<P> The Navy made several aircraft from F - 14 fighter squadron VF - 51 `` Screaming Eagles '' ( which Tom Skerritt mentions in the scene at his home ) available for the film . Paramount paid as much as US $7,800 per hour for fuel and other operating costs whenever aircraft were flown outside their normal duties . Shots of the aircraft carrier sequences were filmed aboard the USS Enterprise , showing aircraft from F - 14 squadrons VF - 114 `` Aardvarks '' and VF - 213 `` Black Lions '' . The majority of the carrier flight deck shots were of normal aircraft operations and the film crew had to take what they could get , save for the occasional flyby which the film crew would request . During filming , director Tony Scott wanted to shoot aircraft landing and taking off , back - lit by the sun . During one particular filming sequence , the ship 's commanding officer changed the ship 's course , thus changing the light . When Scott asked if they could continue on their previous course and speed , he was informed by the commander that it cost US $25,000 to turn the ship , and to continue on course . Scott wrote the carrier 's captain a US $25,000 check so that the ship could be turned and he could continue shooting for another five minutes . </P>
<P> The Navy made several aircraft from F - 14 fighter squadron VF - 51 `` Screaming Eagles '' ( which Tom Skerritt mentions in the scene at his home ) available for the film . Paramount paid as much as US $7,800 per hour for fuel and other operating costs whenever aircraft were flown outside their normal duties . Shots of the aircraft carrier sequences were filmed aboard the USS Enterprise , showing aircraft from F - 14 squadrons VF - 114 `` Aardvarks '' and VF - 213 `` Black Lions '' . The majority of the carrier flight deck shots were of normal aircraft operations and the film crew had to take what they could get , save for the occasional flyby which the film crew would request . During filming , director Tony Scott wanted to shoot aircraft landing and taking off , back - lit by the sun . During one particular filming sequence , the ship 's commanding officer changed the ship 's course , thus changing the light . When Scott asked if they could continue on their previous course and speed , he was informed by the commander that it cost US $25,000 to turn the ship , and to continue on course . Scott wrote the carrier 's captain a US $25,000 check so that the ship could be turned and he could continue shooting for another five minutes . </P>
what aircraft carrier was used in the movie top gun
what aircraft carrier was used in the movie top gun
the USS Enterprise
the USS Enterprise