When Tom Cruise returned as Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in Top Gun: Maverick, audiences were amazed by the film’s breathtaking aerial sequences. Unlike most modern action movies, the production relied on real aircraft instead of computer-generated effects, with Cruise insisting that the cast experience genuine flight rather than act in front of green screens.

To prepare, Cruise designed a demanding three-month aviation training program for the actors. They learned breathing techniques to withstand intense G-forces, completed aerobatic flights in smaller aircraft, and gradually progressed to flying in the back seats of military jets. Cruise, who has held a pilot’s license for years and owns several aircraft, wanted every reaction captured on camera to be completely authentic.

Even so, one rule could not be bent. The U.S. Navy does not allow civilians to pilot operational Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets. During filming, experienced Navy aviators flew every mission from the front cockpit while Cruise and the other actors occupied the rear seats.

Director Joseph Kosinski equipped the cockpits with custom-built 6K IMAX-quality camera systems, allowing actors to control the cameras themselves while enduring real high-speed maneuvers. The result was one of the most authentic aviation films ever produced, earning praise from both military pilots and filmmakers for its realism.