The recent ejection of a top-tier pilot from an F-35, which continued to fly on autopilot, is analyzed as a potential "op" to promote pilotless aircraft. Parallels were drawn to a scene in *Top Gun: Maverick* where a commander tells Tom Cruise's character that the future of aviation does not include human pilots. The military-industrial complex is seen as moving toward drones to eliminate the high cost and liability of human flight crews.
