Filming the Flying Scenes in 'Top Gun' - Imagination,Technology, Art, and Skill Create An Enduring Hit

摘要

The movie "Top Gun" thrilled audiences around the world and introduced millions to the excitement of Naval Aviation when it was released twenty-five years ago in 1986. Neophytes were exposed to the stunning visuals, thrilling action, machinery, danger, and personalities that are integral parts of operating jet fighters from aircraft carriers in the modern world. Viewers who knew about aviation spotted some flaws, such as the fact there is no "MiG-28," but most accepted them as the price of admission - the cost of seeing some of the most memorable flying scenes ever committed to film. This paper will not focus on those technical errors, but will instead describe some of the people, equipment, and actions that went into the flying scenes in "Top Gun." The author was an F-14 Tomcat radar intercept officer (RIO) and instructor at the Navy Fighter Weapons School, and helped with several parts of the movie.