Would be a better film if Maverick died

So Mav dies heroically saving the entire ship by Kamikazeing into the fighter jet about to nuke it.

They bury what's left of him next to Goose, and at the funeral the ghosts of Goose, Iceman and Meg Ryan appear and we see Mav's ghost join them. We hear a haunting version of Great Balls of Fire being played pianissimo.

A mysterious old hag shuffles up to the grave. Her gnarly withered hand places something on the coffin. It's the engagement ring Mav gave her before he left her at the alter. The old hag is Charlie from the first film. Her life is ruined. The Top Gun theme plays in the background, as if mocking her.

Mav leaves Rooster his bike, the final scene is Rooster driving at extreme speed with no helmet. He has inherited Mav's deathwish. He has BECOME Maverick.

THE END