Why Didn't Rooster and Maverick Have a Weapons Person in the Second Seat of the Plane in Top Gun: Maverick?

Top Gun: Maverick is a highly entertaining movie that has captured the hearts of many fans. However, some questions arise regarding the placement of the weapons officer in the second seat of the plane. For instance, why didn't screenwriter Tony Scott and director Joseph Kosinski include a weapons officer as a character for the main characters, Maverick and Rooster? In this article, we explore the reasons behind this decision and the technical aspects of the aircraft used in the movie.

The Aircraft Used in Top Gun: Maverick

The F/A-18E Super Hornet and the F/A-18F Super Hornet were used in the movie. These aircraft are designed for different operational needs. The F/A-18E is a single-seater model, while the F/A-18F can accommodate a weapons systems officer (WSO).

Design Differences Between F/A-18E and F/A-18F

The F/A-18E and F/A-18F models of the Super Hornet have distinct designs. During his time in the Navy, the author has flown both models and can provide firsthand insight into their differences. The F/A-18E, which is what Maverick and Rooster were featured in, is a more compact single-seater aircraft designed specifically for the pilot. The F/A-18F, on the other hand, is a larger aircraft capable of housing both a pilot and a weapons systems officer, similar to the F-4 Phantom and F-14 Tomcat.

It is important to note that in the movie, the actors sat in the backseat of the F/A-18F to portray characters like Phoenix and Bob. Even Tom Cruise, who is a civilian pilot, did so for the filming of the movie. This setup allowed the actors to perform the necessary scenes without compromising the accuracy of the aircraft's design.

Technical Aspects of the Missions in Top Gun: Maverick

The aircraft in the movie were primarily equipped to carry armament that required a weapons systems officer to operate. For example, Tomahawk missiles were used to destroy the airfield, but they could not be used to destroy the SAM missile launchers. The removal of the SAM missiles would have altered the plot and purpose of the movie.

The armament carried by the aircraft in the movie was sophisticated and required a weapons systems officer to manage. Maverick would typically designate the target, and the other planes, which were armed with laser-guided bombs, would then strike the target area.

Conclusion

The absence of a weapons officer in the second seat of the plane in Top Gun: Maverick was a deliberate design decision. The aircraft used in the movie, primarily the F/A-18E and F/A-18F, were not equipped to have a weapons systems officer in the F/A-18E model. The armament required sophisticated management, and the removal of SAM missiles would have changed the narrative of the movie. Understanding these technical aspects helps us appreciate the complexity and realism of the film, despite it being a work of fiction.

Keywords

- Top Gun Maverick
- F/A-18E Super Hornet
- single seater aircraft
- weapons systems officer
- weapons officer
- F/A-18F Super Hornet
- SAM missile launchers
- Tomahawk missiles