Warbird Information Exchange

No F-35's in this movie. From an interview somewhere online, I read that the original plan was to incorporate them into the movie and the script was written as such. But, with the delays in the F-35 operational deployment to the Navy and Marine squadrons, the aircraft was not ready to be used in a movie role yet. So, despite all of this, they reverted to the "Super Hornet" as the film star, as the aircraft was available in large numbers on the West Coast where most of the filming took place.

I'll see the movie just so I can see the P-51

Are DVDs still a thing where you live?

Nope.....just crusty old Superbugs.

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There are some that think old airplanes fly on fairy dust and unicorn farts.

USN Ret
Recip FE

I really enjoyed the flying scenes in Made in America. Cruise was obviously comfortable in the cockpit. I hope this TG film has the same feeling.

And there was little or no CGI -- the scourge of aviation movies.

Oooo...and then there's Jennifer Connelly with her patent brooding smoulder. Woof! Single mom, bartender. Her name wouldn't happen to be Penny Benjamin would it? Penny was the Admiral's daughter in the first film that Maverick had already got his butt in a sling about. That would be quite the twist...

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He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

Small behind the scenes short on filming the flight sequences

https://youtu.be/Nz9lnIDdkMo

I find it funny how many people online are declaring there are no CGI in the air scenes. Clearly, there are lots of them, but from what I've seen, they've done a really good job with them, but several safety issues have to be CGI, as are the scenes of the actors from outside the F-18s, as clearly they're not flying single seaters! But I would agree that so far, it appears that a great deal of the air scenes are the real thing.

Wow! Thanks for sharing that link.
Note he even takes off his O2 mask in real life, in the air...
Also, is that Cruise and Connelly in the air in that Mustang?
I was stoked about this movie before, but now, I'm not sure if I care if it has a plot or not at this point, the visuals will be worth the ticket price!

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

So is that Tom Cruise’s actual Mustang in the clips?

Sure looks that way to me.

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P-51, The Cadillac of the Sky!

Yep, agreed. N51EW: http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/N51EW.html
Okay, so cruise isn't the listed owner on that link, but is he the primary owner of the company? Or is this a plane he owns a part of, or just pays to fly it enough that he was able to paint the nose art of his choice?
This is an older story, back when it still had Kate's name on the nose: https://worldwarwings.com/tom-cruises-4-million-dollar-american-wwii-fighter-will-make-you-jealous/
It just occurred to me, as the plane is used in the movie, he gets paid for it's use. Wouldn't shock me if Cruise put it in the film specifically for that reason (otherwise it'd really make more sense for Mav to be flying a T-6 or even a Corsair)

_________________
Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

I don't think so, tho the headset, the hand and shades cover a lot of detail I can't imagine Jennifer would have a G.I. Jane buzzcut. Besides a Lady like Jennifer would never puke in a Mustang without a sick bag. Mebbee it's Mavericks long lost offspring via the bartender???

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

Yes, its really Cruise's P-51K. Cruise flies it in the movie for the close ups and Steven Hinton flew the production scenes.
Tom Cruise and Jennifer Connelly


and Monica Barbaro

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remember the Oogahonk!
old school enthusiast of Civiltary Warbirds and Air Racers

As for who the "enemy" could be, there is only one country that still flies F-14's.

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remember the Oogahonk!
old school enthusiast of Civiltary Warbirds and Air Racers

Ah .. but, just because the baddies are flying Russian-built equipment, doesn't necessarily mean they are Russians. In fact, the original "Top Gun" left the identity of the enemy forces deliberately nonspecific, through a combination of fictional types (MiG-28), mismatched insignia (a red star with a yellow outline was more consistent with North Korea than the Soviet Union), and impossible geography (the confrontation takes place in the "Indian Ocean. Present Day" far from any Russian, Korean, or Chinese base).

My guess is that the new movie will take a similar tact and give us a vaguely Eastern European setting (judging from the snowy mountain peaks), maybe some arab-ish markings, and a collection of fanciful MiG aggressors (plus one, possibly "liberated" US-built F-14). Yes, in the real world, Iran is the only nation that conceivably still operates the Tomcat, but I wouldn't expect the filmmakers to let that restrict their imaginations.