Talk:Top Gun (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

WikiProject California This article is part of WikiProject California, an attempt to build a comprehensive and detailed guide to California on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, you can edit this article, or visit the project page to join the project and/or contribute to the discussion.
Peer review Top Gun (film) has had a peer review by Wikipedia editors which is now archived. It may contain ideas you can use to improve this article.
Film Portal
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Films. This project is a central gathering of editors working to build comprehensive and detailed articles for film topics on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, you can edit the article attached to this page, or visit the project page, where you can join the project and/or contribute to the discussion.
B
This article has been rated as B-Class on the quality scale.
High
This article has been rated as High-importance on the priority scale.
To-do list for Top Gun (film): edit · history · watch · refresh

Here are some tasks you can do:

    Please don't write in this area. Create a heading so that the Table of Contents will actually work. Thank you. -Sarfa 22:20, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

    Contents

    [edit] MiG28 goof?

    Is the naming of it the MiG28 really a 'goof' when it's suggested it's actually been done deliberately so that there wouldn't be a real MiG28 to compare with the aircraft in the movie? --81.107.39.205 22:06, 26 August 2007 (UTC)

    On a slightly related note, I noticed that when the MiG-28 opens fire on Iceman it shows a shot of an external rotary cannon, like that seen on the A-10. However, the F-5E has no such external weapon, and indeed it would make no sense for a modern jet fighter to have such a setup where it would increase drag - Masterblooregard 23:13, 1 October 2007 (UTC)

    Just wanted to let you all know that it was not an F-5 but rather a modified Air Force T-38 that was used as the agressor vehicle in the movie to simulate the fictional mig-28. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.213.210.161 (talk) 16:01, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

    [edit] Paramount ride(s)

    There is also a suspended rollercoaster named 'Top Gun' at Paramount's King's Island, near Mason, Ohio. -Graptor

    ---In trivia it says; Top Gun is also the name of a popular ride at several Paramount Parks (a Vekoma SLC and Arrow Suspended). Then in Success it states: Theme Park Ride Since 1993, Paramount's Great America (located in Santa Clara, California) has been home to an inverted roller coaster called "Top Gun" based off of the movie. Should we delete it from tivia and write all the theme park notes in the success section? Smerk 04:01, 24 December 2005 (UTC)

    [edit] Which Aircraft Carrier?

    Does anybody know which aircraft carrier was used in the Top Gun movie?

    The ship is supposed to be the USS Enterprise, CVN-65 - the CAG wears an Enterprise cap when he's talking to Maverick. The final credits thank Enterprise, Carl Vinson and Ranger. I gather that most scenes were shot aboard Ranger, but I don't know anything definitive. BobThePirate 16:25, 7 January 2006 (UTC)

    On the DVD making of featurette, they say that it is the Enterprise. Rick Rossovich 03:45, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

    [edit] Errors in article.

    I'd like to point out a couple of errors in the plot synopsis. I didn't want to just go in there and make changes to someone else's article, so I figured I'd post them here and give the author the chance to correct them him/herself.

    1 - Maverick shoots down three MiGs in the end battle scene, not five. A total of six MiGs were involved ("We've got four on our tail. That makes six of them."); Maverick shot down three, Iceman shot down one, and the remaining two retreated (bugged out).

    2 - The US did not "assign odd-numbered designations to Soviet aircraft;" in fact the US didn't assign *any* designations. These were assigned by the Russians themselves, and they were not limited to odd numbers. Some examples are: Tu-16, Tu-22, Su-22, Su-24, An-126, An-24, Yak-36, Yak-38, just to name a few. What the US *did* assign to Soviet/Russian aircraft were names, with the first letter typically referring to the type of aircraft: C for cargo, F for fighter, B for bomber, H for helicopter, etc. Examples: Mig-29 "Fulcrum," Su-27 "Flanker," An-74 "Coaler," Mil-24 "Hind," Ka-50 "Hokum," Tu-160 "Blackjack." It is true, of course, that there is no fighter designated MiG-28.

    Crazed actor 15:46, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

    Actually the designations are NATO designations.--Buckboard 09:09, 29 June 2006 (UTC)

    Please go ahead and make the changes. There are probably a few errors in the plot section, as that is the only part that has not been extensively worked on. Forever young 15:53, 9 February 2006 (UTC)
    While it's not specifically an error, I've cleaned up the 'Return to Top Gun' heading by removing some extremely technical information regarding aircraft carriers (Most of which consisted of abbreviations and only semi-relevant historical information). DarkMasterBob 05:40, 25 July 2006 (UTC)


    The trivia article contains an inaccuracy. The cockpit of an F-14 does have a tendancy to "hang" in position when in a flat spin, as shown in the movie. When it's in a flat spin there is a pressue bubble over the top of the aircraft which keeps the cockpit relatively close. Correct procedure is to wait to make sure that it's clear before hitting the ejection, which Goose didn't do. All of this detailed in technical discussions on the special edition extras. As such it should be edited out. 71.205.236.49 07:39, 9 November 2006 (UTC)

    [edit] Casting of Aircraft

    Does anyone else think the casting of aircraft and OR commentary is inappropriate in an article about the movie, not the school? --Mmx1 21:44, 11 July 2006 (UTC)

