Per 10 USC 8323, 10 USC 1370, OPNAVINST 1811.3A, the entire basis of the movie is wrong. US Navy Captains (O6) are forced to retire after 30 years of service. Maverick was already a lieutenant when he first went to Top Gun in 1986. He would have been forced to retire around 2014. There are no Captains in the US Navy on flying status after 30 years of service, let alone sixty year old active flight instructors.

Hollywood is just running out of ideas, so they rehash old material. But movies like this are successful only because they like action and don't care if it's based on reality. And the clichés are tiresome.