This new ‘Top Gun 2’ promo will surprise you

Maverick is back — and flying a Super Hornet?

Tom Cruise teased the start of filming on the long-awaited “Top Gun” sequel on Thursday with a tweet featuring an image of an older Capt. Pete Mitchell standing in a flight suit with his famous HGU-33 helmet in hand.

Aviation enthusiasts were quick to notice the aircraft blurred in the background of the photo, which appears to be an F/A-18F Super Hornet rather than the newer F-35C that many predicted would star in the film.

The sequel — “Top Gun: Maverick” — has been 31 years in the making and follows the blockbuster 1986 original that drew more than $350 million at the box office.

The new movie is slated for release in July of next year. The plot is set to revolve around Maverick as he trains a new generation of pilots while adapting to the modern U.S. Navy.