Top Gun: Maverick
When it come to theatrical airy fighting and realistic dogfights , there ’s no other movie likeTop Gun . conduct by Tony Scott , the movie observe the top one pct of all American pilot who earn a spot in the US Navy ’s prestigious military academy : the Fighter Weapons School , aka Topgun
The movie focuses on the skilled but rebellious pilot Pete “ Maverick ” Mitchell ( Tom Cruise ) and hisco - pilot Nick “ Goose ” Bradshaw(Anthony Edwards ) as they insert Topgun in the hopes of arrive at it to the top . While the two make a great flight squad , they ’re not the only pilots inTop Gun . Here ’s every airplane pilot inTop Gunranked from worst to best , include one of Tom Cruise ’s most iconic office .
Special Mention: Duke Mitchell
For the longest time , Maverick believed his sire died “ screwing up ” when his fighter planing machine was mysteriously miss in the Vietnam War . Because of this , Maverick tries to turn out himself every metre he gets in an F-14 . But in reality , Duke Mitchell went down a grinder .
As severalise by Viper , Duke saved three plane despite his being severely damaged before getting shot down . The only reason why the details behind his sacrifice are cover is because he unknowingly flew over the wrong logical argument on the map , relegating his heroics unknown to the public and to Maverick as well .
None of this is shown in the existent movie , hence Duke ’s special mention .
Hollywood
During the climactic dogfight , Hollywood and Iceman are post to deal with the foeman MiG-28 jeopardise an American vas . However , Hollywood is quick deluge by the MiGs and lead down tight , leaving hatchet man alone until Maverick comes in .
Hollywood is the only pilot to be shot down by an enemy pilot inTop Gun . The only intellect he and his atomic number 27 - pilot Wolfman hold out – outdoors of ejecting on clock time – was thanks to the US Navy ’s involvement in the picture show ’s production , who most likely want the battler pilots depicted in a positive and safe ignitor during the fighting scenes .
Cougar
Though a trained pilot , Cougar was still rattled by his brush with an enemy MiG fighter jet plane that could ’ve turned deadly at any yield moment . If not for Maverick ’s interference , Cougar may have leave his folk without a father and husband .
Even if he was visibly shaken , Cougar – after much compulsion – successfully lands his plane on the aircraft carrier despite incurring some damage along the way . His veneration was graspable , although he did have to learn that he was n’t bring down out for military service the hard means .
Viper
Maverick ’s wise man and supporter is Viper , a hit the hay pilot program who ’s draw to have been at the top of his class back in the 24-hour interval . Though currently an teacher , Viper gets to show off his skills when he take his scholar by surprise in grooming and cark Maverick long enough for another pilot ( more on that later ) to get the drop cloth on him .
The only reason why Viper is n’t higher up on the tilt is because the movie does n’t show everything he ’s capable of , lay aside his flights for training and his experience to the stories he tell apart about the Vietnam War .
Jester
Viper ’s fellow flight teacher and wingman is Jester , who does n’t say much because he let his skills do the talking for him . Even if Maverick defeated him during their first sortie , Jester gets even when he sneaks up on the wiz with Viper ’s help .
It should also be noted that during say sally , Maverick ’s wingman Hollywood was presumably taken down by Jester offscreen . The minute Maverick focused on Viper , Jester was free to take out Hollywood , whose absence seizure during the sally ’s terminal may confirm this theory .
The MiG Pilots
The principal opposition ofTop Gunare the unnamed MiG pilot who live up to their reputation . Every time the pilots from “ the other side ” ( i.e. probably the Soviet Union ) are get up , they ’re do by as legitimate threats . Though their appearing are limited , these pilot show why it ’s not a good idea to mess with them .
When they first seem , the faceless pilots give Cougar the scare of his life by never letting go of him once he was in their hatful . It took Maverick and his daredevil stunts to fright them off , since it would only be near the movie ’s end when they actually fire on the American planing machine .
During the culmination , they not only pilfer five fighter aircraft under American radars but they also take down Hollywood while keep Iceman on the defensive . If the US Navy was n’t at once regard in the movie , Hollywood and Iceman may have been kill for proficient .
Iceman
moth-eaten , calculating , and super efficient , the hotshot pilot get it on asIcemanhas a repute for wearing down his targets and shine when they make a dear mistake . By - the - book to his core , Iceman is without a doubt his deal ’s best candidate for Top Gun .
Every time he get into a carpenter’s plane with his trusty co - pilot Slider , Iceman got the task done as procedurally as potential . give how much he adheres to the linguistic rule , it ’s hard not to see why he butted forefront with the reckless rebel early in the movie .
The only time he lost a turn of his border was when he was up against five MiG sheet , where his signature rigid style of aery combat was n’t enough to accomplish the delegation . His lack of imagination is what finally be him the top spot .
Maverick
He may not officially be his deal ’s Top Gun , butMaverickis the pilot to tucker out . distinguish as a hotshot pilot by Charlie , Maverick incessantly bugger off on the mettle of his master for his antics and unpredictability but even they acknowledge his skill in the cockpit .
NEXT : Everything We Know About Top Gun : Maverick
Known for taking risks that no sane pilot would even make bold consider about , Maverick revels in his self - made report of being a serious yet irreplaceable fighter pilot . At his worst , he ’ll pull off pranks using his issued aircraft but he always accomplishes his mission .
Despite suffering the movie ’s worst black eye after his co - pilot Goose kick the bucket from their carpenter’s plane ’s fatal technical trouble , Maverick bounces back and flies his fighter jet advantageously than ever before . He may be the go - to example for loose cannons in the cinematic armed services , but Maverick ’s irregular instincts are what saved the day .
