The film, Top Gun: Maverick, once again highlights the thrill and danger of naval aviation in an epic sequel to what is, arguably, the most iconic aviation film ever made. Even if you disagree with that, it is undoubtedly the most famous movie about the US Navy.
This begs a question: If the second Top Gun was meant to show the cutting edge of Navy flying, why didn’t they use the newest jet? Well, the reason is both simplistic and cinematic, as Sky Combat Ace tells it:
“The film predominantly features F-18 Super Hornets over F-35s for a practical reason: the need for two-seater planes.”
The F/A-18’s versatility is a major factor because of its cockpit arrangement, robust design, and performance history, it had the perfect mix of convenience and storytelling potential. For actors to be seamlessly incorporated into realistic flight scenes, a dual-cockpit platform was required. These sequences demonstrated that the maneuvers were being carried out by real pilots, not special effects.
Practical Matters
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet’s tough design and roomy cockpit, which could accommodate specialized camera rigs, helped with filming challenges. A camera-friendly setting was made possible by the two-seat version (F/A-18F), where the actor was positioned behind the pilot. It may have boiled down to simple square footage, like the report by 19FortyFive says:
“Some sources reported that the movie’s producers chose not to make the F-35C the focal point because it only comes in a single-seat version.”
For an immersive experience, a variety of camera angles and little computer-generated imagery were essential. Both the aircraft and the crew had to perform consistently for the production to succeed. With the extremely high operating cost of a Super Hornet ($11,000 USD per hour), you can bet they wanted to get as much as they could with every take.
The Super Hornet is just one element of the carrier air wing on American aircraft carriers, but as the strike fighter,it is the tip of the spear. The F-35 has assumed a new tactical role that leverages stealth as a kind of node on the battlespace, capable of incredible strikes but lacking the drama that a hard burning and turning Rhino (aka Super Hornet) brings to the screen.
A Tale Of Two Fighters
After passing a rigorous operational evaluation, 222 Super Hornets were ordered in 2000. The F/A-18E was first deployed by Navy squadron VFA-115 in 2002. By the end of that year, about 170 Super Hornets had been delivered, making it combat-ready for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
They describe the Rhino’s origin in a story by Key.Aero:
“The Super Hornet is a fitting continuation of the US Navy’s Hornet saga. The service had initially been unenthusiastic about the F/A-18 Hornet as it replaced the A-4 and A-7 and supplemented the F-14, but latterly embraced the highly capable later-model F/A-18C.”
On the other hand, in July 2015, the US Marine Corps F-35B went into service. It was followed by the Air Force F-35A in August 2016 and the US Navy F-35C in February 2019. The F-35 made its first flight in 2006. Through 2044, the United States intends to purchase 2,456 F-35s, which will account for the majority of the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps’ crewed tactical aviation for many years to come.
Stealth fighters like the F-35 have niche features that might not translate well for the intense dogfights and close-up shots shown in the film. The production needed footage of tight maneuvers and physically intense action (bring on the G’s). The F/A-18’s high agility and bubble cockpit were more visually striking and accessible for filming.
All the Top Gun Movie Planes, per Screenrant:
-
Grumman
F-14 Tomcat – Iconic variable-sweep Navy fighter featured in both films, including Maverick’s escape scene in the sequel. -
Northrop
F-5F/F-5E Tiger II – Used in the original film as the fictional enemy MiG-28s during training and dogfight scenes. -
Douglas
A-4 Skyhawk – Played the role of enemy aircraft in training exercises, flown by instructors like Viper and Jester. - Ling-Temco-Vought A-7 Corsair II – Briefly seen on the carrier deck in the original film as part of the background fleet.
- Grumman KA-6D/A-6 Intruder – Twin-engine attack and refueling jets shown during the original film’s opening sequence.
- Darkstar (Fictional) – Hypersonic test aircraft flown by Maverick in the sequel’s opening, based on Lockheed’s SR-72 concept.
-
Boeing
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet – Main jet in Top Gun: Maverick, flown by Maverick and his students in the final mission. -
Lockheed Martin
F-35 Lightning II – Briefly shown on the carrier deck in the sequel but not used due to its single-seat design. -
Sukhoi
Su-57 Felon – Fifth-generation enemy jet in Top Gun: Maverick, outmatches the Super Hornets in agility and speed. - P-51 Mustang – World War II-era plane owned and flown by Tom Cruise, seen in the hangar and during the film’s closing scene.
