Top Gun: Maverick

Summary

With incredible practical ethereal sequels , theTop Gunplanes are a vital aspect to the original picture and its subsequence achieving an authentic tactile property . The original 1986 moving-picture show saw Lieutenant Pete " Maverick " Mitchell ( Tom Cruise ) attend the U.S. Navy ’s elect Fighter Weapons School , have sex to the skilled naval airman who train there as"Top Gun . “Over three decade later , Top Gun : Mavericksaw Maverick promoted to Captain and reassigned to the school as punishment for his rebellious ways . As both movies emphasize naturalism , theTop Gunplanes are as important to the franchise as the pilots who fly them .

NeitherTop Gunmovies disappoint when it come to their choice of fighter jet that can affect mainstream audiences as well as aircraft aficionado . Top Gun : Mavericktreats the jet fightersas characters in and of themselves . The F-14 Tomcat even receives a comeback similar to Maverick ’s own triumphant homecoming . Tom Cruise even gets the opportunity inTop Gun : Maverickto show off his own P51 - Mustang . It ’s not just authoritative aircraft that receives the spotlight either , Top Gun : Maverickhighlights the speed and fluidity of modern fighters and even an impressive if fancied , epitome hypersonic jet .

Tom Cruise flew richly in 2022 in Top Gun : Maverick . With its success , Top Gun 3 feels inevitable , and here ’s everything we roll in the hay about the next Top Gun .

Top Gun Maverick Latest Poster Tom Cruise

Grumman F-14 Tomcat

The Original Top Gun Plane Returned For The Sequel

The originalTop Gunhired real F-14 tom from the U.S. Navy for production . To reach the impressive aerial snapshot that Tony Scott wanted for the flying chronological succession , the manufacturing companionship , Grumman , was commission to reconstruct pod on theTop Gunplanes that could accommodate film cameras while being flown . The use of actual F-14s came at a eminent cost to Paramount Pictures , who had to give for fuel and the aircraft ’s operating monetary value . It costs roughly $ 8000 an hour ( forward-looking equivalent to over $ 21,000 ) to apply the F-14s inTop Gun .

Despite the U.S. Navy decommission them in 2006 , the end ofTop Gun : Maverickmade use of an F-14 as Maverick and Lieutenant Bradley " Rooster " Bradshaw ( Miles Teller ) bunk the enemy in one of their own aircraft .

While filmingTop Gun , Scott requested to shoot F-14s taking off from and put down on the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise , backlit by the coif sun . Scott call for that the captain of Enterprise conform his course to suit the shooting but was told that it would be him $ 25,000 ( just under $ 70,000 in 2022 ) to do so . Scott immediately wrote the captain a check and the aircraft aircraft carrier grow for the shot he wanted . The only problem arose when the captain tried to cash the chit subsequently , and it bounced ( viaThe Hollywood Reporter ) .

Fighter planes in Top Gun: Maverick

Despite the U.S. Navy decommission them in 2006,the ending ofTop Gun : Maverickmade use of an F-14 as Maverick and Lieutenant Bradley " Rooster " Bradshaw ( Miles Teller ) run away the enemy in one of their own aircraft . F-14s are still in use by Iran ’s Navy , but the production team could not take any active aircraft for filming .

So instead , Top Gun : Maverickused an engineless F-14A from the San Diego Air & Space Museum for the foe hangar scene . All the aerial sequence sport the F-14 were created using optical effects . The picture of the F-14 inTop Gun : Maverickfits absolutely with the picture ’s composition of nostalgia .

Northrop F-5F/F-5E Tiger II

Used To Portray Top Gun’s Enemy Planes

Top Gunutilized literal - life Northrop F-5 aircraft to depict the fictitious enemy MiG-28s . One small contingent that reveals that the MiG-28s are fictional is that all aircraft designated as MiGs are throw odd numbers in the existent world . This is because the real TOPGUN uses the F-5s to imitate attacker aircraft , a tradition thatTop Gunkept by paint the F-5s black to portray the fancied enemy jet fighters .

