As someone who’s spent countless hours marveling at the skill and precision of real-life aviators, I can confidently say that Top Gun: Maverick has truly outdone itself when it comes to authenticity. Having grown up watching Tom Cruise soar through the skies as a kid, seeing him return to the cockpit after 36 years was nothing short of exhilarating.
Rather than relying solely on green screens and CGI, director Joseph Kosinski and multi-talented actor Tom Cruise ensured that the entire cast underwent intense training to endure the extreme G-forces of a real fighter jet for the thrilling action sequences in Top Gun: Maverick. The efforts of the cast and crew have been acknowledged by a real US Marine fighter pilot, who is also an instructor at the Top Gun flight school. It’s clear that their dedication has resulted in a spectacular portrayal of these scenes.
A journalist interviewed Dave Berke, a former U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot and Top Gun instructor, about the accuracy of the action in Top Gun: Maverick. Berke, the only Marine pilot to fly both the F-22 and F-35 aircraft, was asked to rate several scenes from the critically acclaimed sequel on a scale of 1 to 10 for realism.
In the world of Hollywood action movies, pushing the boundaries of realism is often the norm. However, the air combat, maneuvers, and stunts in Top Gun: Maverick have garnered near-flawless ratings. The sequel brings back Maverick (Tom Cruise) to train novice fighter pilots for a highly perilous mission that includes navigating an almost impossible flight path beneath bridges and over mountain peaks. Although the route seems implausible, Berke confirmed it could be achieved in reality. He stated:
“To execute side-to-side movements efficiently during flight, pilots need to balance on what is known as a ‘knife edge’ position, which is along the wing of the jet. This allows for more effective turning in mid-air. The portrayal of this was quite realistic and well done.
Top Gun: Maverick Isn’t 100% Realistic
Dave Berke, in his review, praised the aerial combat and flight stunts with a score of 9/10. However, he had concerns about certain aspects of the movie’s portrayal of aviation. For instance, some technical details, such as the radar-guided missiles and anti-missile flares, were not accurately depicted. More importantly, Berke felt that the film should have ended sooner. The initial scene showcases Maverick attempting a test flight on an experimental aircraft capable of reaching Mach 10 (approximately 7000 mph). Though this scene is thrilling, when Maverick was compelled to eject from the plane at its maximum speed, it would have resulted in his immediate death. Burke elaborated:
“In reality, if a character in this film were to eject at speeds of Mach 10 at the start, it would mean the end of the movie. Such an ejection wouldn’t be survivable. You can’t just eject at those speeds and expect to walk away unharmed. The filmmakers have taken some artistic liberties, which is acceptable, but a Mach 10 ejection isn’t something anyone would wish for.”
In addition to Tom Cruise, the cast of Top Gun: Maverick includes the rapidly rising star Glen Powell, along with Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Val Kilmer, Jon Hamm, Monica Barbaro, Danny Ramirez, and Jay Ellis. After a 36-year gap, Cruise reappeared as Maverick in cinemas, but the wait for Top Gun 3 will be significantly shorter – its development is already underway.
Top Gun: Maverick
is currently streaming on Prime Video.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-09-01 23:34