Top Gun (1986)

Tom Skerritt: Viper

Photos 

Quotes 

• 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.

• Viper : [to Maverick]  You'll pick up your RIO when you get to the ship, and if you don't, give me a call. I'll fly with you.

• Viper : I flew with your old man. VF-51, the Oriskany. 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 it 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. It could end my career. We were in the worst dogfight I ever dreamed of. There were bogeys like fireflies all over the sky. His F-4 was hit, and 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 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 tomorrow and graduate with your Top Gun class, or you can quit. There'd 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 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.

• Viper : How ya doin'?

  Maverick : I'm all right.

  Viper : Goose is dead.

  Maverick : I know.

  Viper : You fly jets long enough, something like this happens.

  Maverick : He was my R.I.O., my responsibility.

  Viper : My squadron, we lost 8 of 18 aircraft. 10 men. First one dies, you die too. But there will be others. You can count it. You gotta let him go. You gotta let him go.

• Viper : In case some of you are wondering who the best is, they are up here on this plaque.

  [turns to Maverick] 

  Viper : Do you think your name will 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.

• Jester : His fitness report says it all. Flies by the seat of his pants. Completely unpredictable.

  Viper : He got you, didn't he?

  Jester : [pauses]  Yeah.

• Viper : [discussing Maverick]  Let me ask you something. If you had to go into battle, would you want him with you?

  Jester : I don't know, I just don't know

• Viper : [after the first hop with Jester ends with Maverick shooting down Jester at the hard deck and Maverick doing a fly-by near a tower]  Gentlemen... You had a hell of a first day. The hard deck for this hop was 10,000 feet. You knew it, you broke it. You followed Commander Heatherly below after he lost sight of you and called no joy. Why?

  Maverick : Sir! I had Commander Heatherly in my sights, he saw me move in for the kill. He then proceeded below the hard deck. We weren't below 10,000 for more than a few seconds. I had the shot, there was no danger, so I took it.

  Viper : You took it... AND BROKE A MAJOR RULE OF ENGAGEMENT. Then you broke another one with that, uh, circus stunt fly-by.

  [Viper sighs] 

  Viper : Lieutenant Mitchell... Top Gun rules of engagement exists for your safety and for that of your team. They are not flexible, nor am I. Either obey them, or you're history. Is that clear?

• [Jester and Viper watch a frustrated Maverick walk off after having a falling out with Sundown] 

  Jester : He can't get back in the saddle, won't engage.

  Viper : It's only been a few days.

  Jester : You know, he just might not make it back.

  Viper : Keep sending him up.

• Viper : Maverick, I flew with his old man. Tell me one thing, if you had to go into battle would you want him with you?

  Jester : I don't know, I just don't know.

• Viper : [after the dogfight with Viper]  Okay, knock it off, gentlemen. Let's go home, Viper has the lead.

• Viper : Damn, this kid is good!

• Viper : Gentlemen, you are the top one percent of all naval aviators. The elite. The best of the best. We'll make you better.

• Viper : Gentlemen, this school is about combat. There are no points for second place. Dismissed.