Expensive flights

Since the cast all went up in real F-14s, Paramount had to fork out plenty of cash - $7,600-an-hour to be exact.

The producers had approached the Department of Defence to use the aircraft. After reading the script, they agreed, and gave their terms.

The producers "paid the military $1.8 million for the use of Miramar Naval Air Station near San Diego, four aircraft carriers and about two dozen F-14 Tomcats, F-5 Tigers and A-4 Skyhawks, some flown by real-life top-gun pilots".