In the original 1986 Top Gun movie, the primary aircraft featured is the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, famous for its "variable-sweep" wings and tandem seating. In the 2022 sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, the focus shifts to the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which currently serves as the backbone of U.S. Naval Aviation. The film also features a brief but iconic appearance of a fictional hypersonic stealth aircraft called the "Darkstar," which was designed with input from Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works to look like a plausible successor to the SR-71 Blackbird. Additionally, the sequel brings back the classic F-14 Tomcat for the climactic final sequence. In 2026, these aircraft remain symbols of cinematic aviation history. It is worth noting that while the F-14 has been retired from U.S. service since 2006, it is still operated by the Iranian Air Force. The "Super Hornet" continues to be the primary strike fighter for the Navy, though it is gradually being supplemented by the F-35C Lightning II, which features even more advanced stealth and sensor integration than the jets seen in the films.