Stay up to date on the latest scripts & screenwriting articles. The Navy advised several changes to help with the film's realism in its portrayal of Naval operations, so whileTop Gun's narrative may be fictional, it's certainly plausible. Entering Top Gun, Iceman is considered to be the best; Goose tells Maverick (and us) as much. You can count on that. At 30:01, Maverick's F-14 is very low near the ground which exactly would be the 'hard deck' or below thus in reality, he would have been classified as crashed. Goose questions Slider, "Slider, thought you wanted to be a pilot, man - what happened?" Viper Related:How The Vietnam War Led To Top Gun. Conversation at 38:26. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. You gotta let him go. This is a a large mistake as one, Maverick and Goose have encountered an enemy aircraft close for the first time, two, other staff like intelligence officers would like to know what they saw. The enemy Mig 28/F-5E Tiger II aircraft seen at at the end of the movie are supposed to be carrying Exocet anti-ship missiles. Stinger wears a hat/cover inside the ship. In the showers, Slider was sitting on the bench. : Too Gun was released in 1986, which would make Maverick 33 in that movie. Thats pretty arrogant considering the company youre in, Viper tells Maverick. The vehicle "Charlie" is driving was borrowed from her "older date" at the beginning of the movie hence the vehicle having a blue DOD decal. Gentlemen You had a hell of a first day. Then the far shot shows Slider getting up from the same spot where he was sitting. The distance between the aircraft after Goose takes the picture. Up there, we gotta push it. He got you, didn't he? That is disrespectful. The Carrier Air Traffic Control Center (CATCC) controller is sweating at 4:23. Official Sites [pauses] Duke is referenced four timesin the film. The Oriskany was a WWII Essex Class carrier modernized to operate jets. F-4s were too big to fly off her deck. Their radar signals can be backtracked to their source as well, but all they do is give the enemy a general idea of where the carrier is, and by the time they worked out the exact location, F-14s would be in position to intercept any hostile aircraft. | Top Gun rules of engagement are written for your safety and for that of your team. Iceman would never be able to intentionally pick his wingman in reality. This might seem unlikely given the apt nature of his callsign, but it actually makes perfect sense in line with his character development inTop Gun. As the F-14s turn, the wings are swept fully aft. At 1:36:41, Iceman radios, "I'm going for the shot" while at close range behind a bandit." : The F-14 crews were filmed in a discarded Navy cockpit that was not attached to the rest of the plane. In the end, Maverick chooses to graduate from the program, though Iceman officially wins the TOPGUN Trophy. This signal is given early in F-14 launch procedures, not right before launch. He's a Radar Intercept Officer (RIO), for slamming a fellow RIO? when he got there and in case he didn't he tells him to that he would fly with him. On run up to mil power and AB, it's a shore based launch. Viper Iceman and Slider wear patches and insignia from then Attack Squadron 25 (VA-25) now Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA-25) the "Fist of the Fleet." Towards the end of flying time it is nighttime. He's your typical, no nonsense, high-ranking naval aviator. Viper is a Vietnam War vet who flew a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II along side Duke. We weren't below 10,000 for more than a few seconds. Jester states," All right, gentlemen, we have a hop to take. Gender He is impressed with his skills even after he broke Even if he used his guns, the debris would be sucked up into his engines and his plane would be damaged. Once identified, it is referred to as a "friendly" (for friendly aircraft), "bandit" (for non-friendly aircraft) or "hostile" (for non-friendly aircraft that may be fired at). Viper risked his own career to share this with Maverick, because he knew that Maverick needed to hear it. VF-51, the Oriskany. This is incorrect; he would refer to jets by aircraft side numbers. : In the training Hops, both Merlin and a blue-helmeted pilot can be seen in Maverick's RIO seat. When Maverick and Charlie drive up in her Porsche, there are no windshield wipers on the car, but in the close up shots, they are there. Viper During the first hop, Jester clearly states that the hard deck would be 10,000 feet. The whole thing was made Classified Information because it took place "over the wrong line on some map," so Maverick has not learned until now that his father died a hero, performing a Physical description In aviation training the "hard deck" is the simulated ground (for an added layer of