If the WWF SmackDown Champion belt was an odd choice for a project, the AeroWings Top Gun belt was an even weirder one. Fighter pilots are usually awarded wings, ribbons, rank insignia or maybe even a plaque... but a title belt???!!!

Why not?

When I first thought of making this belt, the notion of "World Champion" went out the window. Unless we get invaded by aliens like in the movie "Independence Day," fighter pilots defend their countries, not the entire world. And what other country has more cool toys and kicks more butt than these here United States?

So for the AeroWings Top Gun belt, I decided to go with a very patriotic motif; red-whte-and-blue all over (even though I can't get real "white" with mylar). Using the American flag as a background was an inspired decision, and the hardest part was getting the flag to cover the inside of the circle perfectly (took almost an entire day). I stayed with the flag motif for the side plates, as well, with the added flair of having fighter jets in the two inner plates.

One element that I really wanted to have but removed was a figure of a pilot in the lower-right portion of the main plate saluting. I looked all over the Net for an image of a fighter pilot saluting, but the only one I could find was that of a woman pilot. I don't mean to sound sexist, but I tried it on the plate and it just didn't look right. So off it went!

Here are some images of the finished belt: