SOURCE: AFI
At Aero India 2025, Sergey Bogdan, one of Russia’s most skilled test pilots, made headlines not only for his remarkable display of the Su-57 fighter jet but also for an intriguing revelation. The renowned pilot, known for his role in the development and demonstration of advanced Russian military aircraft, claimed that Hollywood’s blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick had “stolen” one of his signature aerial maneuvers—without giving him any credit.
The maneuver in question is a dramatic, high-stakes aerial dogfight tactic, where one aircraft performs a spiral descent while the other attempts to shoot ahead. Bogdan explained that he first demonstrated this maneuver at the Maks Airshow in Moscow, during a dogfight demonstration, showcasing the aircraft’s ability to execute extreme angles of attack, rapidly decelerate, and transition to low speeds.
According to Bogdan, this particular maneuver is a crucial tactic for modern fighter jets, enabling them to quickly lose altitude, disrupt enemy targeting, and gain a tactical advantage. The spiral descent, which transitions into a low-speed, high-angle attack, forces the pursuing aircraft to move ahead and eventually place itself in the line of fire, rendering it vulnerable.
This maneuver was first showcased during the Maks Airshow, where Russian fighter jets demonstrated their unique combat capabilities. The technique was designed to highlight how an aircraft with advanced maneuverability can counter superior speed and altitude advantages in a high-stakes dogfight.
Bogdan has previously described the maneuver as an essential tool for combat pilots, especially in situations where traditional tactics fail to provide the necessary advantage. “The ability to quickly transition to a low-speed, high-angle attack can completely change the dynamics of a dogfight,” said Bogdan.
In Top Gun: Maverick, the aerial battle between the fictional characters and a Su-57 is one of the most intense sequences in the film. It is during this scene that the controversial maneuver is prominently featured, with the aircraft executing a similar spiral descent in an attempt to shake off a pursuer.
While Top Gun: Maverick was praised for its thrilling aerial combat scenes and breathtaking visuals, Bogdan’s revelation casts a shadow over the film’s portrayal of the maneuver. According to him, the filmmakers took inspiration from the maneuver he performed during the Maks Airshow but failed to acknowledge his contribution to the maneuver’s execution.
Sergey Bogdan expressed his frustration at the lack of credit for a maneuver that he believes he pioneered and demonstrated in real-world conditions. “Back in the day, we performed the demonstration in Moscow at the Maks Dogfight, where one aircraft executes a spiral descent maneuver while the other shoots ahead. This maneuver was featured in the film Top Gun: Maverick during the aerial battle against the Su-57. I have just demonstrated this maneuver as well,” said Bogdan.
He continued, “It shows how an aircraft quickly achieves high angles of attack, decelerates, and transitions to low speed. As a result, an aircraft lacking such capabilities moves ahead and ultimately ends up in the line of fire.”
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