Is Tom Cruise a qualified jet pilot?
Yes, Tom Cruise is a licensed pilot. Yes, Tom Cruise can fly and has a license to pilot several aircraft as he obtained his flying license in the year 1994. He flies fighter jets, private planes, and even commercial flights. Cruise even has a license to pilot a helicopter.
The Hollywood actor, who is a trained pilot, pilots a P-51 propeller-driven fighter plane and a couple of helicopters in the movie. Yes, Tom Cruise can fly a plane. He has held a pilot license since 1994.
Even though Tom Cruise flew real fighter jets and helicopters in the upcoming Top Gun: Maverick, there was one jet the superstar actor couldn't pilot: Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell's F-18.
Meet the Retired Navy Pilot Who Flew Tom Cruise's Jet in 'Top Gun: Maverick' Cmdr. Frank “Walleye” Weisser, USN (Ret), transformed himself from a teenage aspiring SEAL at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., into a world-class stunt pilot who flew Tom Cruise's fighter jet in the 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick.
In an interview with James Corden, Cruise mentioned that he has a flying license for several types of aeroplane, including fighter jets and commercial flights. So all those shots of him flying in Top Gun: Maverick?
Permission denied for Tom Cruise
The film producers wanted to proceed with a scene that showed Cruise flying an F18 jet. However, the film crew was denied permission by the US Navy in their bid to have the famous actor fly the fighter.
Here's How Many Aircraft Does Tom Cruise Have? According to World War Wings, Cruise owns at least three different luxury aircraft, but he may own as many as five airplanes..
“The Navy wouldn't let him fly an F-18,” the film's producer, Jerry Bruckheimer said, according to USA Today. “But he flies a P-51 in the movie and he flies helicopters. He can do just about anything in an airplane.” It wasn't Corden's first aviation rodeo with Cruise.
Along with the P-51 Mustang, the actor also owns a Gulfstream IV jet valued at $20 million, which includes a Jacuzzi and a screening room. The commitment to realism has been a common theme in every Tom Cruise movie.
Top Gun: Maverick has achieved Mach 10. In fact, if you've seen the film, you know that Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise, of course) does achieve the previously unthinkable when he hits Mach 10 in the opening sequence of the film, working as a test pilot for the Navy.
Does Tom Cruise have a pilots license?
Yes, Tom Cruise is a licensed pilot. Yes, Tom Cruise can fly and has a license to pilot several aircraft as he obtained his flying license in the year 1994. He flies fighter jets, private planes, and even commercial flights. Cruise even has a license to pilot a helicopter.
One of the reasons Maverick is now Tom Cruise's highest-grossing film is its practical effects and lack of CGI: Those are really the actors flying those planes.

Top Gun: Maverick's stunts were filmed through real U.S. Navy pilots taking actors on top-of-the-line fighter jets. They were followed by three different aircraft mounted with specialized cameras that can withstand the G-forces involved.
What Is Tom Cruise's Total Net Worth? According to Celebrity Net Worth, it is $600 million, and considering his average salary is $50 million a year, expect it to keep going up!
No. Tom Cruise is not a billionaire, although, with a net worth of approximately $600 million and growing, he's unlikely to complain.
As with many stunts in films, the actors of Top Gun: Maverick did not pilot the planes featured in the movie, especially the F-35 typically used by the Navy. This was due to the fact that production on the film would have probably been difficult since Tom Cruise also didn't fly the planes himself.
He went on to describe one particularly queasy flight in an F-14 Tomcat with 'Bozo' leading the way in F-14's the front seat. During some particularly aggressive maneuvers, Cruise, now a pilot himself, learned the crushing power of 'augmented' gravity and the colorful sense of humor of Navy pilots of the era.
Why didn't they use F-35 in Top Gun: Maverick? In the movie: like everybody else correctly answered - they could not make real aerial flights with F-35 - it comes only with one seat (while the F/A-18 comes with 1 and 2 seats - and they used the F-version - the two seater). Was this worth your time?
It was originally called “Kiss Me Kate” but Cruise had the name removed since their separation. The actor also owns a Gulfstream IV jet valued at $20 million, which includes a Jacuzzi and a screening room.
Well known movie stars like Tom Cruise use the HondaJet. So, if Maverick is happy, what other endorsement do we need? HondaJets are now considered the best-selling Light-jet in private aviation.
