The summer movie blockbuster season kicks off May 27 with the release of a sequel to the 1980s hit "Top Gun." And Northwest moviegoers may recognize some familiar Puget Sound scenery in the background.
"Top Gun: Maverick" brings actor Tom Cruise back to his role as the ace Navy fighter pilot.
Cruise reportedly insisted on filming the aerial action in real fighter jets and rejected where possible using computer-generated imagery. So, Paramount Pictures struck a production assistance agreement with the Navy to make it so.
A copy, first obtained by the website The War Zone, shows Cruise and company set up shop at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in March 2019. The Navy leased out the Officers' Club on base for the crew to use for catering, briefings and rehearsals. Cast and crew were allowed to bunk at an on-base inn, which provided privacy.
The actors flew eight sorties with a squadron of two-seater jets. While experienced Navy pilots were at the controls, the aerial scenes were filmed to make it appear Cruise or his co-stars (always in the back seat) were actually piloting the powerful attack aircraft in tight formations.
You have been assigned to help film the fighter sequences.
Report to Whidbey Island NAS.
Date | Departure | Arrival | Pilot | Aircraft | Landing rate | Distance | Flight time | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
20JUL25 2002Z | KHIF | KNUW | AlphaZu | C17_McCHORD Connecticut | -108 ft/m | 688 nm | 01:33 | View | |
07JUL25 0911Z | CYGB | KNUW | Berry31 | Air-Fouga CM-170R Magister (FOUG) | -563 ft/m | 123 nm | 00:29 | View | |
20JUN25 1307Z | KNKX | KNUW | Cactus | Boeing 737-700 (B737) | -141 ft/m | 1025 nm | 02:20 | View | |
13MAY25 2310Z | KPDX | KNUW | Raul Louro | Cessna Citation X (C750) | -56 ft/m | 186 nm | 00:37 | View | |
12MAY25 0149Z | KPDX | KNUW | Maddawg | Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning 2 (F35) | -233 ft/m | 215 nm | 00:24 | View | |
10MAY25 2205Z | KPDX | KNUW | Unknown | Airbus A320 (A320) | -289 ft/m | 205 nm | 00:41 | View | |
24APR25 0922Z | KMWH | KNUW | Satitkh | Griffin Czech AF V3 | -255 ft/m | 157 nm | 00:19 | View | |
21APR25 0418Z | KMWH | KNUW | Greekazoid | Canadair Regional Jet CRJ-550/700 (CRJ7) | -64 ft/m | 155 nm | 00:35 | View | |
17APR25 0252Z | CYGB | KNUW | PVPilot | General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (F16) | -251 ft/m | 152 nm | 00:17 | View | |
09APR25 2124Z | CYQQ | KNUW | J.A. | Douglas DC-3 (DC3) | -93 ft/m | 913 nm | 06:58 | View | |
07APR25 1820Z | CYGB | KNUW | Angel15 | Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning 2 (F35) | -36 ft/m | 114 nm | 00:12 | View | |
22MAR25 1639Z | KPDX | KNUW | Bob Cardone | Pilatus PC-12 (PC12) | -110 ft/m | 194 nm | 00:59 | View | |
20MAR25 2202Z | KNFL | KNUW | Daniel Alejandro Cabana | Boeing 737-800 (B738) | -237 ft/m | 601 nm | 01:44 | View | |
10MAR25 0446Z | CYGB | KNUW | Oz Flyer/Nexus27 | Boeing CH-47 Chinook (H47) | -25 ft/m | 114 nm | 00:43 | View | |
09MAR25 1003Z | 9NM9 | KNUW | Staghound | Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor (F22) | -82 ft/m | 1178 nm | 01:34 | View | |
06MAR25 2104Z | CYAZ | KNUW | Fire_Skull (NOR) | General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (F16) | -900 ft/m | 169 nm | 00:27 | View | |
02MAR25 1509Z | KYKM | KNUW | VAF278 Roberto | Airbus A-400M (A400) | -300 ft/m | 156 nm | 00:24 | View | |
20FEB25 0051Z | CYYC | KNUW | Nicothx | Airbus A320 neo (A20N) | -271 ft/m | 422 nm | 01:07 | View | |
16FEB25 1350Z | KYKM | KNUW | Unknown | Boeing FA-18E Super Hornet (F18S) | -820 ft/m | 169 nm | 00:23 | View | |
16FEB25 1238Z | KYKM | KNUW | Unknown | Grumman F-14 Tomcat (F14) | -792 ft/m | 168 nm | 00:19 | View |