Way back when I was a kid, long before I became a college dropout that needed the Marine Corps to help me find my way, I watched 1986’s “Top Gun” and knew I wanted to be a fighter pilot. No, it wasn’t Tom Cruise’s charm, nor was it the allure of playing topless volleyball with all by best greased-up buddies… it was the aircraft that I fell in love with.
Now, a few decades and careers later, I still revisit that old movie on a fairly regular basis, in part because my passion for military aviation hasn’t subsided (despite having an eye condition that would bar me from ever flying in them). I had a blast running FighterSweep.com for a while before coming on to manage the Loadout Room, and I’ve made bit of a name for myself at Popular Mechanics as one of the writers that pens their Badass Planes series. I even had the pleasure of writing about Maverick’s very own ride — the F-14 Tomcat.
So, as you can imagine, I was pretty excited when I heard that “Top Gun” was finally getting a sequel… even if, as an adult, I can’t help but acknowledge that Iceman was right all along and Maverick really is kind of a dick.
“Top Gun 2: Maverick” may not be gear related, but the first “Top Gun” had a notable affect on Navy aviator recruiting, and it seems likely that a lot of the vets that spend their time on this page share a similar affection for the original “Top Gun” that I do — and at the end of the day, the community matters just as much as the gear we discuss.
So here’s my bit of pop culture news for the day — if only because this trailer gave me some familiar danger zone-esque chills.
Feature image captured from included video
