Nat Geo's 'Top Guns' takes viewers into the cockpit of the U.S. Navy's elite aviation program

LOS ANGELES -- National Geographic's "Top Guns: The Next Generation" is soaring onto screens this September.

The six-part series takes viewers into the U.S. Navy's elite aviation program, following the next generation of fighter pilots on a grueling six-month training regimen, "where only the top performers earn the chance to fly the most coveted aircrafts."

"Top Guns" documents the lives of a group of ambitious Navy and Marine students in the air and off-base, capturing candid moments with friends and family and the acute demands of the program.

Filmed by some of the creative talent behind the blockbuster film "Top Gun: Maverick," the aerial sequences push the limits of what these student aviators - and their aircraft - can do. With the addition of in-cockpit cameras, "Top Guns" offers a front-row look at what goes into elite strike fighter training.

"Top Guns: The Next Generation" premieres September 16 at 9/8c on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

Episodes:

"STRIKE"

Premieres Sept. 16 at 9/8c on Nat Geo, and streams Sept. 17 on Disney+ and Hulu.

One student's dreams of becoming a fighter pilot are put in jeopardy as the class starts advanced phase training with a set of breathtaking bombing tests. Diving at speeds they've never faced before, students struggle with the dynamic moves and start to make high-risk mistakes. Instructors deliver tough assessments in the debriefs to keep the students safe.

"CATCHING THE WIRE"

Premieres Sept. 23 at 9/8c on Nat Geo, and streams Sept. 24 on Disney+ and Hulu.

Landing on an aircraft carrier demands precision flying and is a skill vital for all U.S. Navy fighter pilots. As the students tackle the longest and most technical section of the Advanced Phase, they know it's a test they must pass to keep their dreams alive. The pressure mounts on some struggling students, and the commanding officer issues a timely warning to one.

"ATTACK ATTACK!"

Premieres Sept. 30 at 9/8c on Nat Geo, and streams Oct. 1 on Disney+ and Hulu.

As the students reach the midpoint of their training, they start the iconic dogfighting phase. Against them are seasoned instructors with hundreds of hours of real-world experience. To pass, they must outmaneuver the enemy to take a "kill shot." One student has the added pressure of flying with his Top Gun-trained commodore, while another struggles to control his aggressive instincts.

"FIGHT'S ON!"

Premieres Oct. 7 at 9/8c on Nat Geo, and streams Oct. 8 on Disney+ and Hulu.

As they enter the second and most challenging phase of dog fighting, everything is on the line for our students. Defensive dogfighting involves dynamic maneuvers to evade battle-hardened instructors. The physical strain proves too much for one student, while another has a crisis of confidence when past failures come back to haunt him.

"HEAD-TO-HEAD"

Premieres Oct. 14 at 9/8c on Nat Geo, and streams Oct. 15 on Disney+ and Hulu.

The students face their final test in an iconic head-to-head dogfight against an instructor. To pass, they must bring all the skills they've learned during their Advanced Phase training. With graduation just days away, students start to worry about their final grades and whether they will get the posting they - and in many cases, their families - want.

"LAST CHANCE"

Premieres Oct. 21 at 9/8c on Nat Geo, and streams Oct. 22 on Disney+ and Hulu.

It's graduation week. For the remaining students, it means they have one last chance to prove they deserve their prestigious fighter pilot wings. Standing in their way is a tense head-to-head dogfight against an instructor. Past failures come back to haunt one student, and another's whole fighter pilot future comes down to a single flight with their commanding officer.

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of National Geographic, Disney+, Hulu and this ABC station.