Few movies have had such an impact on popular culture as Tony Scott’s Top Gun. Released in 1986, the film became a cultural phenomenon and gave a material boost to both US Navy and Air Force recruitment. It remains Tom Cruise’s biggest box office success, with inflation adjusted sales of nearly $500m against a modest budget of just $15m.
The film is also remembered for the character Charlie played by Kelly McGillis. In a male dominated environment, she ruled the roost. Berlin’s song, Take My Breath Away, which won an Academy award for Best Original Song, became synonymous with the movie.
Her impact in the movie was central to my thought processing at Alpine Airport in West Texas when I took this photograph. I needed my model - Holly Graves, (who is in fact Texan) - to own the frame, and I think she does exactly that.
It’s not breaking new ground to couple femininity with the contours of a vintage aircraft. Norman Parkinson introduced this creative formula 70 years ago. I think the challenge is to get the composition and the scaling right. There needs to be a balance between the two key subjects.
We would like to thank General Ron Fogleman - a decorated Vietnam veteran - for making this project possible by bringing his A-26 Invader to West Texas. This was no half-hearted Hollywood prop; the plane participated in the Battle of the Bulge in 1944.
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