Kurt Russell has revealed how he played a key role in helping Tom Cruise learn to fly following Cruise’s iconic role in the 1986 film Top Gun. The seasoned actor and former pilot shared with Entertainment Weekly that he recognized Cruise’s eagerness to embrace flying and personally supported him in taking to the skies.
Russell, who spent 30 years flying a variety of aircraft, explained,
“I flew for 30 years. I’m not current anymore, but I flew a lot of different airplanes,”
he said.
“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.”
From On-Screen Pilot to Real-Life Aviator
Thanks to guidance not only from Russell but also from director Sydney Pollack, who gifted Cruise flying lessons after working with him on the 1993 movie The Firm, Cruise became a licensed pilot. Cruise has since used his flying skills in several films, including 2017’s American Made and the celebrated Top Gun: Maverick released in 2022.
Russell complimented Cruise’s ability in the cockpit, 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.”
The sequel, directed by Joseph Kosinski, features Cruise’s character Pete “Maverick” Mitchell training young Navy pilots to carry out and survive a perilous mission, blending high-octane action with expert flying.
Russell’s Continued Connection to the Top Gun Legacy
Although Kurt Russell is no longer an active pilot, he remains closely connected to the Top Gun spirit through recent projects. His new Michelob ULTRA commercial, scheduled to air during the Super Bowl, channels the film’s energy. Directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Lewis Pullman, who appeared alongside Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick, the ad depicts Russell helping a rookie skier become a top performer on the slopes.
When asked if Russell or Pullman had discussed returning to flying roles for a potential Top Gun 3, Russell laughed and said,
“No, we just talked about this. 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.”
Russell is also a fan of Pullman’s performance in the commercial and noted,
“Lewis was just fun, up for trying different things. 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.”
Passing the Torch: Tom Cruise Supports Co-Star Glen Powell’s Piloting
Carrying on the tradition of fostering flying skills among actors, Tom Cruise has helped his Top Gun: Maverick co-star Glen Powell become a pilot. Powell shared in a 2020 Instagram post that Cruise personally paid for his flight lessons and remained a constant source of encouragement throughout his training.
Powell wrote,
“For Christmas, Tom bought me an iPad with my flight school downloaded and prepaid,”
and added,
“And yesterday, after months of flying, studying, and testing… I’m the real deal.”
He also expressed gratitude to Cruise for
“being my hype man every step of the way.”
Why Cruise’s Piloting Skills Matter Beyond the Screen
Tom Cruise’s dedication to learning to fly, supported by Kurt Russell and Sydney Pollack, has deepened the authenticity of his performances in aviation-focused films. This commitment enhances the realism of the aerial sequences that have defined his career since Top Gun. Furthermore, Cruise’s mentorship of fellow actors like Glen Powell helps ensure that this passion for flight continues to inspire future generations of performers and audiences alike.
