China’s Top Gun

The Chinese air force is drawing snickers after part of a video of military maneuvers broadcast on Chinese state television turned out to be not images of the country’s new stealth fighter but scenes from the American movie “Top Gun.” —JCL

The Guardian:

China’s air force is again under close scrutiny as internet users pore over images of its fighter pilots in action. For the second time in a month pictures of military manoeuvres—this time aired by the state broadcaster—have spread rapidly across websites and blogs.

This time the craft is not the country’s new stealth fighter; and the reaction is not excitement but amusement. Sharp-eyed viewers have spotted that a key clip came straight from the film Top Gun.

China Central Television News last week broadcast a training exercise by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force with one plane firing a missile at another. But an observant viewer spotted that the resulting explosion matches a blast from the final fight scene in the Tom Cruise movie.

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gizmodo.com

Screen captures from the Chinese TV video, left, and from the film “Top Gun,” at right.