Top Gun
Top Gun mistake picture

Other mistake: In the opening scene is a paragraph describing why the Top Gun school was started. The word "insure" is used when the word should have been "ensure". They wanted to guarantee the U.S. had superior pilots, not take out an insurance policy.

imshiffman

Other mistake: When Maverick is doing the fly-by at the end of the movie, you can notice the crew watching for the F-14's to fly by the carrier. It's obvious the fly-by was set up, otherwise the crew wouldn't be waiting to watch them fly by.

Ken Hogan

Other mistake: During the dog fight at the end the officer questions the status of Willard and Simpkin, previously designated the pilots on alert on catapults 3 & 4. The reply was "both catapults are broken". But carriers have four catapults - nobody even considers using nos. 1 or 2.

Other mistake: The guy in the tower drinking coffee works at both Mirimar and the Enterprise? It is the same guy. Identical looking, hair color, wearing the same exact style of sun glasses, etc. The second scene, the air boss seems to refer to the first scene as well, making a statement of "g** d*** that guy!" and laughs after having spilled the coffee, as though this has happened before. Seems to me they are making it pretty clear its the same guy. I would think the air boss on a land based training facility would be a different person that the one assigned to the Enterprise.

oldbaldyone

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Suggested correction: He got reassigned in the 8 weeks.

Other mistake: When they go into the flat spin, Maverick is unable to pull the ejection handle due to high Gs. But in the F-14, there is an alternate ejection handle between the legs of the pilot.

Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: He is pinned forward, which is a peculiarity of the F14 as the pilot sits more aft than say an F/A18. Doesn't matter where the ejection handle is, he physically can't reach it.

stiiggy

Other mistake: Maverick and Goose were reprimanded at the beginning of the film and told, "you are number 2, Cougar is number 1. Cougar lost it and turned in his wings. You guys are number 1." This implies that Cougar and Merlin were going to Topgun. However, during their assisted carrier landing led by Maverick, their canopy is shown, and those inside are already wearing Topgun patches. This contradicts the statement given during the reprimand in the CAG's office previously mentioned.

Continuity mistake: At the end, a victorious Maverick is hoisted on the shoulders of the guys. As he goes up, he isn't wearing sunglasses. His head goes out of the shot, and when he comes down, he's wearing a pair.

More mistakes in Top Gun

Iceman: The plaque for the alternates is down in the ladies room.

More quotes from Top Gun

Trivia: Charlie's date in her first bar scene is the real Viper from the actual Top Gun school, called Pete Pettigrew. He was the consultant on the film.

More trivia for Top Gun

Chosen answer: The term "Ghostrider" refers to the squadron name. There used to be a Tomcat squadron called the Ghostriders. Usually in a radio call, the squadron name is followed by a number. For instance, in the first fight where we see Cougar get into a spot of trouble with the Mig on his tail, he radios "This is Ghostrider 117 this bogey's all over me, he's got missile lock on me, do I have permission to fire?" That is normally the correct term as to who is on the radio.

More questions & answers from Top Gun

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