Tom Cruise is suiting up again as Maverick, as seen in newly released photos from the set of the Top Gun sequel.
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As reported by TMZ, Cruise was photographed in a flight-suit along with a stunt double, of sorts. The two reportedly did some flying in an actual F-18, with the double manning the controls.
Tom Cruiseโs P-51 Mustang and the special colored F/A-18F Super Hornet used to film Top Gun sequel spotted at NAS Lemoore on Sept. 14. pic.twitter.com/hOT191ktAi
โ David Cenciotti (@cencio4) September 15, 2018
The outlet notes that Cruise and the fighter pilot took the plane out for a spin and had to make an unexpected landing in Nevada due to a “flap caution” warning, which is described as being similar to an automobile’s check engine light.
After exchanging pleasantries with some fans on the base where they landed, Cruise and the pilot hopped on another plane back to California.
Word on the street is that Tom Cruise is going to learn how to fly the Super Hornet for TOP GUN 2 – makes an aviation photojournalist look decidedly amateur!
โ Jamie Hunter (@jamie_aviacom) September 17, 2018
It does seem unlikely, however, as Chron.com notes that the military requires pilots to commit to roughly a decade of service to become a fighter pilot, and the time it takes to complete the required classes takes months on end.
While it was recently announced that Top Gun: Maverick will be released one year later than initially scheduled, it still seems highly unlikely that Cruise could dedicate the time required just to do the flying himself. Getting a helicopter license only takes roughly 40 hours of flight time.
In addition to Cruise, the new film will also feature Miles Teller, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Glen Powell, Jon Hamm, and Ed Harris.
It will reportedly revolve around Cruise’s Captain Pete “Maverick” Mitchell training Teller’s Bradley Bradshaw who is a pilot trainee as well as the son of Maverick’s late partner Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (played by Anthony Edwards in the original film).
Aside from Cruise, Kilmer appears to be the only other star of the original film returning for the sequel.