Beyond the Movies: A TOPGUN Instructor Shares the Real Story Behind Top Gun
If you've watched Top Gun or Top Gun: Maverick, you've probably wondered at least once: How much of this is actually real?
For Tom “Pyro” Hendricks, that's a question he can answer from experience. A USS Yorktown Foundation Board member and former naval aviator, Tom served aboard the USS Midway flying F-4s, attended TOPGUN as a student and later returned as an instructor, where he flew F-5s, A-4s, and F-16s. And he happened to be at TOPGUN when the original Top Gun was being filmed.
We recently chatted with Tom to hear what it was really like—and let's just say Hollywood took a few liberties.
The real TOPGUN wasn't exactly like the movies.
Tom arrived at TOPGUN in May 1985. Filming for Top Gun began shortly afterward, giving him a front-row seat to the production. He met members of the cast, including Tom Cruise, and even attended the movie's 1986 premiere in San Diego with fellow Navy squadron-mates.
One of Tom's favorite behind-the-scenes stories involves the famous locker room. The squadron's old lockers were old. Really old. The lockers had been made around the Korean War era and were, in Hendricks' words, “the worst lockers ever.” A producer loved their worn appearance and arranged to use them in the film. In exchange, the squadron received brand-new lockers.
The arrangement seemed like a win-win—until filming ended and the production company returned to reclaim the new lockers. "That," Tom laughs, "might be the most Hollywood story of all."
So, how accurate was the movie?
“The flying was okay,” Tom says. The rest? Not so much.
The real TOPGUN wasn't about beach volleyball, locker-room confrontations, or competing for a trophy. In fact, Tom says there has never been a TOPGUN trophy.
The mission was much more important: train the best fighter pilots possible and send them back to their squadrons to elevate the performance of the entire fleet.
Building a Culture of Excellence
Long before TOPGUN and Hollywood came calling, Tom was learning the skills that would define his naval aviation career.
After hundreds of practice approaches on land, he and his fellow student naval aviators finally spotted the USS Lexington from the air and realized they were about to attempt their first carrier landings.
Their reaction? "You've got to be kidding me. I can't believe I'm going to land this airplane on that!"
The training worked.
Tom went on to complete hundreds of carrier landings, serve aboard USS Midway, and eventually become one of the instructors responsible for training the next generation of Navy fighter pilots.
When Tom reflects on his career, one theme emerges again and again: excellence isn't an individual achievement. It's built through training, discipline, mentorship, and a commitment to helping others succeed.
Why these stories matter
Ask Tom why he believes places like Patriots Point and the USS Yorktown Foundation are important, and his answer has little to do with Hollywood.
“It's not a video game. This is the real world, and these are real people that made sacrifices every day.”
The ships, aircraft, and artifacts preserved here are reminders of those who served their country. They missed birthdays and anniversaries. They endured long deployments and dangerous missions. Some never returned home, and thousands are still serving today.
For Tom, preserving these stories helps future generations understand that history isn't just a collection of dates and events. It's the story of ordinary people who chose to do extraordinary things in service to something larger than themselves.
“That’s why it’s critically important to have these things – but we have to put it in perspective. People are putting their lives on the line right now, in the middle of the night, across the globe for us. A lot of people forget that.”
Want to hear more from Tom?
This is just a glimpse into our conversation with Tom “Pyro” Hendricks. Patriots Point members can watch the full behind-the-scenes interview, where Tom shares more about his time at TOPGUN, the challenge of landing on an aircraft carrier, his experiences during the filming of Top Gun, and the lessons that shaped his remarkable career.
Become a Patriots Point member to access exclusive stories and interviews from veterans, aviators, and fellow members like Tom. Your membership helps preserve and share these important stories for future generations.
Stories like Tom’s remind us why Patriots Point matters. Behind every aircraft, every ship, and every artifact is a story of service, sacrifice, and courage. Those stories deserve to be remembered—and carried forward.