Pilots Will Love Top Gun: Maverick—It’s a Lot More Real

Pilots Will Love <i>Top Gun: Maverick</i>—It’s a Lot More Real

Julie Boatman

Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at 05:58 PM ET

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Aerial coordinator Kevin “K2” LaRosa II says Tom Cruise inspired him to "set the bar higher." [Courtesy: Skydance]

Key Takeaways:

Aerial coordinator Kevin "K2" LaRosa II, a third-generation aviator, was instrumental in *Top Gun: Maverick*'s groundbreaking aerial cinematography, drawing on extensive training in diverse and military-style flying techniques.
A key innovation for the film was the L-39 Cinejet, an optimized aerial camera platform developed by LaRosa, featuring a six-axis stabilized Shotover F1 Rush system and Sony Venice camera to capture incredibly stable and dynamic footage during high-G maneuvers.
The production utilized a specialized fleet of aircraft, including the Cinejet for close-quarters action, an Embraer Phenom 300 camera jet for long-distance shots, and an Airbus H125 AStar helicopter for agile, close-up perspectives.
Tom Cruise's directive for unparalleled aerial realism pushed the team to achieve a level of perfection previously unseen, requiring aerial coordinators to master a crucial 50/50 blend of expert piloting skills and filmmaking knowledge.

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For a movie as iconic as Top Gun, the sequel has been a long time coming. Normally, the ink is barely dry on the celluloid of version 1.0 before the next installment goes into production, ready to ride the wave of popularity and interest of that first smash hit.

But this aviation-fueled audience has waited since 1986—and there’s good reason for that. FLYING learned the secrets during an interview with top Hollywood aerial coordinator Kevin “K2” LaRosa II. He’s vice president of aerial film production for Helinet Aviation Services, and he produced the dynamic and compelling aerial ballet that comprises the heart and soul of Top Gun: Maverick.