safety). Any aviator gets a wingman detailed by the operations officer, schedule officer or the Squadron Commanding Officer. In reality, the Air Boss would have disciplined the LSO or in fact, Cougar would have crashed. Additionally, it is visible in a later shot. Commander Mike "Viper " Metcalf is a naval aviator and an instructor at TOPGUN. Maverick shoots a Sparrow missile in the rear quarter at short range, which wouldn't work because the AIM-7 Sparrow needs a lot of closure to guide. When Maverick is on the flight deck of the carrier a T2 Buckeye jet trainer, painted orange and white, taxis by behind him. Stockdale was shot down in 1965 and spent the rest of the war as a POW. Profession A good pilot is compelled to evaluate what's happened, so he can apply what he's learned. By the end ofTop Gun, he's learned the importance of teamwork and following orders, saving Iceman instead of chasing personal glory. These points are located on the front fuselage close to the cockpit. In the opening scene when all planes take off, it is sunrise. When Maverick is singing in the bar his badge reads PETER MITCHELL. That spin was hell, it would've shook me up. Why? Later on again towards the end of the movie when they receive orders on the carrier to provide air support to the disabled ship SS Leighton, you see that very same video shot of the red & white 515 plane. One would not find trainers (and presumably student pilots) on carriers operating in combat zones. He admires Maverick's confidence, even if he knows it needs to be harnessed and integrated with the other pilots. | Completely unpredictable. For an F-14 to be traveling at supersonic speeds, the wings would have to in the swept back position. recovery course (BRC). Then, the Landing Signal Officer hears a reply, "Roger Ball," without ever hearing Cougar confirm that he had the Ball in sight. Before an ejection, crews are taught to fasten their oxygen masks securely to not only provide oxygen at high altitudes, but also to prevent it from causing injuries. Additionally, the second verse is missing when Charlie plays the song on the jukebox at the end of the film. Yeah, I'm sure he's saying that. Had he done so, he would've put his crew and Iceman and Slider at risk. At 59:04. After Maverick's reckless nature finally begins to catch up with him when his friend Goose is killed during a training exercise gone awry, he starts to change his ways. During this time, you can see the wings change from extended and retracted from shot to shot. The canopy strike leading to Goose's death was, in fact, based around a real life incident, involving a test crew. In subsequent shots, he's apparently been demoted back to lieutenant junior grade. The altimeter reads 31,500 ft the first time, and *9,300 ft (the first number obscured) a second later. A good pilot is compelled to evaluate what's happened, so he can apply what he's learned. In reality, an AWACs such as an E-2C would be first guiding the F-14s towards their targets, allowing the F-14s to use passive intercept. : There are no points for second place. A flat spin means has no forward airspeed as it spins towards the ground around its vertical axis. Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar was actually in the Miramar neighborhood of the City of San Diego, CA. See 1:41:14. During the first briefing, Chipper is smoking a cigarette. He's the head honcho at Top Gun, and he was the first guy to win the coveted Top Gun trophy. The simple fact is you feel responsible for Goose and you have a confidence problem. The vertical speed indicator shows Cougar's F-14 descending at 6,000 feet per minute, which would be an aggressive dive. Good luck. Maverick's journey throughout the film is one of self-discovery. Maverick: So you're saying I should quit? WebViper: Goose is dead. Several characters like Slider, Wolfman, Sundown and even Goose hold the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade. However, at this point they had not graduated yet. What's on your mind? Currently VFA-25 Flies the F/A-18C Hornet. Web. Failed admission into the US Academy may be due to low SAT scores for example. In reality, the Martin Baker GRU-7A ejection seat, along will all modern ejection seats, has an additional ejection handle located between the pilot's legs for exactly this situation, so the pilot can eject no matter how he is positioned in the seat. : Furthermore, in this shot the bow is now shown stacked with unused airplanes, which would render the depicted takeoff impossible. | This is because only two live missile launches were authorized by the military and so the footage is repeated many times throughout the film along with model shots. (3) Flying too close to Iceman's plane, and subsequently through his jet-wash, which induced the flat spin that later caused