On March 3, 1969, the US Navy established an elite school for the top one percent of its pilots. It was to teach the lost art of aerial combat and to insure that the men who graduated were the best fighter pilots in the world. Today, the Navy calls it Fighter Weapons School. The flyers call it: TOP GUN.
Cut to 1986 and an US Naval Aviator from the USS Enterprise (CVN-65), Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is out on a mission with Radar Intercept Officer (RIO). Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards) and his wingman "Cougar" (John Stockwell). They impede a fictional MiG-28s over the Indian Ocean. During the standoff the MiG’s put a missile lock on Cougar. Maverick says they are only trying to intimidate him and chases it away. Cougar is too shaken by this and can’t land his plane. Even though Maverick’s plane is almost out of gas and the Commander Enterprise's CAG "Stinger" (James Tolkan) is telling him to land he goes back to help Cougar. After they are safe on the ground Cougar goes to his Commander and hands in his wings. Then Maverick and Goose go into the office because they were told to. They think they are getting reprimanded but instead they are sent to the Top Gun school.
At the school, the Chief Instructor Commander Mike "Viper" Metcalf (Tom Skerritt) is telling the new trainees what is expected of them. He tells them that the top of the class will get their name on a plaque and become the next Chief Instructor. Lt. Tom "Iceman" Kazanski (Val Kilmer) is checking out his competition. He stares at Maverick and then later has words with him and Goose.
Maverick and Goose go to a bar to relax. They run into Iceman who comes over to talk to them. They blow him off. Goose makes a bet with Maverick about who can pick up a woman first. Maverick spots Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood (Kelly McGillis) who is sitting waiting for her date but he doesn’t know that. He tells Goose that she lost that loving feeling, which is a signal that they sing the song to Charlie. They go up to her and start singing. The other Navy men join in. It charms her. Maverick sits down and talks to her till her date comes. Then she goes off with her date. He just sits at the bar and drinks his beer. Charlie gets up to go the bathroom and Maverick follows her in. She asks him what he wants but doesn’t give to him. When she leaves the bathroom she tells Goose that she did have sex with his friend.
At their first class training session, in walks this sexy Top Gun instructor. She is a civilian contractor with a Ph.D. in astrophysics who just happens to also be Charlie the woman that Maverick tried to pick up at the bar the night before. She begins to tell the class about MiG’s but then sees that Maverick doesn’t believe her. She asks him if something is wrong. He tells her that her information is incorrect. She asks how. He tells her that he saw one up close and it didn’t do what she just said. She asks him for more details. He tells her he can’t reveal anymore because it is classified. She said she is allowed to hear everything. He then tells her about the incident over the Indian Ocean without revealing the location. This impresses her and now knows who he really is. After class she talks to him some more. She asks him why he didn’t tell her who he was. He then says would it have helped. She said no. Then walks away. Iceman comes up to him and asks Maverick who was covering Cougar during that mission. Maverick tells him Cougar was doing just fine.
They go on their first training mission and get the target. On the way back to the base Maverick in celebration buzzes the air control tower. In the locker room Maverick and Iceman almost get into a fight over the training mission. Maverick and Goose are called into the Commander’s office to be reprimanded for buzzing the tower. While in their room Goose tells Maverick that he is scared he won’t finish the school. Maverick assures he will e okay. Goose says he understands why Maverick is so dangerous because he has to live up to his famous dad’s reputation. Maverick admits he is nervous and tells Goose that he is the only family he has left and he will watch out for Goose.
In the next class, as Maverick is working on a project, Charlie approaches him with an idea for it. He doesn’t like and she tells him he is too aggressive. He says when he sees something he likes he goes after it. He asks her why she didn’t tell him who she was the other night. She says he didn’t give her a chance. He said you were tempted to ask me out to dinner. She says she doesn’t date students then slips him a note saying to meet him for dinner at her house. She walks away. As he leaves class LTJG Ron "Slider" Kerner (Rick Rossovich) comments to him, “Crash and burn.” Maverick takes a sniff of him and tells him he smells. Everyone in class laughs. Maverick walks out and Slider smells himself.
After the volleyball, Maverick is running late for his date with Charlie. He arrives at her house and apologizes to her. She said he doesn’t have to. He asks if he can shower before they eat. She says, no that she is hungry. They eat listen to the music on the porch and talk and get to know one another. After dinner he gets up and she asks where he is going. He says he is going to take the shower now. She smiles. He then leaves.
The next day back at the school they run into each other in an elevator. He is all sweaty and she tells him that he looks like he needs another shower. She gushes over him. Tells him she doesn’t normally invite students over to her house. They almost kiss but someone almost walks in the elevator.
The next day Maverick goes with Goose to pick up Goose’s wife Carole Bradshaw (Meg Ryan) and children at the airport. Carole’s wife let’s it slip that she know Maverick’s is in love with flight instructor.
In class, Charlie is showing Maverick’s encounter with MiG. She points out how while the mission worked it is not the right way to deal with a MiG. After class, she knows that Maverick is mad at her. She tells him that in his performance review she sent in about him is right on. He doesn’t want to hear what she has to say so he gets on his motorcycle and drives off. She gets in her car and chases him. She almost causes a crash. She catches up and tells him she isn’t done. She repeats that her performance review about him was spot on but she admires what he did with the MiG and can’t say that because people will know that she is in love with him. Then he kisses her and they make love.
As they are going to the training missing Maverick and Goose pump themselves up and say, “I feel the need. . . the need for speed.” Maverick goes one-on-one with Viper during a training mission. Although, Maverick matches move for move, Viper wins and "shoots" Maverick down, demonstrating the value of teamwork over individual ability. Back in the locker room everyone is telling Maverick what he did wrong on the training mission.
Goose and Maverick are out with Goose’s wife, son and Charlie are out to dinner. Goose is singing and playing the piano to “Great Balls of Fire.” Maverick gets up and joins him. Carole talks with Charlie telling her how Maverick is in love with her. Then tells her husband that he needs to take her home to bed or he will lose her. They leave. Then Charlie and Maverick leave and go to the pier , she also tells him to take her home to bed. Then they kiss.
This is where we leave you so you can go watch the movie to see what happens next.
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