Inspiration

Top Gun's magnificent jets and charismatic fighter pilots were actually inspired by a magazine article.

The movie drew on concepts from a 1983 article in California magazine written by Ehud Yonay, in which the writer detailed his experience with US Navy Fighter Weapons School, better known as TOPGUN.

Jerry Bruckheimer read through the article and shared it with Don Simpson. The two would go on to produce the movie three years later.