Maverick. On their wedding day. She pressed her eyes closed as she remembered Mav’s address to her.

I have seen the skies and stars up close, yet you are far more beautiful than any of them.

The rest of the day was eventful. Dancing, laughing, talking. Bad karaoke, drunk best man speeches. The whole lot. Rhett found herself exhausted as she stumbled over to the bar. Of course, she couldn’t drink much. Attending a press conference with a hangover would be… unbecoming. A high pitched laugh brought her gaze up. There stood an attractive young woman— she seemed to be some admiral’s daughter. Jezelle, Rhett remembered her name, Jezelle Stevens. Right. She was the life of every party. Her dirty blonde hair fell in perfect curls and her face shone in the light. She was laughing with Maverick. Rhett’s eyes narrowed.

She was drop-dead gorgeous, but surely he wasn’t interested, was he? His eyes glittered as he narrated something to her, moving his hands with enthusiasm. She was atleast twenty years younger than Rhett. And she was definitely better looking. And she seemed funnier and more lovable and—

“You’re glaring, you know that?” A familiar voice asked. Rhett’s eyes widened in surprise as she turned to face Slider.

“Hey, how have you been?” She asked, as he sat down.

“Good. Great, actually. You’re now talking to Rear Admiral Kerner,” He said. Rhett congratulated him, “So, are we going to address the fact that you looked like you were going to commit murder or…?”

“I wasn’t—“ Slider shot her a look— “Fine. But, I’m not jealous it’s just…” She sighed deeply.

“You know he could never love anyone else, right?” He told her, “He looks at you like you hang the moon and stars,”

Slider had been there for her through the mess. They weren’t close in Top Gun, but between all the drama, Rhett found herself becoming attached to him.

“Rhett,” He said, “Spill it,” Rhett glanced back at Mav.

“I know her. I know that she’s perfect. Anybody’s dream girl,” Rhett managed to respond, “She’s younger and prettier. I’m stiff and rigid, she’s lively and fun. He looks happy too. And it’s not just about her. Mav deserves someone else. Someone who’s with him no matter what. I should be happy for him because I can’t give him that. The shit that went on between us, it’s not fixable. But I just can’t let go. I have no right, whatsoever, to be jealous because I’m the one who keeps pushing him away. What the fuck do I do?”

“Look,” Ron said, “I’ve never seen two people more in love. You need to woman the fuck up and go talk to him. Figure the shit out,”

“She was asking me questions about work,” Mav said, following Rhett out of the building, “That was it,”

“I didn’t ask, Captain,” She said sharply. She didn’t turn around— god forbid he see the tears in her eyes.

“I’m not interested in her. At all. I’m not interested in anyone other than-“

“And you think that affects me why?” She asked, her voice raising, “I made it clear. I don’t give a shit about you or who you fraternise with,”

“Rhett—“

“Would you stop?” She shrieked, “You don’t know how much effort it took to get over you. But I am over you. Nothing you do is going to change that,” She couldn’t stop the stream of lies flowing out of her mouth. She knew she was being unreasonable, but she couldn’t be vulnerable. She would not be seen as weak and pathetic.

He didn’t follow her after that, tears welling up in his eyes. The love of his life had just told him to go fuck himself. Great.

She slammed door of the car shut as she melted into her seat.

[bewilderbark]

my piece for the in-the-works System Erasure zine (which is still looking for participants in their disc server :^] )