Top Gun Quotes

Goose What are you doing?

Maverick Just wondering who's the best.

Viper In case some of you are wondering who the best is, they're up here on this plaque on the wall. The best driver and his RIO from each class has his name on it, and they have the option to come back here to be Top Gun instructors. You think your name's gonna be on that plaque?

Maverick Yes, sir.

Viper That's pretty arrogant, considering the company you're in.

Maverick Yes, sir.

Viper I like that in a pilot. Just remember, when it's over out there, we're all on the same team.

Stinger They gave you your choice of duty, son. Anything, anywhere. Do you believe that shit? Where do you think you wanna go?

Maverick I thought of being an instructor, sir.

Stinger Top Gun?!

Maverick Yes, sir.

Stinger God help us.

Stinger What about Willard and Simkins?

Officer Both catapults are broken sir, we cannot launch any aircraft yet.

Stinger How long?

Officer It'll take ten minutes.

Stinger Bullshit ten minutes! This thing will be over in two minutes, get on it!

Maverick I feel the need...

Maverick and Goose ...the need for speed!

Taglines Great balls of fire!

Iceman Sorry to hear about Cougar. He and I were like brothers in flight school. He was a good man.

Maverick Still is a good man.

Iceman Yeah, that's what I meant. You need any help?

Maverick With what?

Iceman You figured it out yet?

Maverick What's that?

Iceman Who's the best pilot.

Maverick You know, I think I can figure that one out on my own.

Iceman I heard that about you. You like to work alone.

Slider Mav, you must've sold under a lucky star, huh? I mean, first the MiG, and then you guys slide into Cougar's spot.

Goose We didn't slide into Cougar's spot. It was ours, okay?

Slider Yeah, well, some pilots wait their whole career just to see a MiG up close. Guess you guys are lucky and famous, huh?

Iceman No, you mean notorious. See you later.

Maverick You can count on it.

Stinger Maverick, you just did an incredibly brave thing. What you should have done was land your plane! You don't own that plane, the taxpayers do! Son, your ego is writing checks your body can't cash. You've been busted, you've lost your qualifications as section leader three times, put in hack twice by me, with a history of high speed passes over five air control towers—and one admiral's daughter!

Goose Penny Benjamin?

Stinger And you, asshole, you're lucky to be here!

Goose Thank you, sir.

Stinger And let's not bullshit, Maverick. Your family name ain't the best in the Navy. You need to be doing it better and cleaner than the other guy. Now what is it with you?

Maverick Just want to serve my country; be the best fighter pilot in the Navy, sir!

Stinger Don't screw around with me, Maverick. You're one hell of an instinctive pilot. Maybe too good. I'd like to bust your butt but I can't. I got another problem here. I gotta send somebody from this squadron to Miramar. I gotta do something here, I⁠—I still can't believe it. I gotta give you your dream shot! I'm gonna send you up against the best. You two characters...are going to Top Gun. For five weeks, you'll be flying against the best fighter pilots in the world. You were number two, Cougar was number one. Cougar lost it⁠—turned in his wings. You guys are number one. But you remember one thing: if you screw up just this much, you'll be flying a cargo plane full of rubber dog shit out of Hong Kong!

Maverick Yes sir!

Charlie Eh, Lieutenant, what were you doing there?

Goose Communicating.

Maverick Communicating. Keeping up foreign relations. I was, you know, giving him the bird.

Goose You know, the finger!

Charlie Yes, I know the finger, Goose.

Goose Sorry. I hate it when it does that.

Charlie So you're the one.

Maverick Yes, ma'am.

Taglines Up there with the best of the best.

Iceman You! You are still dangerous. You can be my wingman any time.

Maverick Bullshit! You can be mine. (They hug; they're friends now)

Viper I flew with your old man. ], the ]. You're a lot like he was. Only better… and worse. He was a natural heroic son of a bitch, that one.

Maverick So he did do it right.

Viper Yeah, he did right. Is that why you fly the way you do? Trying to prove something? Yeah, your old man did it right. What I'm about to tell you is classified and it could end my career. We were in the worst dogfight I could've dreamed of. There were bogeys like fireflies all over the sky. His F-4 was hit; he was wounded, but he could've made it back. He stayed in it; saved three planes before he bought it.

Maverick How come I never heard that before?

Viper Well that's not something the State Department tells its dependents when the battle occurred over the wrong line on some map.

Maverick So you were there?

Viper I was there. What's on your mind?

Maverick My options, sir.

Viper Simple. First, you've acquired enough points to show up and graduate with your Top Gun class, or you can quit. There'll be no disgrace. That spin was hell; it would've shook me up.

Maverick So you think I should quit?

Viper I didn't say that. The simple fact is you feel responsible for Goose and you have a confidence problem. Now I'm not gonna sit here and blow sunshine up your ass, Lieutenant. A good pilot is compelled to always evaluate what's happened, so he can apply what he's learned. Up there, we gotta push it. That's our job. It's your option, Lieutenant. All yours.

Maverick Sorry to bother you on a Sunday, sir, but thank you very much for your time.

Viper No problem. Good luck.

Merlin Mav, what're doin', you're slowin down!

Maverick Gonna let him get a little closer.

Maverick Hard deck my ass. We nailed that son of a bitch.

Iceman Wow, you guys really are cowboys.

Maverick What's your problem, Kazanski?

Iceman You're everyone's problem. That's because every time you go up in the air, you're unsafe. I don't like you because you're dangerous.

Maverick That's right! Ice…man. I am dangerous.

Jester Maverick. You and Goose get your asses outta that flight gear and up to Viper's office now.

Slider Remember, boys, no points for second place.

Goose You're a lot brighter than you look—

Slider Oh, you shut up.

Taglines I feel the need, the need for speed.

Maverick JESUS CHRIST, AND YOU THINK I'M RECKLESS? WHEN I FLY, I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT MY CREW AND MY PLANE COME FIRST!

Charlie Well, I am going to FINISH MY SENTENCE, LIEUTENANT! My review of your flight performance was RIGHT ON!

Maverick Is that right?

Charlie That is right, but I held something back. I see some real genius in your flying, Maverick, but I can't say that in there. I was afraid that everyone in the TAC's trailer would see right through me, and I just don't want anyone to know that I've fallen for you.

Viper Good morning, gentlemen, the temperature is 110 degrees.

Wolfman Holy shit, it's Viper!

Goose Viper's up here, great… oh shit…

Maverick Great, he's probably saying, "Holy shit, it's Maverick and Goose.

Goose Yeah, I'm sure he's saying that.