He trained for a full year. He had to learn emergency procedures. He learned how to eject. He learned how to land on an aircraft carrier.
Landing on a carrier is the hardest thing a pilot can do. It’s like landing on a postage stamp in a hurricane. Tom did it on camera.
He also learned how to avoid throwing up. Many trained pilots vomit during high-G maneuvers. Tom just grinned and said, “Action!”
But wait—can he dogfight?
Let’s be honest. He’s a good pilot, but he’s not a combat pilot. He didn’t shoot missiles. He didn’t engage in mock battles.
'Top Gun: Maverick': Watch Tom Cruise Fly A Real Fighter Plane In This
He flew in formation with real Navy pilots. He performed the tactical maneuvers they told him to. He was a trained monkey with a movie camera.
But here’s the kicker. The Navy Lieutenant Commander who flew with him said Tom was “exceptional.” He had the instincts. He didn’t panic. He just flew.
