The Naval Carrier From Top Gun Is About to Be Broken Up for Scrap

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An officer guides a Crusader aircraft at launch on USS Ranger's deck, Pacific Ocean
An officer guides a Crusader aircraft at launch on USS Ranger's deck, Pacific OceanWilbur E. Garrett—National Geographic/Getty Images
By Helen Regan

A last-ditch online campaign has been launched to try and save a naval carrier that appeared in the movie Top Gun.

The supercarrier U.S.S. Ranger was decommissioned in 1993 after 35 years of service, USA Today reports.

Now a California-based company has set up a social-media campaign and online petition to try to persuade the navy against scrapping the carrier.

Top Gun Super Carrier of Long Beach Inc. wants to acquire the ship, and moor it in Long Beach harbor as a museum and event space.

“If you think about what we can bring to it, an economic boon to the city of Long Beach, it’s a no-brainer,” said project manager Mike Shanahan.

A naval spokesman told USA Today that the navy would like to see the ship preserved but previous efforts to turn the Ranger into a museum have failed, and the carrier was sold to International Shipbreaking last year.

[USA Today]

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Write to Helen Regan at helen.regan@timeasia.com