What is Mach 10 speed?
That's correct. It's about 700 miles per hour.
According to reports, Paramount Pictures Studios spent as much as $11,374 USD an hour for fighter jets used in the movie. However, they had to get a clearance from Pentagon's media entertainment office, which included Cruise's request to fly an F-18.
Tom Cruise flew his own P-51 Mustang in the ending sequence of Top Gun: Maverick. The 2022 movie Top Gun: Maverick was a long pending sequel to the 1986 movie Top Gun.
Cruise, 60, got his helicopter pilot's license almost 30 years ago, and has been known to perform his own helicopter stunts in various films.
The Bombardier Challenger 601, which Travolta acquired in 2011, was built in 1988 and is registered under N392JT. The Eclipse 500 was built in 2007 with registration N218JT.
Travolta's website says he is certified to pilot 11 jets. They include Bombardier Challenger 601, Hawker, Dassault falcon, Canadair CL-41 Tutor, de Havilland Vampire, Citation jets, Boeing 707/737/747, Lear, etc.
Tom Cruise's love for motorcycles is not hidden, but he also loves his classic American and modern European cars from brands like Bugatti, Buick, Chevy, Ford, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. His car collection can rival that of other Hollywood stars like Johnny Depp, Leonardo Di Caprio, and Brad Pitt.
That being said, is it possible for the human body to be able to withstand such acceleration? The most likely answer is a resounding no. Mach 10 speed has never been achieved by a manned aircraft, though, so it has never been tested.
Can a human survive Mach 20? Our bodies are surprisingly resilient in many situations, but rapid acceleration is not one of them. While the human body can withstand any constant speed—be it 20 miles per hour or 20 billion miles per hour—we can only change that rate of travel relatively slowly.
On November 16, 2004, NASA made history by launching the X-43A, the first-ever air-breathing hypersonic vehicle, into the atmosphere, achieving Mach 10 speed. The X-43A separated from its booster and accelerated on scramjet power at nearly ten times the speed of sound (7000 MPH) at roughly 110,000 feet.
What type of pilot license does John Travolta have?
Even before he was dancing his way into pop culture history in 1977's "Saturday Night Fever" and 1978's "Grease," John Travolta had his eyes on the sky. The New Jersey-born actor has been taking aviation lessons since he was a teen—and on Sunday, he revealed in an Instagram post that he is now a licensed 737 pilot.
Tom began riding at the age of 10 and owns several motorcycles including a Vyrus 987 C3 4V worth more than $100,000. His first movie role with a motorcycle was Top Gun where he rode the Kawasaki Ninja GPZ900R. Since then he has ridden in many movies including Oblivion, Knight and Day, and Edge of Tomorrow.
How much do Top Gun Flight Academy employees earn on average in the United States? Top Gun Flight Academy pays an average salary of $4,222,140 and salaries range from a low of $3,719,081 to a high of $4,793,522.
The answer in short is, yes. Tom Cruise, who returns as “Maverick,” is renowned for doing his own stunt work, and he wanted his stars Miles Teller, Monica Barbaro and Glen Powell to learn how to fly. That's where the film's aerial coordinator, Kevin Larosa Jr., stepped in.
The F-22 Is Used By The U.S. Air Force, Not The Navy
Top Gun and its sequel are set in the Navy. However, the F-22 is used by the Air Force, an entirely separate institution. As such, it would have made no sense for Maverick to pilot an F-22 of the aircraft in Top Gun: Maverick.
Top Gun: Maverick introduced a new band of pilots with their own call signs like Rooster, Phoenix, Hangman, and Bob.
Is the flying in Top Gun: Maverick realistic? "A lot of the flying, ninety percent of it, was realistic," says former Top Gun pilot and instructor Andy "Grand" Mariner. "It wasn't the crazy stuff from the first [movie].
A 1998 Naval Academy graduate, Cmdr. Becky Calder served as an F/A-18 pilot and was the first woman pilot to graduate from the Navy's Strike Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN). During her 15 years as a pilot she supported Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Who is the number one richest actor in the world? Currently, Jami Gertz is the richest actor in the world with a net worth of $3 billion.
Los Angeles: Hollywood star Tom Cruise reportedlypays USD 50,000 per week on bodyguards to ensure daughterSuri's safety.
What is the highest-paid movie for Tom Cruise?
- 1 Top Gun: Maverick (2022) — $1.4B+
- 2 Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) — $791.1M. ...