In the fictional world ofTop Gun , the MiG-28 is consider a formidable and extremely nomadic aircraft , and definitely a match for the various planes fly by Maverick and the other pilots . However , it also ca n’t quite match the speed of the F-14 Tomcat , and it ’s this edge that ultimately give the planes of the US Airforce an advantage . It ’s also interesting to note that the nationality of the pilots flying the MiG-28s is never specified , and rather than placingTop GunandTop Gun : Maverickin a specific conflict , the defend combatants are simply referred to with terms like " the foe " .

Douglas A-4 Skyhawk

Used As Training Planes To Simulate Enemy Aircraft

The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was used inTop Gunto simulate enemy MiG aircraft in the grooming sequences . The A-4s are flown by TOPGUN instructors Lieutenant Commander Rick " Jester " Heatherly ( Michael Ironside ) and Commander Mike " Viper " Metcalf ( Tom Skerritt ) in the movie . Unlike the MiG-28 , the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a substantial aircraft and was developed during the early 1950s . They saw a heavy amount of service in the Vietnam warfare , although today — asTop GunandTop Gun : Maverickrightly portray — they ’re used in a training electrical capacity .

Maverick is chase after an A-4 when he flies into Lieutenant Tom " Iceman " Kazansky ’s ( Val Kilmer ) jet wash and crashes .

One depiction of the A-4 inTop Guncomes when Maverick pilot under the 10,000 ft surd deck of cards to defeat Viper . The most important scene that theseTop Gunplanes are involved in is thedeath of Nick " Goose " Bradshaw(Anthony Edwards ) . Maverick is chasing an A-4 when he fly into Lieutenant Tom " Iceman " Kazansky ’s ( Val Kilmer ) jet-propelled plane wash and clangor .

Tom Cruise smiles in an image from Top Gun Maverick imposed over images of Miles Teller and Glen Powell

In this classic action flick, Tom Cruise stars as daring young pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Among the other students at the United States Navy’s elite fighter weapons school, he competes to be best in the class, and learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.

Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II

Seen As A Fleet Aboard An Aircraft

While it was only watch briefly inTop Gun , the LTV A-7 Corsair II is another one of the real aircraft used in the franchise . It ’s also something of a vintage aircraft , though it was still in - enjoyment when the firstTop Gunmovie was free in 1986 . The Ling - Temco - Vought A-7 Corsair II was bring in by the U.S. Navyin the 1960s to replace the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk .

Ironically , the use of the A-4 by the U.S. Navy survive the A-7 for over a decennary . Both feature conspicuously in the Vietnam War , and in the post - war geological era the LTV A-7 Corsair II found its foothold as one of the go - to aircraft for the Air National Guard . The A-7 was retired by the U.S. Navy only five years afterTop Gun , in 1991 . The A-4 was retired later in 2003 . InTop Gun , a fleet of A-7s can be seen lined up on an aircraft carrier at the end of the flick .

Grumman KA-6D/A-6 Intruder

Seen On An Aircraft In Top Gun’s Opening Sequence

Two variants of the Grumman A-6 Intruder are seen in the original 1986Top Gunmovie , though neither is as prominent as some of the more iconic aircraft like the F-14 . Still , like all the planes inTop GunandTop Gun : Maverick , it is a jet with a entrancing history . The A-6 was developed as an all - conditions attack aircraft for the U.S. Navy with nuclear capability . The U.S. Navy used it between 1963 - 97 , and like many of the aircraft inTop Gunthe Grumman A-6 Intruder play an integral part in the Vietnam War .

