Top Gun (1986)

James Tolkan: Stinger

Photos 

Quotes 

• Stinger : They gave you your choice of duty, son. Anything, anywhere. Do you believe that shit? Where do you think you wanna go?

  Maverick : I thought of being an instructor, sir.

  Stinger : Top Gun?

  Maverick : Yes, sir.

  Stinger : God help us.

• Stinger : For five weeks, you're gonna fly against the best fighter pilots in the world. You were number two, Cougar was number one. Cougar lost it, turned in his wings. You guys are number one. But you remember one thing. You screw up just this much, you'll be flying a cargo plane full of rubber dog shit out of Hong Kong.

  Maverick : Yes, sir!

• Stinger : Maverick, you just did an incredibly brave thing. What you should have done was land your plane! You don't own that plane, the tax payers do! Son, your ego is writing checks your body can't cash. You've been busted, you lost your qualifications as section leader three times, put in hack twice by me, with a history of high speed passes over five air control towers, and one admiral's daughter!

  Goose : Penny Benjamin?

  [Maverick shrugs] 

  Stinger : And you asshole, you're lucky to be here!

  Goose : Thank you, sir.

  Stinger : And let's not bullshit Maverick. Your family name ain't the best in the Navy. You need to be doing it better, and cleaner than the other guy. Now what is it with you?

  Maverick : Just want to serve my country, be the best pilot in the Navy, sir.

  Stinger : Don't screw around with me Maverick. You're a hell of an instinctive pilot. Maybe too good. I'd like to bust your butt but I can't. I got another problem here. I gotta send somebody from this squadron to Miramar. I gotta do something here, I still can't believe it. I gotta give you your dream shot! I'm gonna send you up against the best. You two characters are going to Top Gun.

• Officer : [in the midst of the MIG battle]  Both Catapults are broken, sir.

  Stinger : How long will it take?

  Officer : It'll take ten minutes.

  Stinger : Bullshit ten minutes! This thing will be over in two minutes! Get on it!

• Stinger : [to Maverick, with Goose to his right]  Maverick, you just did an incredibly brave thing.

  [Long pause] 

  Stinger : What you should have done was land your plane! You don't own that plane! The taxpayers do! Son, your ego is writing checks your body can't cash!

• Cougar : God dammit, Mustang! This is Ghost Rider 117. This bogey is all over me. He's got missile lock on me. Do I have permission to fire?

  Stinger : Do not fire until fired upon...

• Stinger : [to Maverick after the last dogfight]  How's it feel to be on the front page of every newspaper in the English-speaking world, even though the other side denies the incident? Congratulations.

  Stinger : They gave you your choice of duty, son. Where do you think you want to go?

  Maverick : I thought of being an instructor, sir.

  Stinger : Top Gun?

  Maverick : Yes, sir.

  Stinger : God help us.

• Stinger : Gentlemen, this is the real thing. This is what you've been trained for. You are America's best. Make us proud.