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Aerial maneuvers
Known for its incredible aerial scenes, Top Gun required very complex logistics. While the production is centralized in San Diego, Tony Scott is sent to Nevada, in the Naval Air Station of Fallon in order to film the aerial ballets in the heart of the film. Having received permission from the Pentagon to use real aircraft, the director could not rely on digital special effects at the time. The actors, on their side, have no other alternative than to go up alongside real pilots in the aircraft.
When he boards an authentic F-14 for the first time, Tom Cruise comes out with an upset stomach. During one of the maneuvers, he finds his head stuck against the cockpit window and does not fail to make the remark. His instructor, a certain Bozo, tells him that the learning process will be done “the hard way” and that this is the only way to obtain a convincing result on the screen. Scott Altman, the choreographer of the aerial stunts, maneuvers from the ground, much to the annoyance of the actors. The latter, however, gradually took a liking to aerobatics, as Tom Cruise proved 35 years later in the sequel to Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick, by performing, as usual, all his own stunts, without the use of special effects.
Top Gun cost $15 million. He has reported over 353 worldwide.
Naval Air Station Fallon
Located near Fallon in the State of Nevada, this airbase gained worldwide notoriety thanks to the movie Top Gun.
The US Navy’s first air-to-air and ground-to-air training facility, Fallon Base was established in 1942 as part of the defense of the West Coast against a feared Japanese attack since the start of World War II. Later used for training Marines, it was heavily used during the Vietnam War and hosted the filming of aerial scenes for Top Gun. In 1996, the real TopGun students were received there as part of their training. It also houses a museum.
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By Gilles Rolland
Passionné de cinéma, de rock and roll, de séries TV et de littérature. Rédacteur de presse et auteur des livres Le Heavy Metal au cinéma, Paroles de fans Guns N' Roses, Paroles de fans Rammstein et Welcome to my Jungle : 100 albums rock et autres anecdotes dépareillées. Adore également voyager à la recherche des lieux les plus emblématiques de la pop culture.