Maverick: Full name: Lt. Pete Mitchell. Callsign: Maverick. Played by Tom Cruise.
Pete "Maverick" Mitchell is a US Navy Pilot, whom Top Gun is centred around. He is a troubled character, and it's hinted that the cause is due to his father's death in the Vietnam war. We are led to believe that this incident shaped his life, flying style, and led to his call sign.
Throughout the movie it is acknowledged that Maverick is an excellent pilot, but has a dangerous and reckless flying style. Early scenes in the movie such as Maverick's encounter with an unnamed MIG-28, where he comes from above, canopy to canopy with the enemy pilot are proof of this. This both impresses some characters, and annoys others due to the "danger" Maverick exposes them to.
Maverick's skills are not confined to flying. Early scenes in the movie show Maverick driving a motorcycle at high speeds. He also is quite skilled with the ladies, and manages to establish a relationship with Charlie.
While at Top Gun he meets Iceman who becomes his rival as well as Hollywood and Wolfman.
One day during a training excise something goes wrong with Maverick's plane after flying through Iceman's jet wash while chasing Jester. It caused his plane to flame out and enter a flat spin, as Maverick struggles to get to the ejection seat lever Goose pulls his, Maverick ejects and Goose hits his neck on the canopy causing it to break , killing him instantly.
Even though he was cleared of wrong doing in the accident Maverick blamed himself over Goose's death. He turns to his mentor and friend of his father Viper for advice in which he finds out the truth about what happened to his dad during the Vietnam War.
While at the Top Gun graduation he finds that he, Iceman, Hollwood, and Wolfman are needed on the Enterprise. Merlin who was originally Cougar's R.I.O. becomes Maverick's new R.I.O. He & Merlin launch from the Enterprise after Hollywood & Wolfman are shot down. During the dogfight with the MIG's, Maverick is haunted by Goose's death which causes him to briefly disengage. As he clings to Goose's dog tags and says "Talk to me Goose!" he recovers in time to save Iceman. He shoots down 4 MIG's while the others bugged out.
Maverick & Iceman return to the aircraft deck & tell each other they can be each other's wingman. He tells Stinger he wants to be an instructor at Top Gun.
http://topgun.wikia.com/wiki/Maverick