Darkstar

A Fictional Hypersonic Jet In Top Gun: Maverick’s Opening Scene

While the MiG-28 technically is n’t a actual aeroplane , it ’s not fictional in the same sense as the Darkstar Jet fromTop Gun : Maverick , which is the closest the enfranchisement ever comes to aeronautic scientific discipline - fable . Although the prototype hypersonic jet , Darkstar , thatMaverick pilots to Mach-10on a sentence test flight of stairs at the start ofTop Gun : Maverickis fictional , it is base on a veridical aircraft concept .

The Darkstar green inTop Gun : Maverickis based on the conceptual Lockheed Martin SR-72 .

The Chinese government call back the Mach 10 - subject Darkstar was so naturalistic that they misidentify it for a genuine military project . In a sense , they are right , as the Darkstar jet inTop Gun : Maverickis based on the conceptual Lockheed Martin SR-72 . Compared to the mind - bending swiftness that the Darkstar attains inTop Gun : Maverick , the SR-72 is proposed to be the first aircraft capable of flying at Mach 6 ( six time the speed of sound ) .

Three F-5s flying in the sky in Top Gun

Top Gun 3 and the next Mission : Impossible provide great challenge for Tom Cruise , but he has a much more venturesome movie in development .

Boeing F/A 18E/F Super Hornet

Used In Top Gun: Maverick’s Final Mission

Besides Tom Cruise , the Boeing Super Hornets are the stars ofTop Gun : Maverick . The Super Hornets are used by Maverick and his pupil for their missionary post to destroy the enemy ’s underground uranium enrichment plant . Despite being newer hardware than the F-14s inTop Gun , the Super Hornets are dim , with a top speed of only 1915 km/h . The F-18 is one of the most innovative tangible planes inTop Gun , entering Robert William Service in 1999 which , while decade ago , is still far more latterly than the many jets that were first deploy during fight like the Vietnam War .

The F-18 Super Hornet is one of the most iconic and recognizableTop Gunplanes used inTop Gun : Maverick , and are not only seen in the final mission but also in the incredible breeding dogfight . Despite being a certified cowcatcher , Cruise was n’t let to fly an F-18aircraft by the U.S. Navy . This make sentiency , give the Super Hornet ’s price rag of $ 70 million .

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

Seen Flying From An Aircraft Carrier

While they ’re only actually glimpsed during the secondTop Gunmovie , the F-35s are mentioned throughoutTop Gun : Maverickas Maverick ’s desired planes for the commission . However , he is abnegate the manipulation of them by his higher - ups . In genuine life , though , the F-35s plane were not used inTop Gunbecause they only sit down a single pilot . The F-35 is peculiarly celebrated among modern jet for its ability to hover in position and perform perpendicular landing — a feat that involve an incredible amount of technology ingenuity .

Top Gun : Maverick ’s aerial sequence were filmed mainly much and thus want two citizenry to occupy the plane : the actor playing the pilot and the real , trained pilot , which is why the F-35 was n’t used . However , the F-35s can be seen aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln before Maverick and the team take off for their commission . Like many of the F - series planes inTop GunandTop Gun : Maverick , such as the F-18 and F-14 , the F-35 is an easily recognizable vehicle for aircraft caramel brown . It ’s also an improbably modern special K , having only entered service in the various branches of the military in the late 00s .

Sukhoi Su-57 Felon

Used As Top Gun: Maverick’s Enemy Planes

The Sukhoi Su-57 Felon toy the villainous part of the nameless foe ’s highly advanced"fifth generation fighters"inTop Gun : rebel . Although the enemy ’s identity is never revealed inTop Gun : Maverick , the Su-57 is a Russian aircraft . Much is made of the Su-57 ’s impressive capabilities , especially compared to the Super Hornets . Maverick even warns his students not to dogfight with these planes , as the Su-57s are more than adequate to of outflying the Super Hornets witha top speed of 2,130 km/h .

While the nationality of the enemy forces is deliberately restrain vague , Su aircraft have been used on the oppose side of many conflicts the US has an active interest in .

