[1][2] It is the second suspended coaster to open at the park following an earlier prototype from Arrow Development — also called The Bat – that briefly operated at Kings Island from 1981 to 1983.

As with other suspended coasters, the layout is designed to give riders the illusion they are narrowly missing track supports and other elements while swinging freely through sharp turns.

[4] However, Paramount assumed control over operations in time to determine the ride's theme, which the company decided would be based on its 1986 film Top Gun.

The official announcement was released to the public on November 11, 1992, detailing that the ride would be an Arrow Dynamics suspended coaster, similar to The Bat which had operated at the park in the 1980s.

Cedar Fair had rights to continue using Paramount themes throughout the park for years to come, but they decided to make the transition sooner and begin removing them in 2008.

When the ride opened as Top Gun, guests walked through an exhibit depicting an aircraft carrier control room prior to reaching the staircase.

At the ride's farthest point from the initial drop, the track makes its sharpest turn sending the train back toward the loading station.