- 3 Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) — $694.7M. ...
- 4 Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation (2015) — $682.7M. ...
- 5 War of the Worlds (2005) — $603.9M. ...
- 6 Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) — $546.4M. ...
Tom Cruise is third with a fortune of USD 480 million while Tyler Perry and Johnny Depp are fourth and fifth respectively with an estimated wealth of USD 450 million each.
During an interview with Graham Norton, the actor explained the reason that he has always insisted on performing stunts himself rather than taking help from a stunt double.
Cruise spends his money on church, expensive homes, and luxurious boats that fit an entire film crew. Tom Cruise is one of the most controversial actors in Hollywood. Because of his ties to Scientology and disastrous break-up with Katie Holmes, Cruise has a reputation for being a bit of an oddball, at best.
Here's How Many Aircraft Does Tom Cruise Have? According to World War Wings, Cruise owns at least three different luxury aircraft, but he may own as many as five airplanes..
This aircraft is now being offered for sale by Platinum Fighter Sales with an asking price of $2,395,000 USD – not a bad price for an airworthy and historically significant P-51D. If you'd like to read more about this plane or enquire about buying it you can visit the listing here.
Business Insider revealed, "The actor is known to have spent millions on buying private aircrafts, including a $4 million World War II-era P-51 Mustang single-seater fighter plane and a $20 million Gulfstream. Sweeney said he has been able to identify Cruise's P-51, Gulfstream, HondaJet, and a Challenger 300."
A report revealed that the estimated value of the plane is $4 million and was initially bought for ex-wife Katie Holmes. It was originally called “Kiss Me Kate” but Cruise had the name removed since their separation.
Cruise famously held his breath for six minutes on the set of 'Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation'. Winslet was so chuffed with her aquatics skills that she got her husband to video the scene after she sneaked him on set during production.
"A very proud moment in my aviation history," he stated in a 15-second video posted to social media. "To add to my 747 and 707 licenses, I just received my 737 license and it went very well.
Is Tom Cruise a good fighter pilot?
Cruise is an accomplished amateur pilot in his own right, who flies a World War II-era Mustang fighter plane and can handle a private jet. But, Frasher said, there was no way the Pentagon would let anybody but an experienced pilot fly an F-18, which he described as the “workhorse of the Navy.”
“The Navy wouldn't let him fly an F-18,” the film's producer, Jerry Bruckheimer said, according to USA Today. “But he flies a P-51 in the movie and he flies helicopters. He can do just about anything in an airplane.” It wasn't Corden's first aviation rodeo with Cruise.
Navy SEALs can hold their breath underwater for two to three minutes or more. Breath-holding drills are typically used to condition a swimmer or diver and to build confidence when going through high-surf conditions at night, said Brandon Webb, a former Navy SEAL and best-selling author of the book “Among Heroes.”
When his training was all said and done, Cruise had done over 500 drops, according to his trainers.
While some studies say most people can hold their breath for 30 seconds to maybe a few minutes at most, Aleix Segura Vendrell of Spain, the most recent Guinness World Record holder, held his for an astonishing 24 minutes and 3 seconds while floating in a pool in Barcelona.
On Friday, a second object was shot down near Deadhorse, Alaska, by an F-22. And a third object was destroyed over Canada's Yukon on Saturday.
The jet in the movie, called the SR-72, looks like a Skunk Works concept art for a real uncrewed SR-72. The hypersonic strategic reconnaissance aircraft, first announced in 2016, had a long blended wing, fuselage, and tiny wings. The Skunk Works logo can be seen on the tail fin.
The Maleficent actress is one of the richest Hollywood actresses and not only does she have a pilot license but she also owns a private aircraft. Today, as she turns 47, we bring you an interesting story about why the actress was grounded when she planned on flying.
Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | |
---|---|---|
Top Earners | $133,076 | $11,089 |
75th Percentile | $117,000 | $9,750 |
Average | $100,515 | $8,376 |
25th Percentile | $92,600 | $7,716 |
Who taught Tom Cruise to fly jets?
The answer in short is, yes. Tom Cruise, who returns as “Maverick,” is renowned for doing his own stunt work, and he wanted his stars Miles Teller, Monica Barbaro and Glen Powell to learn how to fly. That's where the film's aerial coordinator, Kevin LaRosa Jr., stepped in. LaRosa Jr.