The actual peril of the Su-57s is displayed inTop Gun : Maverick ’s climax , when it avoided Maverick ’s projectile lock and outflank the F-14 . The function of the Su-57 also supply a pinch of pragmatism toTop Gun : Maverick . While the nationality of the foe force is deliberately hold on faint , Su aircraft have been used on the opposing side of many conflict the US has an combat-ready interest in . For example , they are currently employed by the Russian air force for the invasion of Ukraine .

The A4 flying in the air in Top Gun.

P-51 Mustang

Maverick’s Own Classic Plane

While the various F - series jets inTop GunandTop Gun : Maverickare straightaway recognizable to viewers with knowledge of military aircraft , none can be said to be as iconic as the vintage P-51 mustang seen inTop Gun 2.TheP-51 Mustang that Maverick fliesinTop Gun : Maverickis not only actually piloted by Tom Cruise , but he also own it .

The Mustang , called"Kiss Me Kate,“was identify after Cruise ’s then - wife Katie Holmes when he bought it in 2004 . The Mustang was manufactured in 1946 before being rejuvenate by a premature owner in 1997 . Not only did Cruise pilot the Mustang in the movie , but he also made a drug abuse of flying to the circle in it . The employment of real plane in both motion-picture show usher their dedication to realism and the aircraft depicted in them .

Other Facts About The Top Gun Planes

Top Gun: Maverick Paid Steep Prices For The Use Of Real Planes

The biggest lure of both the originalTop Gunand the continuation , Top Gun : Maverick , was the expiry - defying fly sequences . The production of both moving-picture show made sure to use both real plane and those ground on genuine planes to authenticate the experience . It also helped that Tom Cruise take a firm stand on doing as much as he can without doubles , and that included Cruise flying the P-51 Mustang in the motion picture , which is specially nice for the actor since he was n’t grant to fly certain plane in the first picture show for security intellect .

It also was n’t brassy to use real aircraft for theTop Gunplanes . TheU.S. Navy charged theTop Gun : Maverickproduction $ 11,000 an hourto use its F / A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets ( viaBloomberg ) . That likely is part of the reasonableness the budget rack up $ 171 million . as luck would have it , the Navy worked hand - in - script with the production to serve get more realistic shots , as many of the take - offs and landings were from actual Naval breeding missions that the output team was call for to shoot on - site .

In the end , it was a massive success , with theTop Gunsequel score $ 1.4 billion ( viaThe Numbers ) and several Oscar nominations , let in Best Picture .

The A7 planes on the aircraft carrier in Top Gun

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Cast

In this classic action flick , Tom Cruise wizard as daring young pilot Pete " Maverick " Mitchell . Among the other educatee at the United States Navy ’s elite scrapper weapons school , he competes to be right in the class , and learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not teach in the classroom .

Top Gun : Maverick is the continuation to the 1986 original motion picture starring Tom Cruise as Pete " Maverick " Mitchell , a top - tier fender in the Navy . Thirty age after the original flick ’s effect , Maverick is ask to lead up a section of the TOP GUN program to ship on a dangerous mission . Things become personal when the program includes the son of Maverick ’s later friend , forcing him to confront his yesteryear .

A navy worker standing beside the A-6 plane in Top Gun.

Tom Cruise in Oblivion flying alongside Cruise in Top Gun Maverick smiling

A lineup of Superhornet jets in Top Gun Maverick

Two F-35 planes flying in Top Gun: Maverick.

An enemy pilot spying a plane out of his cockpit in Top Gun: Maverick

Tom Cruise flying upside down his jet in Top Gun Maverick

Top Gun Poster

In this classic action flick, Tom Cruise stars as daring young pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Among the other students at the United States Navy’s elite fighter weapons school, he competes to be best in the class, and learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.

Headshot Of Tom Cruise In The UK premiere of ‘Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning’ Part One

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Headshot Of Miles Teller

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Top Gun: Maverick

Top Gun