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:

Kevin "K2" LaRosa II, the aerial coordinator for *Top Gun: Maverick*, leveraged his deep aviation background and filmmaking knowledge to create the film's highly realistic and dynamic aerial sequences.
The long wait for the sequel allowed for the development of advanced cinematography technology, crucial for achieving unparalleled visual fidelity, a standard set by Tom Cruise.
LaRosa designed and implemented the L-39 Cinejet, a specialized camera platform, to capture stable, high-quality footage during intense, high-G flight maneuvers that older technology could not accomplish.
A combination of the Cinejet, an Embraer Phenom 300 camera jet, and an Airbus H125 helicopter were utilized to acquire the diverse and complex aerial shots, showcasing the blend of expert piloting and cutting-edge equipment.

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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.