Top Gun and Iron Eagle COMPARED

Seattle used to have a portfolio of summer events called “Seafair”, and one of those events was an aviation show over Lake Washington which included the famous Navy Blue Angels. Well, its been a few years since our Angels have visited us and, during the Independence Day holiday, I found myself growing wistful about fighter jets in acrobatic formations. To sooth my sentimentality about the recent past, I relived something far more distant with a re-watch of two 1986 fighter jet classics: “Top Gun” and “Iron Eagle”. How do these competing films stack up? Let’s have a look with this list of facts about Top Gun and Iron Eagle COMPARED:

The films were release four month apart.

Two films about rogue fighter pilots released just months apart might sound like they have a connection, but they don’t. Iron Eagle was released first by TriStar Pictures on January 17, 1986 and Top Gun, distributed by Paramount Pictures, followed almost four month later to the day on May 16, 1986. However, as you’ll read, they ended up going different directions.

The films had similar budgets but vastly different profit margins.

You might not have thought this, but Iron Eagle cost more to make with a budget of $18 million compared to Top Gun’s $15 million. However, Iron Eagle only made a modest $24 million at the box office compared to Top Gun’s high-flying $357 million. Interestingly, Iron Eagle’s performance on home video of $11 million would spawn multiple direct-to-VHS sequels while Top Gun is only now releasing a sequel 36 years later called “Top Gun: Maverick”.

One film cooperated with the U.S. military while the other did not.

Top Gun wanted the U.S. Navy to assist in its production. As such, the script went through Navy approval which made multiple changes to the original script. For example, the fictional dog fights were moved from Cuba to “international waters”. Also, Maverick’s love interest “Charlie” was originally an enlisted woman. They changed her to a civilian advisor as the Navy has a strict, standing policy against fraternization between officers and enlisted personnel. With this cooperation, the producers were able to collaborate with the Navy to film aerial scenes. Those scenes that weren’t part of normal operations cost Paramount almost $8,000 an hour to film!

Iron Eagle, on the other hand, got no such cooperation from the U.S. Air Force. It turns out the Air Force does not take too kindly to films that include the theft of USAF aircraft instigated by teenagers to wage unilateral warfare against an ambiguously Middle Eastern nation. Therefore, the producers of Iron Eagle turned to the Israeli Air Force. The crew spent six weeks filming aerial scenes in Israel which were coordinated by Jim Gavin of “Blue Thunder” fame.

The fighter pilot mentors were based on real badasses

Not only was Top Gun’s “Viper” based on a real aviator, Rear Admiral Pete "Viper" Pettigrew was an advisor on the set! Pete Pettigrew flew 375 combat missions in Vietnam earning dozens of medals and was indeed an instructor at TOPGUN.

Although not confirmed, its said that "Chappy" was modeled after General Daniel James, Jr. who was a member of the Tuskegee Airmen. After flying numerous missions in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, he became the first black four-star general in U.S. history.

Admiral Pete Pettigrew

General Daniel James, Jr.

The soundtracks were both rad

Both soundtracks are awesome for any connoisseur of 1980s music. Top Gun’s more pop and New Wave tunes include “Danger Zone” and “Playing with the Boys” by Kenny Loggins, “Mighty Wings” by Cheap Trick, “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin, and the ever-awesome, electric guitar ballad called only, “Top Gun Anthem” by Faltermeyer. An oldie includes “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” by the Righteous Brothers which is now sung to women in bars by sailors in ports everywhere. The soundtrack makes you want to be the best fighter pilot you can be and fall in love at the same time.

Iron Eagle, with a more rock and metal inspired soundtrack, encourages you to fight the system, steal a jet and save your dad with “One Vision” by Queen, “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister, “Iron Eagle (Never Say Die)” by King Kobra and a smattering of other rock songs from obscure, now forgotten 80s glam bands. Iron Eagle’s oldie of choice is Chappy’s favorite thinking song, “Gimme Some Lovin” by The Spenser Davis Group.

So, which one wins the award for best fighter jet movie of 1986? That depends on you! Let us know which one you like more in the comments.