Designed & Produced by a COANG Crew Chief | Limited Quantity
This patch was designed and produced by an F-16 Crew Chief with the Colorado Air National Guard.
At the time it was created, nearly every shop had its own patch — Crew Chiefs did not. Rather than buying something generic, I designed a patch that reflected Colorado, the COANG, and the actual equipment used on the flightline during an F-16 launch.
The design includes Colorado’s mountains and state colors, along with a Crew Chief toolbox and launch headset — tools used every day in real-world operations. Nothing on this patch was added for decoration; each element represents how and where we work.
The patch gained traction within the unit and was approved as an authorized Friday morale patch. It is documented in the Colorado Air National Guard history book and has been included in multiple retirement shadow boxes over the years. Two of these patches were also personally given to Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger while he was in Denver.
This is not a mass-produced item. The quantity is limited, and no additional production runs are planned once these are gone.
from $10.00
Produced for the originally scheduled TOPGUN 2024: A JetBrands Experience, this patch represents the first planned chapter of the TOPGUN event series.
When the event was postponed to 2025, this limited run of TOPGUN 2024 patches was never released. Now, following the successful completion of the 2025 event, these original patches are being made available as a legacy collector piece.
Available in both embroidered and PVC versions, and offered in full color or black & white, each patch was designed with aviation authenticity in mind—clean lines, bold detail, and a layout worthy of the fighter community.
The TOPGUN 2024 Legacy Patch was designed with intention, drawing from fighter aviation heritage, place, and precision.
The 4-inch round shape reflects the classic format of military squadron and aircrew patches, immediately grounding the design in authentic aviation tradition.
At its core is a profile view of the F/A-18, taken from the JetBrands logo. The Hornet represents the aircraft synonymous with TOPGUN and serves as a symbol of performance, discipline, and the fighter culture that inspired this event from the beginning.
Set behind the aircraft are snow-capped Colorado mountains, anchoring the design to the state where JetBrands was built and where the original TOPGUN experience took shape.
Rising above the peaks is half of the Colorado “C,” reimagined as a rising sun and rendered in traditional Colorado colors.
Two specific design elements pay homage to TOPGUN history:
The light blue ring reflects the color historically adopted by TOPGUN fighter pilots in their flight suits and squadron culture—an unmistakable visual reference to the community and legacy without replicating official insignia.
The targeting pipper, inspired by early fighter aircraft symbology, serves as a respectful nod to TOPGUN heritage. The original TOPGUN targeting pipper patch is earned through graduation, is never sold or given away, and remains a symbol reserved exclusively for TOPGUN graduates. Its inclusion here is symbolic only, acknowledging the legacy and standards that define TOPGUN.
Together, these elements create a design that honors aviation heritage and TOPGUN history without reproducing or replacing any earned insignia—preserving the integrity, tradition, and respect owed to those who have earned it.