Fighter Pilot Rates Top Gun Scenes For Realism

Retired Top Gun instructor Dave Berke breaks down iconic scenes from Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick, rating their realism and sharing his expert insights.

Mach 10 Ejection Scene

In Top Gun: Maverick, Maverick switches between propulsion engines to reach Mach 10. While Berke acknowledges the “cool concept” of pushing an aircraft to extreme speeds, he quickly points out that ejecting at Mach 10 is not survivable. “You can’t eject at Mach 10 and just walk away.”

Still, Berke gives the scene credit for its excitement and execution.
Rating: 8/10

Knife-Edge Maneuver and Low-Altitude Pop

Berke praises the scene where Maverick performs a Knife-Edge Maneuver, describing it as highly realistic. The production nailed the visuals of side-to-side movement and Maverick’s transition into a low-altitude pop.

Berke explains that at high climb angles, visibility of a ground target becomes limited. Maverick’s maneuver—rolling upside down to track the target through the canopy—demands immense skill and precision. “It’s doable, but not easy.”
Rating: 9/10

Flying F-18s Under Bridges and G-Force Depiction

Berke flatly states that no pilot would fly F-18s under bridges due to the catastrophic risks. “The margin for error is too small.”

However, the depiction of G-force is spot-on. Berke praises how the movie shows pilots’ faces straining, eyes drooping, and near-blackout moments—real challenges pilots face in high-G situations.
Rating: 9/10

Rooster in the F-14

Berke enjoyed the scene where Rooster, sitting in the back of an F-14, appears lost. “Put a modern student pilot in a vintage plane, and they’d be just as confused,” he says.

While the movie showcases impressive super maneuverability—like cartwheeling through the sky—Berke clarifies that such feats are achievable only in advanced aircraft like the F-22 Raptor, not an F-18. Additionally, hiding in trees to evade detection isn’t realistic with modern fifth-generation radar systems.
Rating: 5/10

Flying Upside Down

The famous upside-down flight from the original Top Gun gets a lower score. While flying inverted is possible (as demonstrated by the Blue Angels), Berke highlights two key issues: the risk of collisions and the immense difficulty in maneuvering so close. “In real life, you’d need much more space between the planes.”

Rating: 4/10