    The aircraft used in the movie (for MiGs) are F-5 and T-38's, which were actually the operational aircraft of Top Gun at that time. Top Gun owned exactly 3 A4F aircraft, which were down for repairs most of the time (hangar queens). The vast majority of A4F sorties flown for Top Gun at that time were done in conjunction with VF-126 Bandits, who were across the tarmac in another hangar. A4Fs were used because, despite not being super-sonic machines, they could turn "inside" an F-14 and dog fight more effectively. During the year prior to the movie's production, some of the pilots at VF-126 were involved in home movies shot from the back seat of their TA-4Js, while they were out on ACM missions. (They were trying to get their footage on "That's Incredible" a popular TV series at the time. Obviously the whole thing mushroomed). The flyers involved shall remain nameless, but they were more involved in the conception of the movie than they will admit to. Duke Cunningham (XO at the time for VF-126) was NOT one of them, but typically takes credit for it. The general plotline follows (somewhat) the personal life of one of these pilots, who was indeed "first in his class at Top Gun", and who (despite some very human emotional issues) went on to relative sucess in the Navy (he's retired now), indeed returning to be a trainer at Top Gun, and other flight schools. The movie's script writers did change the romantic "female interest" from one of the enlisted gals to a civilian contractor, at the request of the base admiral (see the documentary on the current DVD version).

    Top Gun/VF-126 (Fighter Weapons School), after 1986, was able to get real MiGs to fly their sorties with.

    My biggest complaint about the technical end of the movie, is they were unable to use the real footage of the flat spin that the Fighter Weapons school used to show in training. It's pretty scary, even from a distance.

    Although there is discussion concerning the validity of Cunningham's claim to be the inspiration for the Top Gun movie, some of the aerial maneuvers presented in the movie (such as the use of the speed break to gain position) are well published maneuvers by Cunningham during his combat experience in Vietnam. Combine that with the fact that Cunningham was a Top Gun instructor pilot gives some credence to his claim. The fact that producers deny his association may just relate to royalty issues more than fact. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.60.137.134 (talk) 01:08, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

    [edit] Plot

    Why does the plot need to be so descriptive? We definately do not need a blow for blow retelling of the movie. Its also the wrong place to be quoting and bolding dialogue.

    [edit] F-14 retiring

    The US Navy is retiring the F-14 this month[1]. I'm not sure what bearing that has on this article, however to future generations it will make the movie seem (more) dated considering it is based around planes no longer in service. --Dan East 06:04, 22 September 2006 (UTC)

    [edit] Area 88 Reference

    I figured with the similarities this would be brought up, but Area 88 is older than Top Gun. It can't be likely Top Gun had any influence on Area 88 when comic came out years before and the OVA a year before Top Gun.

    Actually, I came here to ask how exactly "Mickey Simon" can be a reference for Val Kilmer's character, Tom 'Iceman' Kazanski. Since Area 88 is older and the "reference" is tenuous at best, I'm going to remove it.-Sarfa 18:21, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

    [edit] Misc

    I corrected the inaccurate, horribly inflated Navy recruiting numbers (500%) as a result of the film (how could basic training handle so many extra people?). Actual statistics show only a 10% increase. The cited source obviously did some fuzzy math or just pulled numbers out of his ass, because he sure didn't call us.

    Before one can attribute that 10% increase to the film, one would need to look at the year-over-year increases of the surrounding years. Is 10% higher than the average annual increase at the time? If it is not, then one could argue that is film had no measurable impact on recruiting. -Sarfa 22:20, 7 November 2006 (UTC)
    True. Also, the military generally puts goals for recruitment out. 1986's goals are significantly higher in 1986 than they were in the years previous, and remained high for a few years after before dropping back down to pre-1986 numbers. It's speculation whether or not this had anything to do with the movie. http://www.cnrc.navy.mil/documents/CNRCStats.doc
    • Well, it is widely reported that "Top Gun" had some effect on Navy recruitment. I imagine the 500% number was put in as a joke, so it is good that the other figure was put back. 10% is what I have read.

    [edit] Popular Culture

    The bit about Revenge of the Nerds makes no sense, as it was filmed 2 years before Top Gun was. Erego, I'm getting rid of it.

    I'm not sure that an indoor firing range in Michigan can really be called a pop culture reference. Unless someone objects, I would like to remove that addition. -Sarfa 21:42, 9 January 2007 (UTC)

    J.D. in scrubs says to Dr. Cox "i'm ur wingman maverick" dnt know the episode tho, so cnt add it

    I've added a link/reference to the BBC 1 sit-com 'My Life in Film', as the third episode is basically Top Gun set in a driving school.--HDC7777 09:45, 19 April 2007 (UTC)

    [edit] On-tape ads

    The Top Gun VHS tapes had the Top-Gun themed Pepsi commercial. I believe this was the first time an ad had been placed on a tape.

    The UK version I have doesn't have that advert. Maybe it was only on VHS releases in certain locales? --81.107.39.205 11:29, 28 August 2007 (UTC)

    [edit] propaganda?

    Is there a good reason for Top Gun to be in the American Propaganda Films category? Veatch 18:24, 31 January 2007 (UTC)

    [edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Topg0000.png

    Image:Topg0000.png is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

    Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

    If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

    BetacommandBot 04:38, 20 July 2007 (UTC)

    [edit] TV Guide error?

    All your TV guides have a summary naming the female civilian instructor, Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood (Kelly McGillis) an astrophysicist which is incorrect. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.106.11.133 (talk) 23:41, 25 January 2008 (UTC)

    [edit] Side number 403

    This link [http://www.fast-rewind.com/topgun.htm Top Gun Movie -The 80s Rewind «<!-- Bot generated title -->] comes back bad. Junior McCain 14:45, 6 April 2008 (UTC)