Eli5 how they did the practice runs on Top Gun Maverick

Question

Hopefully not a spoiler – when they are “practicing” that specific terrain for the mission they are practicing in the US. Does their monitor simulate the terrain on their screen? How are they practicing the steep climb into and out of the target space without actually being at that topology? I assume it’s not just movie hand-waving since they had navy consultants for the movie – so how do you practice flying a specific course without being actually on that course physically?

In: 2

Answer 1

Most likely a GPS and navigational course than can be programmed and plotted in pre-flight. If the aircraft leaves said course it could possibly be programmed to alert the pilot so that the pilots are aware when the mission has failed. But also the pilots would have been extensively briefed and trained on the mission and terrain just like real-life pilots. Most days are spent briefing, checking, lectures and debriefing. Only about 2 up to 3 hours are actually spent flying, less depending on the sortie. Pilots spend much much more time on the ground studying than most people imagine.

Answer 2

Most likely a GPS and navigational course than can be programmed and plotted in pre-flight. If the aircraft leaves said course it could possibly be programmed to alert the pilot so that the pilots are aware when the mission has failed. But also the pilots would have been extensively briefed and trained on the mission and terrain just like real-life pilots. Most days are spent briefing, checking, lectures and debriefing. Only about 2 up to 3 hours are actually spent flying, less depending on the sortie. Pilots spend much much more time on the ground studying than most people imagine.