Former F-18 and Blue Angels pilot, Scott Kartvedt, takes us behind the scenes of flying in Top Gun: Maverick.
In this episode hear behind-the-scenes stories of how some of the most realistic flying scenes are made. Scott tells us about his time in the Navy, flying as a Blue Angel and on the Patriots Jet team, and "dogfighting" with a helicopter while filming. This one is going to be cool!
Episode 40 marks the end of Season 4 of the Behind the Wings Podcast. We'll be taking a short break and will be back later this year for Season 5.
Key Takeaways:
- Scott's love of aviation started when he saw Blue Angels flying over his family's campsite. The original Top Gun also fueled his ambition to join the Navy.
- Scott started school as an accountant but later followed his dream of becoming a fighter pilot.
- In the Navy, Scott flew the F-18 as a fighter pilot and for the Blue Angels.
- All flying scenes in Maverick were performed and filmed in real time.
- Scott and his wingman Randy Howell flew as stunt pilots in L-39 jets for the final scene in Maverick. They were later edited over to match the fighters in the movie.
- While filming, Scott would often fly straight at the helicopter and pull away at the last second.
- Scott leaves us with encouraging advice to ask the question. If you don't ask, the answer is always no.
Resources:
What is Behind the Wings?
Wings Over the Rockies has a new podcast! Based on our hit YouTube and PBS series of the same name, the Behind the Wings podcast will cover everything from aviation history to the future of space exploration with thought leaders and experts in the industry. This one's going to be cool!