Top Gun: Maverick - Did they REALLY nail the aerial photography?

Okay, cinephiles, let's talk Top Gun: Maverick. I know, I know, it's been out for a while, but I just re-watched it and I'm still buzzing. It's fun, nostalgic, and has some seriously impressive visuals. But as a film student focusing on cinematography, I wanna dig a bit deeper than just "wow, those planes looked cool." I'm thinking specifically about how they managed to get those cameras inside the cockpits. Like, those aren't just wide shots, we're seeing the actors' faces, the G-forces... it felt pretty visceral. What kind of rigs were they using? Did they actually train the actors to fly, or was it all fancy effects? I read something about Joseph Kosinski having to deal with serious challenges to pull this off but I want to know more! I'm guessing a lot of practical effects with some CGI sprinkled in, but the balance felt almost perfect. And the direction in general...did anyone else think it walked a really fine line between paying homage to the original and feeling fresh? I mean, there were definitely call-backs, but it never felt like a blatant rip-off. Maybe it's just Tom Cruise being Tom Cruise, but how did Kosinski manage to capture that "Maverick" energy without it feeling forced? I'm still turning this one over in my head. What are your thoughts on the aerial photography and direction? Was it more than just pretty pictures?