Throughout the final dogfight scene, Maverick and Iceman switch planes several times. Keep an eye on the nose of each aircraft. The plane number is written in large black numbers (104 or 114). When Maverick is sitting on the catapult on "Alert 5," he is in plane 104. When they show him taking off from the ship, he is in plane 114. During the dogfight, Iceman is in 114 and Maverick is in 104. Back on the carrier deck, Iceman is shown getting out of plane 104 and Maverick is getting out of 114.