Top Gun: Maverick has only just been released in movie theaters, but that doesn’t mean reviews haven’t begun to role in. The sequel to the 1986 film has been met with primarily positive reviews, with many, including US Navy aviators, applauding the production’s dedication to the authenticity of life as a pilot in the service.
To accomplish this degree of authenticity, filmmakers enlisted the help of real-life naval pilots to fly aircraft in the movie. Tom Cruise, who reprises his role of Capt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, also had his co-stars take an intensive flight training program, which saw them get in the cockpit of the Navy’s fastest planes.
Before starting work on Top Gun: Maverick, Cruise and producer Jerry Bruckheimer (Black Hawk Down, Con Air) agreed that they wanted to deliver quality aerial footage of TOPGUN aircraft in action. To do this, Cruise teamed up with aerial coordinator Kevin LaRosa Jr. to develop a program that would have the film’s actors not only get to know the aircraft being featured, but allow them to get used to the G-forces.
Speaking with Variety, LaRosa shared that the training began with the Cessna 172 and continued from there. “We started with the Cessna 172 and we took them through basic flying,” he said. “This allowed them to see what it was like to take off, land and know where to look and put their hands.” The aircraft also allowed the actors to get a feel for how a small G-force feels like.
Once they were comfortable in the Cessna 172, the training moved to the Extra 300. Once they had built up a tolerance to the G-force, the actors were moved to the L-39, which “allowed them to experience a fighter trainer jet.” After this, the production “had aviators,” according to LaRosa.
According to reports, actors Monica Barbaro, Miles Teller, Glen Powell and Lewis Pullman, who portray aviators Lt. Natasha “Phoenix” Trace, Lt. Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, Lt. Jake “Hangman” Seresin and Lt. Robert “Bob” Floyd, respectively, were among those who underwent the training program.
Speaking with The New York Daily News, Powell spoke about Cruise’s dedication to authenticity:
