In "Top Gun Maverick," Frank "Walleye" Weisser, a two-time Blue Angels pilot, faced the challenge of flying the F-18 in ways never attempted before. His precision flying expertise was tested as he took on daredevil aerial stunts that left even the US Navy questioning if it could be done.  

One such feat was the Lawrence of Arabia maneuver, requiring Frank to fly lower than any Navy pilot would ever dream of. But his unmatched skills, honed as a Blue Angels veteran, allowed him to execute the maneuver flawlessly. Another adrenaline-pumping moment was the canyon run scene, where Frank had to fly at breakneck speeds, narrowly skimming the canyon face with just 20 feet of clearance.  

Upon completing the breathtaking canyon run, Tom Cruise praised Frank's performance as perfect, to which Frank candidly replied, "Great, because I wouldn't ever want to do that again."  

Kevin LaRosa II, the aerial coordinator for Top Gun: Maverick, soared to new heights while filming the breathtaking aerial sequences that have become synonymous with the Top Gun franchise. With over 800 hours of heart-stopping, gravity-defying footage, Kevin played an instrumental role in bringing the movie's high-octane action to life.    

At Top Gun Days 2023, Kevin will take you on a thrilling journey behind the scenes of Top Gun: Maverick, revealing the challenges, triumphs, and sheer dedication that went into capturing those awe-inspiring aerial shots. 

In Top Gun Maverick, Aaron “Vern” Vernallis took on the exhilarating task of piloting the F-18 that raced alongside Maverick on his motorbike down the runway, echoing the iconic scene from the first Top Gun movie. Behind the seamless on-screen portrayal were countless challenges and potential dangers that Vern had to overcome to ensure the safety of everyone involved.   

In a serendipitous twist, Vern stepped in to lend his own flight gear to Tom Cruise for a photo shoot when the actor needed it. This act of camaraderie resulted in the creation of the now-famous "Need For Speed" movie poster. 

Amy Heflin, a skilled US Navy pilot, played a pivotal role in bringing the adrenaline-pumping aerial sequences of Top Gun Maverick to life. Behind the scenes, she expertly navigated the F-18 jet while flying with Monica Barbaro (Phoenix) and Lewis Pullman (Bob) in the backseat for the movie's high-octane scenes.

Her commitment to the film went even further, as she lent her skills as a safety observer, ensuring the well-being of the cast and crew during the complex aerial shoots.

As a crucial part of the production, Amy helped install and set up the six cameras that captured the breathtaking cockpit footage of Phoenix in action. 

When the filming of Top Gun Maverick commenced, Maggie Kohl was serving in the US Navy as an aircrew member of the E-2 Hawkeye aircraft.

Initially, Maggie was tasked with 'babysitting' the Navy's E-2 aircraft during the movie's production, ensuring its operational integrity and preventing any accidental damage by the film crew. 

As the need arose for an internal shot of the E-2 with an actor portraying an aircrew member, Maggie stepped into the role of the E-2 operator with the callsign "COMANCHE," bringing a level of realism and authenticity to Top Gun Maverick that only someone with her experience could provide. 

When it came to ensuring the authenticity and accuracy of the original Top Gun movie, John Semcken, a real-life TOPGUN pilot, was the man for the job. His extensive knowledge and experience as a TOPGUN graduate made him the ideal technical advisor for the film.

Being present at the filming of every scene involving military personnel, equipment, or locations, John ensured that the Top Gun production team had unprecedented access to US Navy facilities, enabling them to make Top Gun better than any other aviation movie at that time.

In the world of naval aviation, few pilots possess the skill, expertise, and dedication of Jim "Jambo" Ray, a real-life TOPGUN graduate and instructor. When it came to bringing the thrilling dogfighting scenes of the original Top Gun movie to life, Jambo was the perfect choice to fly the F-4s and F-5s as Jester and Viper, the skilled aggressor aircraft pilots.

Drawing on his experience as a TOPGUN instructor, Jambo showcased his exceptional piloting abilities in the iconic movie, flying in ways that deviated from standard training exercises. His commitment to delivering director Tony Scott's vision while ensuring the safety of his aircraft and fellow pilots made the movie's aerial combat scenes unforgettable and exhilarating.

As an Aircraft Director and Flight Deck Safety officer on the USS Enterprise during the filming of Top Gun in 1985, Javier got a Bird's Eye View of Top Gun being filmed on the aircraft carrier.

His hilarious recounting of the unforgettable moment when two of the movie's F-14s unexpectedly landed on his flight deck with unfamiliar aircrew names and insignia offers a unique perspective on the making of Top Gun through the eyes of someone serving aboard the USS Enterprise during the filming of Top Gun.

FRIDAY 12TH MAY 2023 - WELCOME RECEPTION 6PM - 10PM

Building 177, 2875 Dewey Rd, San Diego, CA 92106. 

Mingle with fellow Top Gun fans from around the globe in a relaxed but fun-filled environment. Savor complimentary hors d’oeuvres and indulge in bar service as you groove to the beats of our renowned DJ, Chris Olivas, former drummer for the band Berlin. Bring your best moves and get ready to dazzle in the company of your fellow Top Gun Fans. Collect your EVENT PASS, swag bag, and event t-shirt.

Doors open at 5:30pm with the reception officially beginning at 6PM

SATURDAY 13TH MAY 2023 - VIP GUEST SPEAKERS EVENT 

Building 177, 2875 Dewey Rd, San Diego, CA 92106, United States.  

Are you ready to take a deep dive into the making of Top Gun and Top Gun Maverick? You will have the opportunity to meet and listen to their inspiring, breathtaking, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, adrenalin, behind-the-scenes stories from Top Gun and Top Gun Maverick:

These are the VIP Guest Speakers you'll get to meet and listen to their inspiring, breathtaking, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants, adrenalin, and behind-the-scenes stories from Top Gun and Top Gun Maverick on Saturday, May 13th, 2023.

Frank "Walleye" Weisser, a veteran of the Blue Angels, is the man behind the stick for some of the most iconic scenes in the new "Top Gun Maverick" movie. He will share his incredible stories of flying the F-18 during the canyon run, the low-level Lawrence of Arabia maneuver and many other low-level flight scenes we saw in the movie.

Kevin LaRosa II, the Ariel coordinator for Top Gun Maverick, who shot over 800 hours of aerial footage for the movie, will give us a behind-the-scenes look at what it took to capture those fantastic aerial shots we all can't wait to see on the big screen. In addition, he will be sharing his experiences working with the film's stars and what it was like to be a part of such an iconic movie. 

Aaron “Vern” Vernallis, the F-18 pilot who raced Maverick on his motorbike down the runway, will spill all the behind-the-scenes stories about how that scene was shot multiple times over 2 years. And get this, he even lent Tom Cruise his own flight gear for the iconic "Feel the need" picture! You'll have the chance to see his flight gear up close and personal at the event. 

Amy Heflin, the real “Phoenix” of Top Gun Maverick, was an integral part of the movie's filming, serving as a safety observer for the camera crew and helping to install and set up the six cameras that bring the action to life on the big screen. She flew for Phoenix and Bob, participating in the snow scenes in Whidbey Island and the BFM in the mountains east of Lemoore, CA. You'll have the opportunity to hear Heflin's exclusive behind-the-scenes stories about what it was like to fly for the best movie of 2022 and get to fly as one of the leading characters.  

CJ "Heater" Heatley, a TOPGUN graduate and former instructor, played a vital role in making the iconic movie. He will be sharing his stories, insights and behind-the-scenes of the making of the film. Not only did his photography skills and style influence Tony Scott during the filming, but they were also a key factor in the movie's creation. His aerial photography was featured in the 1983 California Magazine article "Top Guns", which inspired Don Simpson to make the movie.  

Maggie Kohl, Get ready to meet the real-life 'Comanche'. As the E-2 callsign in 'Top Gun Maverick', we are thrilled to have Maggie join us as a guest speaker. Imagine hearing firsthand accounts of the movie filming from an active-duty servicewoman who was there! Maggie went from babysitting the E-2 used in the movie and the film crew to appearing in the movie as 'Comanche'. This is your chance to learn more about the E-2 aircraft and its crew directly from the person who did it for a living and in the movie.  

John Semcken, a real-life TOPGUN pilot and technical advisor for Top Gun, will take us behind the scenes of the film that made us fall in love with naval aviation. As a graduate of TOPGUN, he served as the technical advisor for the film and will be sharing his experiences and insights into the making of the movie.  

Jim “Jambo” Ray, a real-life TOPGUN graduate and instructor. He was part of the flight crew who flew the F-4s and F-5s as Jester and Viper in the original Top Gun movie. We’ll hear what it was like to fly as one of the aggressor aircraft for those amazing dogfighting scenes that still thrill and excite us more than 35 years later.  

Javier Medina, Aircraft Director, Flightdeck Safety, aboard the USS ENTERPRISE during the filming of Top Gun and got to hang out with the actors off-set on the ship and watch many of the flight deck scenes being filmed.  

They will share their never before heard, behind-the-scenes stories of their time working on the making of Top Gun and Top Gun Maverick, as well as some of the new CGI technology and the technical advisors from the military who worked on the set to pull off an amazing film.  

Not only that, but we will also have some of our all-time favorite guest speakers returning to go into further detail on how things differ from our original beloved 1986 movie and today’s tricks of the trade. The event includes a Q&A session with each speaker and the opportunity to get signed photos and selfies with them.  

Catered lunch and beverages are included with your ticket.  

Slaters 50/50 will provide amazing lunch for you at the venue, so you won’t have to worry about leaving the event in search of food and drinks. 

SUNDAY 14TH MAY 2023 - USS MIDWAY & KANSAS CITY BBQ  

The USS Midway in the morning - Visit USS Midway located at 910 N. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101.

Start your Sunday morning with a relaxing tour of the USS Midway. The ship is open to the public from 10 am to 4 pm, and it's a self-paced tour, allowing you to explore the ship at your own pace. 

Tickets can be purchased directly from the USS Midway website, https://www.midway.org/visit/buy-tickets/ 

Kansas City BBQ in the afternoon - 600 W Harbor Dr, San Diego, CA 92101.

Wrap up the Top Gun Days 2023 event in style! Join us at the iconic filming location of the 1986 blockbuster film at Kansas City BBQ from 3 PM onwards. Give your best rendition of “Great Balls of Fire” as you enjoy camaraderie with your fellow Top Gun enthusiasts. 

*Your Top Gun Days event pass will be required at Kansas City BBQ. 

Don't let this opportunity pass you by. Join us this May, in San Diego, for the exclusive Top Gun Fan event of the year that's not available anywhere else. Get your front seat to an action-packed experience of the making of Top Gun and Top Gun Maverick while being part of the global fan community of minded fans.