Some war machines are instantly recognizable, even to the most passive of pacifists. That's because history has told us that these weapons have essentially won entire wars, sometimes almost single-handedly. But if you take a closer look at some of the machines we've been fervently drawing on our Trapper Keepers during study hall, you might find them hiding a ludicrous Achilles heel , such as ...

6 The F-14 Tomcat Really Could Stall Out Like In Top Gun

Paramount Pictures

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It really takes only two words to describe the Grumman F-14 Tomcat: Top Gun. Who could possibly forget this iconic scene?

Oh! Whoops. How did that get there? We certainly didn't mean to imply that the shirtless Tom Cruise volleyball scene was the one thing from Top Gun that is permanently, tenderly etched into our memories. Haha.

Paramount Pictures

Etched like those abs ...

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Anyway! The hot F-14 swing-wing action displayed in Top Gun inspired an entire generation of adolescent boys to pursue a career intercepting Russkies in pitched air-to-air battles, or at the very least run around making whooshing noises with their arms stuck out like wings until such behavior began resulting in really uncomfortable looks from everyone at the office.

The Ridiculous Flaw:

As it turns out, what is arguably history's single most iconic fighter jet was likely to leave you stranded alongside the highway, embarrassingly thumbing your way to the Danger Zone. Remember that scene in Top Gun in which Maverick flies through Iceman's jetwash, causing his own engines to stall out?