Capt. Larry Ernst, USN (ret.) a Top Gun pilot and instructor, will be making a public presentation at the Tonto Verde Clubhouse on Tuesday, April 22, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

A resident of Tonto Verde, Ernst is a graduate of Ohio State University with degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering. He was commissioned into the U.S. Navy in June 1966 and was designated a Naval Aviator in August 1967.

Over his military career Ernst also attended the United States Naval Test Pilot School, the National War College and the Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of Government Senior Officials in National Security program.

A fighter pilot during the Viet Nam War, Ernst flew about 150 missions from the deck of the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63).

“I never had to shoot another plane in anger,” Ernst said.

During his 25-plus years in the US Navy Ernst accumulated more than 4,500 hours of flying time in more than 36 different aircraft. He served as a fighter pilot test pilot and test pilot instructor based in the U.S. and England. As an instructor at the ripe old age of 30, Ernst was known as “Pappy” to those he was teaching.

He served as a squadron commander and wing commander. His commands included the Fighting Checkmates of VF-211 flying the F-14 Tomcat; VF-101 the East Coast F-14 replacement air group and the USS Milwaukee (AOR-2).

Ernst also served as executive officer of the USS Constellation (CV-64) and was commanding officer of the USS Midway (CV-41) when it was decommissioned in 1992. The ship remains today anchored at San Diego as a U.S. Naval museum.

Ernst received the VADM James B. Stockdale Leadership Award for outstanding and inspirational leadership while commanding officer of VF-101.

Ernst said he is often asked what it is like to have served as a fighter pilot and commander of ships.

“It is difficult to put into words,” Ernst said. “The one thing that comes to mind from my years in the military is sleep deprivation.”

Ernst said he would relax and unwind by walking the deck of an aircraft carrier watching and listening to the cacophony of activity required to prepare, launch and retrieve aircraft from the deck of a carrier.

Pointing to a photo on the wall, Ernst is among a group of half a dozen or so young Navy pilots just before their combat deployment to Viet Nam. A year after the photo was taken, Ernst says, he was the only one still alive. He notes with pride that during his years of service in the Navy he never lost a man under his command.

Following Ernst’s presentation at the club those attending are invited to enjoy dining in the Tonto Verde Mesquite Grill, which is open to the public. Tuesday is prime rib night featuring a house-aged sterling silver prime rib, potato bar and chef’s vegetables; queen cut: $22.95, and king cut: $25.95.