‘Top Gun’ is an action-packed movie following the flight of Naval Lt. Pete Mitchell AKA Maverick, who arrives to attend the TOPGUN training program at the Naval Fighter Weapons School with his friend and Radar Intercept Officer LTJG Nick. Bradshaw AKA Goose.
Maverick soon impresses all the teachers with his extraordinary skills and out-of-box skills, but they often reprimand him for his reckless behavior and his selfish decisions. When tragedy strikes Goose’s death, Maverick is forced to deal with guilt and fear and help his spouses in one of the most dangerous machines in his life.
Starring Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards, and Val Kilmer, the 1986 movie has garnered the status of a cult over the years with its stellar play, aerial stunts, and a sequence of actions. The background of the Naval Air Station and the Navy airline adds an element of authenticity to the story. Fans of the movie will be curious about where it was filmed. Now, know about the Top Gun movie.
Where Was Top Gun Action Movie Filmed?
‘Top Gun’ was heavily recorded in Nevada, California, and Illinois, especially in Oakland, San Diego, Oceanside, Coronado, Chicago, and Fallon. In addition, some of the aircraft carriers were taken in the Pacific Ocean, inside the real USS Enterprise.
The movie’s main filming took place between June 26, 1985, and December 26, 1985. The team used a few real Navy aircraft, which were tested by real NASA astronauts and pilots.
California
Large sections of ‘Top Gun’ were recorded in the coastal city of San Diego, California. Actors and crew filmed at several locations, such as the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, renamed the Naval Air Station Miramar in the movie.
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In addition, the incident of Officer’s Club on Animal Night was recorded at NAS Miramar Officer ‘Club at 4472 Anderson Avenue. Significant sequences, including those on the ground and in the toilet, were also recorded inside and near the Marine Corps Training Center on Roosevelt Road, particularly at Headquarters Building # 200.
Many bar screens were filmed in the city at various locations, such as The Lafayette Hotel, Swim Clubs and Bungalows and the Red Fox Room on El Cajon Boulevard, and Windsock Bar and Grill on 2904 Pacific Highway. In addition, the famous final scene and piano scene were filmed at Kansas City Barbeque, at 610 West Market Street.
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Scenes of the changing room were filmed at The Plunge swimming pool in Mission Beach inside Belmont Park at Fit Athletic Club, while scenes depicting Viper’s house were filmed at New Point Loma Lighthouse on Cabrillo Road. An outline in which Charlie informs Maverick of his love is attached to a lens at 519 West Laurel Street. Inside photos of the airline were taken from the USS Ranger, which was stationed on the shores of the city during the recording.
San Diego is known for its park-lined beaches, as well as the USS Midway, a former airline that was transformed into a museum. Other movies shot in San Diego include ‘Kingman: The Golden Circle,’ ‘Scarface,’ and ‘Citizen Kane.’
A small shotgun from the ‘Top Gun’ was shot in Oakland, a busy port city in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a rented city and has a strong economy that relies heavily on shipping, tourism, and automotive production. Oakland has a thriving arts community and nightlife and is home to a variety of famous artists.
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Oakland California Temple, Chinatown, Lake Merritt, Peralta Hacienda Historical Park, and Paramount Theater are the major tourist attractions in the city. The films ‘C’mon C’mon,’ ‘Venom: Let There Be Carnage,’ and ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’ were also filmed in Oakland.
The movie graduation scene was filmed at Naval Air Station North Island in Coronado, a peninsula town in San Diego Bay. Best known as Crown City, Coronado is a landlocked island connected to the mainland by a number called Silver Strand.
It is an important site for the US Navy, especially NAS North Island mentioned above, which is the home port of many airlines. Notable tourist destinations in the city include the Victorian Hotel del Coronado, Centennial Park, Coronado Ferry Landing, and Coronado Dog Beach.
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Scenes showing Charlie’s house in ‘Top Gun’ were filmed at 102 Pacific Street, in the coastal town of Oceanside in San Diego County. It is famous for its California Surf Museum, Harbor Beach, and Oceanside Pier and hosts many sporting events every year. The city hosted the recording of ‘American Sniper as well.”Top Gun.”
Nevada
A thrilling dogfight series on movie landed at Naval Air Station southeast of the town of Fallon, a town in Churchill County. Located in the Lahontan Valley, the Fallon has a cold desert climate.
It is an important underground nuclear test ground in 1963, called Project Shoal. In addition, the city of Fallon is considered to be the site of National History.
Pacific Ocean
“Top Gun.” External images of the aircraft carriers in the movie were filmed in and around USS Enterprise (CVN-65), the now inactive US Navy airline. Named “Big E,” it was the first nuclear reactor
Chicago
The famous cash spot on the ‘Top Gun’ was recorded in Chicago, one of the nation’s largest cities. The coastal city of Lake Michigan is rich in history and is currently a global center for communication, finance, education, and technology. It is a cultural venue that hosts a variety of music, literature, movie, theater, and comedy events throughout the year.
Chicago is also known for its changing atmosphere, infrastructure, popular foreign art, and historical monuments. Some of the well-known works of art include Plensa’s Crown Fountain, Heald Square Monument, Oldenburg’s Batcolumn, and Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate. “Top Gun.”
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