Kurt Russell recently revealed how he assisted Tom Cruise in developing his flying skills after the 1986 release of Top Gun. The veteran actor, who is also an experienced pilot, recognized Cruise’s eagerness to learn and personally helped him pursue aviation.
Russell shared with Entertainment Weekly that after Cruise’s iconic role in Top Gun, the actor was driven by a strong desire to fly. Drawing from his three decades of flying experience, Russell took Cruise up in his plane and encouraged him to pursue formal training.
“I flew for 30 years. I’m not current anymore, but I flew a lot of different airplanes,”
Russell explained.
“Matter of fact, I helped Tom after he did Top Gun. He and I got together. He wanted to go flying. We flew in my plane, and then I saw that he really wanted to learn to fly and did what I could to help him out in that regard.”
Tom Cruise’s Journey from Actor to Licensed Pilot
Tom Cruise’s passion for flying was further shaped with guidance from director Sydney Pollack, who arranged flight lessons for him following the 1993 film The Firm. Cruise’s dedication paid off, as he attained the skills needed for his roles in films such as American Made (2017) and the sequel Top Gun: Maverick (2022).
Russell praised Cruise’s flying abilities, calling him “a good stick man.” He added,
“And it was nice to see in the reprise of that character so many years later. I loved what they did with Top Gun. I just thought it was great.”
Behind the Scenes of Top Gun: Maverick and Its Flying Legacy
Directed by Joseph Kosinski, Top Gun: Maverick follows Cruise’s character, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, as he trains a new generation of Navy pilots for a perilous mission. The film not only spotlighted Cruise’s flying talent but also revived the adrenaline-fueled spirit of the original movie.
While Russell himself hasn’t flown recently, he recently appeared in a Super Bowl commercial for Michelob ULTRA, which channels the energy of Top Gun. The ad, directed by Kosinski and starring Maverick actor Lewis Pullman, shows Russell helping a novice skier become a skilled competitor.
When asked if there were discussions about Russell resuming flying for a potential Top Gun 3, he said,
“No, we just talked about this,”
with a laugh, and continued,
“And I thought [Kosinski] did a great job on F1 [The Movie]. It was nice…. He did a great job with it. It was just fun working with a really top-notch guy for the day. And we had a ball — we did things different ways and then they put it together, and I like what they put together. I thought it was good.”
Working with Lewis Pullman and Passing the Passion Forward
Russell also expressed admiration for Lewis Pullman, highlighting the actor’s enthusiasm and adaptability.
“Lewis was just fun, up for trying different things,”
Russell said.
“He was excellent. He’s what the commercial has to offer in terms of going from zero to hero, and that’s the fun of what we had to offer, I think.”
Similarly, Tom Cruise has continued the legacy by mentoring his Top Gun: Maverick co-star Glen Powell. Powell publicly shared on Instagram in 2020 that Cruise supported him financially and emotionally through his flight training.
“For Christmas, Tom bought me an iPad with my flight school downloaded and prepaid,”
Powell wrote.
“And yesterday, after months of flying, studying, and testing… I’m the real deal.”
Powell also praised Cruise’s encouragement, thanking him for
“being my hype man every step of the way.”
The Ongoing Influence of Aviation in Hollywood
Kurt Russell’s early support helped ignite Tom Cruise’s deep involvement in flying, which has become a defining feature of the actor’s career. Cruise’s hands-on approach to aviation has enriched his performances while inspiring colleagues such as Glen Powell. The blend of expertise and passion continues to elevate how aviation is portrayed in Hollywood films, enhancing authenticity and thrill for audiences worldwide.
