Top Gun (1986)

Top Gun (1986), an American action drama directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, was distributed by Paramount Pictures. U.S. Navy Naval Aviator Lieutenant Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell and his Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) Lieutenant Junior Grade Nick ‘Goose’ Bradshaw were stationed aboard the USS Enterprise in the Indian Ocean. They flew the F-14A Tomcat and during an interception with two hostile MiG-28s, Maverick locked onto one while the other targeted his wingman, Cougar. Though Maverick successfully scared it off, Cougar was too shaken to continue, leading Maverick to disobey orders and guide him back to the carrier. As a result of this incident, Cougar resigned from his position and Maverick and Goose were chosen by CAG ‘Stinger’ as replacements to attend Top Gun at Naval Air Station Miramar, the Naval Fighter Weapons School.

Prior to the start of classes, Maverick’s attempt to flirt with a woman at a bar proves fruitless. The following day, he discovers that she is both an astrophysicist and a civilian Top Gun instructor by the name of Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Blackwood. Upon hearing about Maverick’s impressive feat of performing an inverted maneuver with a MiG-28, Charlie takes an interest in him. During his first training flight, Maverick breaks one of the key rules of engagement by flying below 10,000 feet (3,000 m) to defeat Lieutenant Commander Rick ‘Jester’ Heatherly, one of the instructors. In addition, he and his co-pilot Goose disobey orders by buzzing the control tower. As a result, they are reprimanded by their chief instructor Commander Mike ‘Viper’ Metcalf. In a private conversation with Viper, Jester expresses admiration for Maverick’s skill but doubts whether he would make a dependable teammate in combat situations.