'Top Gun' Actors Instructed By Crash Pilot

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Post on Oct 24, 2024

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Maverick's Mentor: How a Crash Pilot Taught the 'Top Gun' Stars to Fly

Remember the heart-stopping aerial maneuvers in "Top Gun"? The death-defying dives, the hair-raising barrel rolls, the sheer speed and precision? Turns out, the actors weren't just pretending. They were actually being trained by a guy who knew a thing or two about pushing the limits: a real-life crash pilot named Art Scholl.

Now, you might think "crash pilot" sounds like a bad thing. But trust me, Art was no reckless daredevil. He was a veteran stunt pilot with over 10,000 hours in the air. But, like any pilot, he had his fair share of close calls. One particular incident during a film shoot actually resulted in a near-fatal crash. You could say he had a "Top Gun" moment of his own!

But this wasn't just some random stunt guy. Art was the real deal. He was hired to instruct the actors, including Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer, on the finer points of military aviation. He taught them how to fly fighter jets (well, sort of), including how to handle the controls, perform maneuvers, and even how to deal with G-forces.

It's not like they were pulling G's in a real F-14 Tomcat, mind you. Instead, they were using modified aircraft designed for film stunts. But even these specialized planes could be dangerous in the wrong hands.

Art's knowledge was absolutely crucial for keeping everyone safe during filming. And it wasn't just about keeping the actors alive. He helped them understand the technical aspects of flying, which made their performances more realistic and believable.

He even went so far as to create a special "Top Gun" flight simulator for the actors to train on. This allowed them to practice maneuvers, get used to the cockpit, and build confidence before they ever set foot in a real plane.

So, the next time you watch "Top Gun" and marvel at the aerial feats, remember that it wasn't just a bunch of actors pretending. They were actually learning from the best, a man who had lived and breathed aviation his entire life. A real "Top Gun," even if he did crash once or twice.