In the movie, Maverick flies the (two-seater). His student, "Rooster," flies the F/A-18E (single-seater). The film brilliantly uses the back seat of the F-18F as a storytelling device—it’s where Maverick sits with Rooster during the final dogfight, allowing for intimate dialogue inside a screaming metal tube pulling 7.5 Gs.
For purists, the shift from F-14 to F-18 was jarring. The Tomcat was loud, fast, and visually aggressive. However, by the time Top Gun: Maverick went into production, the F-14 had been retired from U.S. Navy service since 2006. F-18 Top Gun Maverick
When the opening notes of “Danger Zone” hit theaters in 1986, the F-14 Tomcat became a cultural icon. Swinging wings, AIM-54 Phoenix missiles, and that cool-as-ice silhouette defined naval aviation for a generation. So when Top Gun: Maverick roared onto screens decades later, audiences expected a Tomcat comeback tour. What they got instead was a surprise: the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as the film’s primary workhorse. In the movie, Maverick flies the (two-seater)
The battle showcases the philosophical difference between the two planes: For purists, the shift from F-14 to F-18 was jarring
: The production used IMAX-certified cameras inside the cockpits to let the audience feel the intensity of the flight scenes. Visual Drama
The specific aircraft Maverick flies in the film—a single-seat F/A-18E—features a distinctive dark blue and light blue stripe kit with "Capt. Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell" emblazoned under the canopy. This jet became so iconic that the U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels even participated in promotional flyovers, and model kit manufacturers like Revell saw a massive resurgence in sales for the specific "Maverick" edition Super Hornet. The Mission: Why the F-18?
In the film, the F-18 Hornet is depicted as a highly advanced, capable, and reliable aircraft. The movie's aerial sequences, choreographed by retired US Navy Commander and Top Gun instructor, Dan Petrich, showcase the F-18's impressive performance, including: