Top Gun: Maverick

Today, we're looking at some of the hottest weather...

Hey.

What is it?

What?

We've been ordered to stand down. They're scrapping the program.

They say we fell short.

The contract threshold is Mach 10.

Mach 10 is supposed to be in two months. Today's test point is Mach 9.

Well, that's not good enough.

Says who?

Admiral Cain.

The Drone Ranger.

He wants our budget for his unmanned program.

He's on his way to kill the test and shut us down personally.

Well, he isn't here yet.

They want Mach 10,

let's give 'em Mach 10.

Now remember, the contract threshold is Mach 10.

Not 10.1. Not 10.2. Mach 10.

That should keep the program alive.

I don't like that look, Mav.

It's the only one I got.

Control, this is Darkstar. How do you read?

Darkstar, Control. Loud and clear. How me?

Loud and clear. Takeoff precheck's complete.

Ready for APU start.

Ready left engine start.

Ready right engine start.

Thumbs for taxi.

We are ready for taxi.

Tower, this is Darkstar. We are taxiing with information Alpha.

Darkstar, you are clear to taxi.

Runway 21. Winds 210, 10.

- Fuel temps are looking good. - Control concurs.

Battery's holding at 95%. Cabin pressure looks good.

Control concurs.

Tower, this is Darkstar. We're ready for take off

Requesting an unrestricted climb to 600 and above.

Darkstar, the runway and skies are yours.

Rear Admiral Chester Cain.

Maverick, Cain just pulled up to the gate.

It's not too late to stop, buddy.

You know what happens to you if you go through with this.

I know what happens to everyone else if I don't.

Darkstar is ready for take off

Everyone,

go for takeoff, starting with engine.

- Engine, go. - Thermals, go.

- Fuel, go. - Electric, go.

Control surfaces, go.

Darkstar, Control. You're cleared for take off

All right, sweetheart,

one last ride.

Darkstar, you are cleared above 600. Increase to Mach 3.5.

Cleared above 600. Increase to Mach 3.5.

Admiral.

- Just in time, sir. - I'm early. So are you.

You care to explain?

Transitioning to scram jet.

Mav, Admiral Cain is asking--

- Ordering. - Ordering that we bring her down.

...within six...

This is where we've had trouble with comms, sir.

It's the Earth's curvature. It's called "Earth Bulge."

Did anyone offer you a coffee?

Okay.

He's at Mach 7, pushing 8.

- Flight data? - Receiving. Data is good.

Temperature's climbing. Response is still stable.

We're feeling good.

Mach 8.8.

8.9.

Mach 9.

He's the fastest man alive.

Talk to me, Goose.

Mach 9.1.

9.2.

Mach 9.3.

9.4.

Approaching high hypersonic.

Windshield hot caution.

Surface temp rising.

Come on, sweetheart, just a little more.

Just a little.

Come on!

Come on!

Mach 10!

Put that in your Pentagon budget!

Sir.

Don't do it. Don't do it.

Just...

a little push.

Holy shit.

You got some balls, stick jockey.

I'll give you that.

Oh, shit.

Maverick.

Maverick!

Thank you.

Where am I?

Earth.

Maverick.

Thirty-plus years of service.

Combat medals.

Citations.

Only man to shoot down three enemy planes in the last 40 years.

"Distinguished."

"Distinguished." "Distinguished."

Yet you can't get a promotion, you won't retire,

and despite your best efforts, you refuse to die.

You should be at least a two-star admiral by now, if not a senator.

Yet here you are:

Captain.

Why is that?

It's one of life's mysteries, sir.

This isn't a joke. I asked you a question.

I'm where I belong, sir.

Well, the navy doesn't see it that way.

Not anymore.

These planes you've been testing,

Captain,

one day, sooner than later, they won't need pilots at all.

Pilots that need to sleep, eat, take a piss.

Pilots that disobey orders.

All you did was buy some time for those men out there.

The future is coming,

and you're not in it.

Escort this man off the base.

Take him to his quarters. Wait with him while he packs his gear.

I want him on the road to North Island within the hour.

North Island, sir?

Call came in with impeccable timing,

right as I was driving here to ground your ass once and for all.

It galls me to say it, but...

for reasons known only to the Almighty and your guardian angel...

you've been called back to TOPGUN.

- Sir? - You are dismissed, Captain.

The end is inevitable, Maverick.

Your kind is headed for extinction.

Maybe so, sir.

But not today.

Captain Pete "Maverick"Mitchell.

Your reputation precedes you.

Thank you, sir.

Wasn't a compliment.

I'm Admiral Beau Simpson.

I'm the Air Boss. I believe you know Admiral Bates.

Warlock, sir.

Must admit, I wasn't expecting an invitation back.

They're called orders, Maverick.

You two have something in common.

Cyclone here was first in his class back in '88.

Actually, sir, I finished second.

Just want to manage expectations.

The target...

is an unsanctioned uranium enrichment plant

built in violation of a multilateral NATO treaty.

The uranium produced there represents a direct threat

to our allies in the region.

The Pentagon has tasked us with assembling a strike team and taking it out

before it becomes fully operational.

The plant sits in an underground bunker at the end of this valley.

Said valley is GPS-jammed

and defended by an extensive surface-to-air missile array

serving a limited number of fifth-generation fighters,

which in turn are backed up by a plentiful reserve of surplus aircraft.

Even a few old F-14s.

Seems like we're not the only ones holding on to old relics.

What's your read, Captain?

Well, sir, normally this would be a cakewalk for the F-35's stealth,

but the GPS-jamming negates that.

And a surface-to-air threat necessitates a low-level laser-guided strike

tailor-made for the F-18.

I figure,

two precision bombs, minimum.

Makes it four aircraft flying in pairs.

That is one hell of a steep climb out of there,

exposing you to all the surface-to-air missiles.

You survive that,

it's a dogfight all the way home.

All requirements for which you have real-world experience.

Not in the same mission, sir.

No.

No, someone's not coming back from this.

Can it be done or not?

How soon before the plant becomes operational?

Three weeks. Maybe less.

Well, it's been a while since I've flown an F-18, and...

I'm not sure who I'd trust to fly the other three.

But I'll find a way to make it work.

I think you misunderstand, Captain.

Sir?

We don't want you to fly it. We want you to teach it.

Teach, sir?

We've recalled 12 TOPGUN graduates from their squadrons.

We want you to narrow that pool down to six.

They'll fly the mission.

Is there a problem, Captain?

You know there is, sir.

Yeah.