How One CFI Found Wisdom From the TOPGUN Community
A Feature on Phoenix East Aviation’s, Xavier Piar
When Phoenix East Aviation’s Xavier Piar began his CFI training, one question rose above all the rest: What makes a truly great instructor? “I didn’t just want to teach… I wanted to be great at it,” he explains. And for him, the answer to that question pointed in one direction, toward the instructors at the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School. Who are the best aviation instructors in the world? Xavier remembers asking himself. “The answer came easily: The TOPGUN instructors.”
What began as curious evolved into an extraordinary opportunity, one that would eventually lead to his upcoming publication in Mentor Magazine and a series of eye-opening conversations with some of the most recognizable names in naval aviation.
A Passion Rooted in Aviation History
Xavier’s love for aviation started long before his CFI days. He grew up inspired by legends like Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh, and Neil Armstrong. That foundation of respect for the aviators who came before him eventually shaped his desire to learn from the best instructors of today. But even then, speaking with TOPGUN personnel felt almost untouchable. “We tend to see those guys as legends,” he admits.
The First Call That Changed Everything
As an avid listener of the Fighter Pilot Podcast, Xavier decided to take a chance and reach out to the host, Vincent “Jell-O” Aiello, a former F/A-18 TOPGUN instructor. “I honestly expected a ‘no’ or ‘I’m too busy’, Xavier recalls. Instead, Jell-O replied with a yes, and the two spoke for nearly an hour. “It turned out to be one of the most valuable lessons I’ve ever had about aviation and instruction.” Encouraged, Xavier continued reaching out, and the result was far beyond what he imagined. Dave “Bio” Baranek, former F-14 Tomcat RIO and TOPGUN instructor, didn’t just agree to an interview. He connected Xavier with two additional former instructors: Craig “Crunch” Snyder and Greg “Hoser” Hansen, both former F-14 pilots, who have also flown other fighter jets and became commercial pilots. “I was blown away by their generosity,” Xavier says. “Some even spoke with me more than once.”
What TOPGUN Taught a CFI
Across all four conversations, three themes emerged: humility, confidence, and acceptance of fallibility.
Humility Above All
Xavier quickly discovered that the real TOPGUN instructors are nothing like the Hollywood versions. “It’s NOTHING like the movies,” he emphasizes. “These guys don’t have the ego or attitude of Maverick or Iceman.” Instead, they’re approachable, grounded, and focused entirely on the craft of teaching.
Quiet Confidence
Their confidence wasn’t loud or arrogant; it was steady, thoughtful, and anchored in experience. “There was this quiet certainty in their words,” Xavier notes. “You could tell it extended all the way into the flight deck.”
Acceptance of Fallibility
Perhaps most refreshing was their willingness to acknowledge mistakes, both their own and their students’. “They know they make mistakes and that students make them too,” Xavier says. “It’s all part of the process.”
The Story That Stuck
When Xavier asked Jell-O how he deals with mistakes in the moment, the former TOPGUN instructor shared a humbling story about repeatedly missing the arresting wires during a nighttime carrier landing, something even he struggled with. “I felt my confidence starting to wane,” Jell-O told him. Eventually, he diverted to a land base to reset, offering Xavier a rule he’ll never forget: “Sometimes you need to knock it off, go home, and regroup.”
“That lesson applies to all of us, even in our little Cessnas,” Xavier says. “If a lesson isn’t going well, sometimes you have to stop, reassess, and come back sharper.”
The Habits of Excellence
The instructors also emphasized the importance of focus, balance, and preparation. Hoser explained in a world full of distractions, the key is disciplined intensity paired with intentional rest. Crunch highlighted that “student frustration comes from lack of preparation,” while Bio openly shared times he struggled because he showed up unprepared. Xavier summarized it simply: “They emphasize preparation, discipline, and humility. There’s no excuse for not chair-flying a Cessna if TOPGUN pilots do it.”
Lessons Xavier Will Bring to His Students
If there’s one takeaway Xavier hopes to carry into his own instruction at PEA, it’s humility. Hoser told him, “don’t put your student in a situation that highlights your prowess and their lack of ability. It becomes a distraction.” Xavier sees this as the cornerstone of great instruction, teaching without ego, and learning without shame. But there was another message repeated across his conversations: the debrief is where learning actually happens. “Learning doesn’t occur in the airplane,” Xavier says. “Learning occurs in the debriefs, and I hope to implement the things these four guys taught me.”
Looking Ahead
Xavier Piar’s journey – from aviation-history enthusiast, to curious CFI, to interviewing TOPGUN legends, has given him rare insight into the mindset of elite instructors. That experience will soon be featured in his upcoming article for Mentor Magazine, where he reflects even more deeply on the wisdom they shared.
Phoenix East Aviation is proud to spotlight Xavier Piar for his initiative, curiosity, and dedication to mastering the craft of instruction. His experience is a reminder that even at the highest levels of aviation… humility, preparation, and a willingness to learn remain the true marks of excellence.
