F-18 Top Gun Maverick Apr 2026

But don’t call it a downgrade. The switch from Tomcat to Super Hornet tells a fascinating story of modern naval warfare, practical filmmaking, and why Maverick—a man who never retires—would have to adapt. The F-14 Tomcat was retired from US Navy service in 2006, a victim of changing doctrine, high maintenance costs, and the end of the Cold War. Its successor wasn’t one plane but two: the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (a larger, more advanced evolution of the original Hornet) and the F-35C Lightning II.

So, is the Super Hornet as cool as the Tomcat? Maybe not. But then again, neither is anyone else. And that’s exactly the point Maverick himself would appreciate. F-18 Top Gun Maverick

Here’s a feature-style look at the , focusing on its role, realism, and why the film chose it over other fighters. Beyond the Tomcat: How the F/A-18 Became the Unsung Hero of Top Gun: Maverick When the opening notes of “Danger Zone” hit theaters in 1986, the F-14 Tomcat became a cultural icon. Swinging wings, AIM-54 Phoenix missiles, and that cool-as-ice silhouette defined naval aviation for a generation. So when Top Gun: Maverick roared onto screens decades later, audiences expected a Tomcat comeback tour. What they got instead was a surprise: the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as the film’s primary workhorse. But don’t call it a downgrade

More importantly, the Super Hornet represents the modern naval aviator’s reality. Top Gun: Maverick isn’t just a nostalgia trip; it’s a story about legacy, adaptation, and honoring the past while flying the jets of the present. The F-14 was Maverick’s youth. The F/A-18 is his hard-won maturity. The F/A-18 Super Hornet in Top Gun: Maverick isn’t a consolation prize. It’s a star in its own right—proof that practical filmmaking, real jets, and respect for military aviation can create something breathtaking. And when that Tomcat finally does roar off the deck for one last flight, you realize the Super Hornet did its job perfectly: it made you appreciate both where naval aviation has been, and where it’s going. Its successor wasn’t one plane but two: the

The result is visceral. You feel the shudder of the catapult launch, the strain on Maverick’s face during a 9-G turn, and the claustrophobic intensity of a cockpit hurtling through canyons. That’s not CGI. That’s an F/A-18, real pilots, and actors who went through an abbreviated version of Navy flight training. Some critics initially scoffed: “Maverick should be flying an F-35!” But the F-35C, while stealthy and advanced, is single-seat (limiting character interaction) and less visually dramatic in dogfights. The Super Hornet is muscular, agile, and photogenic—with its distinctive intakes, angled tails, and rugged landing gear.