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"The need for fees" -

At the real Top Gun School, staff members can be fined US$5 for quoting the movie.

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Improv skills - In one scene in the hangar, Ice Man (played by Val Kilmer) coughs "bull****" and makes his peers laugh. This was adlibbed, and the reactions are genuine.

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Career hit for Kilmer - Kilmer actually didn't want to star in 'Top Gun,' but was forced to due to contractual obligations. It's become one of his biggest roles.

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Tough cookie - Anthony Edwards was reportedly the only actor who wasn't sick after flying in the fighter jets.

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Charlie and Pete - At one point, Charlie has an "older man" date. He is based on Pete Pettigrew, a retired Top Gun instructor who was the film's technical consultant.

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New recruits - The U.S. Navy installed recruiting booths in major cinemas, and had the highest application rate in years.

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Firepower - The U.S. Navy set up two missile shots to be used in the movie. The shots were filmed from many different angles, so they could be used at various points in the film.

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True romance - In one scene, Charlie tells Maverick that she didn't want anyone to know she was falling for him. Tom Cruise forgot his line, so kissed her character instead. This was ad libbed, and used in the final cut.

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New heights - Tom Cruise reportedly wore lifts to match the height of Kelly McGillis.

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Charlie's inspiration - Kelly McGillis is based on Christine Fox, a flight instructor who rose through the ranks of the Pentagon.

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From the skies to space - At one point, a F-14 pilot named Scott Altman puts the middle finger up to a MiG pilot. Altman went on to become a NASA astronaut who piloted two missions.

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Scott Altman - Scott Altman actually performed Maverick's stunts during filming.

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Evan? - Maverick's real name was originally Evan in an early script for 'Top Gun.' It was changed to Pete, named after Pete Pettigrew.

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Art Scholl R.I.P. -

During the production, stunt pilot Art Scholl was killed aged 54. After completing a flat spin, his camera plane plummeted into the Pacific Ocean. "I have a problem - I have a real problem," were his last words.

(Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Buzzing the tower - Navy pilots drew straws to see who would "buzz the tower." Lieutenant Bozo got to do it, and flew so low that Michael Ironside (pictured) saw the plane's cockpit.

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Backseat ride - Actors who played F-14 crew got the chance to ride backseat in the planes.

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Special request - Grumman, the company that produces the F-14, was asked by Paramount to install special cameras into the planes.

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Test ride - Tom Cruise apparently shrugged the film off at first, but Jerry Bruckheimer convinced the actor to ride along with the Navy. After spinning around in the sky, Cruise said "I'm in. I'm doing the movie. I love it. This is great."

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Cruise control - Cruise joined Lieutenant Bozo the first time he rode in an F-14. The pilot flew Cruise around, who was feeling mightily sick, "they don't call me 'Bozo' for nothing," the Lieutenant said.

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In character - Maverick and Iceman had real tension. Apparently, Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer refused to socialize and spent their time apart while on set.

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Lived experience - At the graduation ceremony, a mustached Top Gun instructor named Heater can be seen behind Maverick.

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New color scheme -

Some of the F-5 jets were painted black for the film. A few kept this color scheme in the official Top Gun program.

(Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 1.0)

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In character - It's said that Tom Cruise kept to himself during filming, so that he could stay in character.

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Professional advisor - Admiral Robert Willard is the pilot who gets "flipped off" by Maverick and Goose. He was actually the lead flight choreographer for the film.

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'Top Gun 2' origins - A script for 'Top Gun 2' was actually completed shortly after the film was released. However, Tom Cruise reportedly didn't want a sequel, and other problems stalled the project.

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Goose's real name - Only superfans know Goose's real name: Nick Bradshaw. You can see his name on a flight patch on top of his dresser.

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Spoilers ahead! - Watch out, the following facts contain spoilers. In one original cut, Maverick pays tribute at Goose's grave. The version was never released.

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Deleted scenes - Originally, Goose would have died in a fiery crash atop an aircraft carrier. However, the U.S. Navy stepped in and objected, and the death scene was changed.

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Pentagon approval - The Pentagon had an important role in the production. They reportedly wanted the Navy portrayed in a positive light, and didn't want Goose's death scene to reflect badly on standard military practice.

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Tony Scott R.I.P. -

Reportedly, director Tony Scott started working on 'Top Gun 2' back in 2012. Sadly, he committed suicide a day before meeting up with Tom Cruise.

Also revisit the 30 most essential cult films of all time.

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