Contrasting The Two Jets In A Cinematic Context
The F-35C’s stealth design features limit up-close visual drama in certain ways, like the cockpit glass coating and unusual helmet-mounted display. The platform is designed to destroy threats from beyond visual range (BVR) rather than rely on typical dogfights. That approach, while integral to modern warfare, does not produce the same visual spectacle as a canopy view of twisting jets in dogfight sequences.
It is also single-seat only, which complicates in-cockpit filming. The film needed the tension and interaction between two individuals in a tight cockpit. That dynamic is lost when only one seat is present. It says online at F-35.com:
“The F-35C is specifically built for catapult launches and arrestments, featuring larger wings and more robust landing gear.”
F-35C Lightning II Specs
- Primary Function: Carrier-capable stealth fighter
- Length: 51.5 feet (15.7 meters)
- Height: 14.7 feet (4.48 meters)
- Wingspan: 43 feet (13.1 meters)
- Max Takeoff Weight: 70,000 pounds (31,751 kilograms) (approx.)
-
Engine:
Pratt & Whitney
F135 turbofan, up to 43,000 pounds (19,504 kilograms) thrust - Top Speed: Mach 1.6+
- Range: Over 1,200 NM (2,222 kilometers) internal fuel
- Crew: One
- Avionics: Sensor fusion and integrated targeting
The F/A-18E/F is an adaptable fighter used widely by Navy and Marine squadrons. It continues to see upgrades and updates that extend its service life, ensuring it remains a dependable platform. As the NAVAIR site says:
“F/A-18E/F enhancements include increased range and improved carrier suitability required for the F/A-18 to continue its key strike fighter role.”
F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Specs
- Primary Function: Multi-role attack and fighter
- Length: 60.3 feet (18.5 meters)
- Height: 16 feet (4.87 meters)
- Wingspan: 44.9 feet (13.68 meters)
- Weight: Max Takeoff 66,000 pounds (29,932 kilograms)
-
Engines: Two F414-
GE
-400 turbofans, each 22,000 pounds (9,977 kilograms) thrust - Top Speed: Mach 1.8+
- Ceiling: 50,000+ feet
- Range (Combat): 1,275 NM (2,346 kilometers) with clean plus two AIM-9s
- Range (Ferry): 1,660 NM (3,054 kilometers) with two AIM-9s and three 480-gallon tanks
- Crew: One (F/A-18E) or Two (F/A-18F)
What Do You Think The F/A-XX Will Be?
This is user-generated content. The views and opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of Simple Flying.
The F-47 has been announced, and the Air Force has shown CGI footage of its new fighter. So now, let’s head to the next fighter, the F/A-XX. What do you think it will be? Who will build it? If it’s set up for international orders, who will order it? Post your ideas in the comments!
A Bold Future
Navy officials emphasize the synergy between the Super Hornet and evolving mission sets. The platform supports air superiority, ground strikes, electronic warfare pods, and other missions. That wide-ranging utility aligns with the objectives of a film depicting various operational challenges. Audiences see the same fighter the Navy relies on daily, forging authenticity with operational reality.
Looking to the future, stealth jets will dominate modern air campaigns. As a report from The War Zone (TWZ) says, the Navy is already working “to more rapidly test new tactics and procedures that could benefit the fleet” using the F-35C. However, that shift in real warfare does not translate as easily to movie screens, where up-close sequences remain a crowd favorite.
Stealth fighters are being gradually added to carrier groups by the US Navy. Nevertheless, the F/A-18 is a tested combatant that can be captured in dynamic ways that blend authenticity and cinematography. The end product is a movie that celebrates an aircraft that has shaped naval aviation on screen for decades while also striking a chord with real training realities.
The fleet expects to depend on the Super Hornet for many years. Although it is essential to the long-term Navy strategy, the single-seat F-35C has a different function in terms of carriers, concentrating on networks, data sharing, and stealth infiltration. To cover a wide range of combat situations, the Navy will maximize the qualities of both jets.
F-35 Lightning II: Will There Be More Orders Coming This Year?
These orders will have a major impact on Lockheed Martin.
Bottom Line
The simplest explanation for Top Gun’s focus on F/A-18E/F is that the narrative demanded realism in two-seat flight, close-quarter dogfights, and accessible filming logistics. The multi-role platform merges reliability with an action-friendly configuration. Viewers can see actors while real pilots perform high-G moves from a vantage that only a dual cockpit allows.
Each new USN platform expands the operational playbook, yet the cinematic realm often returns to the drama of classic fighters executing visually awesome maneuvers. The F/A-18E/F stands ready for future roles, a final icon of a design era where firepower, ruggedness, and sheer performance were the key to air power.