The Navy Stopped Tom Cruise from Flying an Actual Jet in Top Gun: Maverick - IGN

"Tom Cruise was barred by the Navy from flying an actual F-18 Super Hornet jet in Top Gun: Maverick, even though he pilots several other aircraft in the sequel.

According to USA Today, Jerry Bruckheimer, who co-produced the original Top Gun, spoke to Empire Magazine about the long-awaited sequel. He hinted that fans can expect plenty of thrilling action sequences in the movie, as glimpsed in the trailers, with Cruise piloting a P-51 and various other helicopters and aircraft — bar Maverick's F-18 jet."