Goose's death. Instead, they could have ordered Maverick to refuel from an airborne tanker like the KA-6D which would be always airborne for approaching aircraft. This happens at 10:12. Viper is a Vietnam War vet who flew a McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II along side Duke. In hop 19, Hollywood and Maverick are chasing Jester while Viper gets away. In the very first flight, some of the shots show Maverick and Merlin together instead of Goose. When Maverick is riding his motorcycle along the runway, you can see the tie-down straps that hold him onto the trailer, visible on his front fender. Viper has a high opinion of Mavericks father and also of Maverick. Maverick Third, is a Multinational Force and Observers Medal. 1986 minus 33 means Maverick was born in 1953, which means Duke and his wife last got dirty as early as 1952, which was when the Oriskany was supporting the war in Korea. : (2) The flyby of the tower. Yet, Merlin fails to warn him. Too Gun was released in 1986, which would make Maverick 33 in that movie. Charlie remarks to Maverick at it's a gamble with a $30 million plane at 51:43. Maverick's sunglasses are (not) on when Slider picks him up after they return to the carrier. portrayed by Svetlana Khodchenkova in the Earth : The 3 o'clock direction is to the right; 9 o'clock would be the left. : See 1:26:50. Despite being cleared of any wrongdoing by the board of inquiry, Maverick feels guilty over Goose's death and his flying skill begins to diminish. Every so often something comes along to challenge your expectations of what to expect from a particular form of entertainment. "Bullseye" is a fixed point on a map, by which navigation instructions can be relayed over the radio, without giving any vital information away to possible enemies in the area. At 12:51, Cougar, with PTSD, miraculously lands and somehow switches off his F-14. The bogeys were like fireflies all over the sky line reminded of the coffin-corner SAM scene from Maverick. Well, that's not something the State Department tells dependents when the battle occurred over the wrong line on some map. 1986 minus 33 means Maverick was born in 1953, which means Duke and his wife last got dirty as early as 1952, which was when the Oriskany was supporting the war in Korea. Maverick, now paired with Merlin, serves as backup F-14 to Iceman and Hollywood. Mind blown! : The F-14 is equipped with chaff dispensers to deceive radar-guided missiles, and flare dispensers to fool heat-seeking missiles, none of which were used in the film. When Maverick is cruising on his motorcycle right after arriving at Miramar, it is high noon. They are armed with Aim-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and fuel tanks. It doesn't appear in any feeds, and anyone with a direct link to it will see a message like this one. "Top Gun Quotes." This is noticeable above and behind Maverick on the upper left side of the canopy. The RIO contacted the canopy as he was being propelled above and away from the stricken aircraft, breaking his leg in the process, though he nearly hit the canopy head first. Just later on, he reveals the whole encounter to all the others who may not have security clearance to hear the story. The defensive capabilities of the F-14 are misrepresented. He was a natural heroic son of a bitch that one. It's only been a few days. When the producers were trying to determine a way for Maverick and Goose to crash, but only kill Goose, Technical Adviser Pete "Viper" Pettigrew remembered this incident from early in his time flying the F-14, and suggested that this be the plot device for Goose's death. Maverick's tailhook retracts too quickly when he decides to rescue Cougar. The two fall in love. Goose states, ""We're going ballistic, Mav. Why would there be? All yours. Top Gun However, Mike "Viper" Metcalf (Tom Skerritt) knows that Maverick's father, Duke, was one of the best military aviators, and also that the general public doesn't know the specifics of his untimely death - which remains "Classified" information. Either obey them, or you're history. What's on your mind? That he died in disgrace That he died heroically That he didnt actually die Q.17 Who winds up winning Commander Mike "Viper" Metcalf fits the bill. You followed Commander Heatherly below after he lost sight of you and called no joy. During the "I lost him in the sun" dialogue during the opening carrier flight, the line of dialogue comes from the Cougar/Merlin plane. : Maverick: My options, Sir. At 29:53 and 55:45, the smoke from the F-14 is actually fuel being dumped. WebViper tells him about his father (which could get Viper in a lot of trouble as what he tells him is classified), and he knows that this is what Maverick needs to hear. Maverick helps Cougar safely land his plane after disobeying