Top Gun (original) is still top ...

Let's find out:

The black bird can fly at the altitude of 26 km high or 85000 feet. (record) According to this calculator:

https://www.mide.com/air-pressure-at-altitude-calculator

At 20 km high (max. for the calc), the air pressure is only 5500 PA compared to 100K PA at sea level. So air density is 1/20th of the sea level's density and he could have been much higher, so let's say 1/30th. but we haven't even counted for air temperature, what also helps to lower air density...

"Density is directly proportional to pressure and indirectly proportional to temperature. As pressure increases, with temperature constant, density increases. Conversely when temperature increases, with pressure constant, density decreases."

Would it hurt? Sure. Would he have died? Maybe not. The point is that NGT made a very silly, non-scientific argument.

Edit: in the calculator I adjusted for air temperature using -40C and it halved the air density. So 20km up with -40C the air density is only 1/50th of the sea level's.

I would say, jump away Tom!!!

 

I haven't seen the movie yet. I'm sure it's good and I have no doubt I will enjoy it. But I'm gonna side with the science guy.

 

NGT is famous for talking BS...

How about this?:

20km up with -40C the air density is only 1/50th of the sea level's.

It is practically space...

 

Maybe not died, but probably broken a bit. I have noticed NGT seems to like to be heard and have to a certain extent discounted his commentaries over the years. I think he likes to get his voice heard without complete analysis of the presented situation. Kind of like most everyone who becomes a social media addict. I am not saying he isn't many levels smarter than me, as I am guessing you are too, but I think he has gotten to be a social media junkie.

 

I'm still guessing he knows more than you and I do on matters related to physics.

 

The word is narcissist...

 

Not adjusting for altitude is an UNFORGIVEABLE mistake in this scenario. Also Tom likes to make his movies realistic.

This guy ejected at Mach 3:

 

Yes he does, which in some of his movies it is a miracle he isn't dead.

 

Then let's see if he gets any official pushback on his criticism. If he's wrong, I have no doubt some credentialed folk will chime in.

 

Density altitude is a big one in aviation. Many a fool has been killed by not calculating the density altitude of where they fly in and out of.