orders to land his plane, and Cougar later turns in his wings, unwilling to go to his grave without actually meeting his own newborn child. (Some thought he was wearing full lieutenant insignia; they are similar.). Viper Furthermore, while the top of the Martin Baker GRU-7 ejection seat did sit higher than the top of the crew members heads, they were not, however, equipped with "canopy breakers," like some modern ejection seats have. Both of the original markings are not real Tomcats squadron markings. Upcoming sequelTop Gun: Maverickcontinues the original movie's storylinesand will see Cruise return to TOPGUN as an instructor. You fly jets long enough, something like this happens. Only better and worse. Flight crews are seen throughout the film wearing golf shirts under their flight suits. During the final dog fight, Iceman's F-14 is hit, resulting in him shutting down an engine. Iceman also doesn't approve of Maverick's flying skills, accusing him of being an Ineffectual Loner and Glory Hound; Jester though he privately respects Maverick's Ace Piloting, doesn't know if he would make a good teammate in battle. Both Iceman and Slider are wearing the TOPGUN patch on their flightsuits as they watch the Maverick/Sundown "We could have had him" confrontation. The film's ending shows Maverick choosing to overcome it all, makingTop Gun's ending a happy one for the pilot, who finally fulfills his heroic potential. It is against federal law to wear unearned badges and insignia on a military installation. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Maverick's wristwatch changes several times during the training flight. They are not flexible, nor am I. American The last position of the encounter was at 150 miles. Throughout the film in various dogfight scenes, the wrong pilot can be seen in the RIO seat of the F-14. In the elevator, Charlie's ear alternates between being tucked under her cap and being untucked between shots. United States Navy Let's go home, Viper has the lead. while holding a plane model in front of his face. Viper gets a couple near the end: First, when Maverick visits him, he finally discloses the details of how Maverick's father died, and reassures Mav that his old man died honorably in combat. At the start where the F-14s encounter the Mig-28s and at the final dogfight, Stinger relies on one radar operator or air traffic controller to receive news. Mike Metcalf During the flat spin sequence, Maverick tells Goose to perform the ejection because he is pinned down by the force of the spin and "can't reach the ejection handle". Goose wouldn't be carrying a Polaroid camera. When Maverick visits Viper to discuss his options about graduation after the death of Goose, the color of the sky changes drastically as the two of them exit and start walking away from the house. After the accident when Goose dies - the sequence of events includes the complete investigation of the incident, the hearing and Maverick back in the air in just a few days. Anyone calling their aircraft over the radio would refer to the aircraft's mission callsign, in this case, "Ghostrider 117" for Cougar and Merlin, and "Ghostrider 203," for Maverick and Goose. Near the beginning in the bar, Goose says he'd be happy just to have a woman talk dirty to him. Because of this incident, Grumman extended the canopy lanyard, in order to give the canopy more time to clear the aircraft before the ejection seats would fire. [discussing Maverick] There, he reunites with Charlie at a bar. He was my R.I.O., my responsibility. : Mav decides to go back and graduate with his Top Gun class. When the discussion starts Maverick takes off his sunglasses. He and Iceman rally, with Maverick downing three MiGs and Iceman a fourth; the remaining bogeys, noticing the lopsided KDA ratio, retreat. He pressures Iceman to break off so he can take the shot, but Maverick flies through Iceman's jet wash, causing his fighter's engines to fail. Viper tells him about his father (which could get Viper in a lot of trouble as what he tells him is classified), and he knows that this is what Maverick needs to hear. There will be no engagements below that." Viper When Charlie chases down Maverick on his motorcycle her car has a blue DOD decal on its windshield. When Maverick comes over and leans on it, Slider isn't shown. Hop to take shots show Maverick and Merlin together instead of chasing personal glory on its.! Bow is now shown stacked with unused airplanes, which would make Maverick 33 that. Miramar neighborhood of the tower are ( not ) on carriers operating in combat zones fully aft it. Was not attached to the right ; 9 o'clock would be 10,000 feet ft! The first guy to win the coveted Top Gun Trophy near the beginning in the bar his badge PETER... 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