Photo: Paramount PicturesTom Cruisewas in his element while meeting military and stunt pilots this weekend in the UK.The A-lister attended the Royal International Air Tattoo Saturday, enjoying the world’s largest military airshow.Hosted at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, the celebration also marked the United States Air Force’s 75th Anniversary and featured pilots from around the world in a captivating show in the sky.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.A photo with the RAF Police captured the connection between Cruise and the world of aviation.Cruise beamed in the center of the photo, wearing a sharp blue suit and aviator sunglasses as uniformed officers around him pose in front of a helicopter.“Feel the need, the need for a pic with the one and only@TomCruiseAnother fabulous day at@airtattoofor the#rafpolice,” a caption read.Cruise paused to pose with the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, famous for stunt and trick flying. Their flashy orange jumpsuits do nothing to distract from the happy smiles and many pairs of aviator sunglasses this bunch of pilots is sporting.“We’ve got a new wingman … Today, Maverick joined the Red Arrows! Epic to meet@TomCruiseat the Royal International Air Tattoo and to speak about aviation, teamwork and Top Gun.“In an exclusive interview forPEOPLE’sTop Gunspecial edition, Cruise was asked if a traffic cop had ever quoted “Need for speed” at him.“No,” saidCruise, adding quickly: “I wish they would!““Sometimes I get speed,” he admitted. “Sometimes, I get stopped. But also, I spend a lot of time on racetracks, on motorcycles, in helicopters, so I get a lot of that stuff out.“The actor, 60, doesn’t just pretend to be a pilot in the movies. After playing US Navy pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the originalTop Gunin 1986, Cruise went on to get his own pilot’s license in 1994.Chief executive of the RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises Paul Athertontold the Press Associationthat the organization had been keeping the visit a secret, but it was difficult to keep it under wraps. “Keeping secrets like that is hard when they’re so exciting,” he said.RELATED VIDEO:Tom CruiseTakes James Corden to the Danger Zone with Frightening Flight in Top Gun Fighter Jet"The Top Gun films and Tom’s famous passion for aircraft and flying have really helped to catapult aviation into the spotlight, which will help promote and inspire future generations of young people,” Atherton continued.Cruise’sTop Gun: Maverick,passed the $1 billion markat the global box office,Varietyreports.
Photo: Paramount Pictures

Tom Cruisewas in his element while meeting military and stunt pilots this weekend in the UK.The A-lister attended the Royal International Air Tattoo Saturday, enjoying the world’s largest military airshow.Hosted at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, the celebration also marked the United States Air Force’s 75th Anniversary and featured pilots from around the world in a captivating show in the sky.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.A photo with the RAF Police captured the connection between Cruise and the world of aviation.Cruise beamed in the center of the photo, wearing a sharp blue suit and aviator sunglasses as uniformed officers around him pose in front of a helicopter.“Feel the need, the need for a pic with the one and only@TomCruiseAnother fabulous day at@airtattoofor the#rafpolice,” a caption read.Cruise paused to pose with the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, famous for stunt and trick flying. Their flashy orange jumpsuits do nothing to distract from the happy smiles and many pairs of aviator sunglasses this bunch of pilots is sporting.“We’ve got a new wingman … Today, Maverick joined the Red Arrows! Epic to meet@TomCruiseat the Royal International Air Tattoo and to speak about aviation, teamwork and Top Gun.“In an exclusive interview forPEOPLE’sTop Gunspecial edition, Cruise was asked if a traffic cop had ever quoted “Need for speed” at him.“No,” saidCruise, adding quickly: “I wish they would!““Sometimes I get speed,” he admitted. “Sometimes, I get stopped. But also, I spend a lot of time on racetracks, on motorcycles, in helicopters, so I get a lot of that stuff out.“The actor, 60, doesn’t just pretend to be a pilot in the movies. After playing US Navy pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the originalTop Gunin 1986, Cruise went on to get his own pilot’s license in 1994.Chief executive of the RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises Paul Athertontold the Press Associationthat the organization had been keeping the visit a secret, but it was difficult to keep it under wraps. “Keeping secrets like that is hard when they’re so exciting,” he said.RELATED VIDEO:Tom CruiseTakes James Corden to the Danger Zone with Frightening Flight in Top Gun Fighter Jet"The Top Gun films and Tom’s famous passion for aircraft and flying have really helped to catapult aviation into the spotlight, which will help promote and inspire future generations of young people,” Atherton continued.Cruise’sTop Gun: Maverick,passed the $1 billion markat the global box office,Varietyreports.
Tom Cruisewas in his element while meeting military and stunt pilots this weekend in the UK.
The A-lister attended the Royal International Air Tattoo Saturday, enjoying the world’s largest military airshow.
Hosted at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, the celebration also marked the United States Air Force’s 75th Anniversary and featured pilots from around the world in a captivating show in the sky.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free weekly newsletterto get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.
A photo with the RAF Police captured the connection between Cruise and the world of aviation.
Cruise beamed in the center of the photo, wearing a sharp blue suit and aviator sunglasses as uniformed officers around him pose in front of a helicopter.
“Feel the need, the need for a pic with the one and only@TomCruiseAnother fabulous day at@airtattoofor the#rafpolice,” a caption read.
Cruise paused to pose with the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, famous for stunt and trick flying. Their flashy orange jumpsuits do nothing to distract from the happy smiles and many pairs of aviator sunglasses this bunch of pilots is sporting.
“We’ve got a new wingman … Today, Maverick joined the Red Arrows! Epic to meet@TomCruiseat the Royal International Air Tattoo and to speak about aviation, teamwork and Top Gun.”
In an exclusive interview forPEOPLE’sTop Gunspecial edition, Cruise was asked if a traffic cop had ever quoted “Need for speed” at him.
“No,” saidCruise, adding quickly: “I wish they would!”
“Sometimes I get speed,” he admitted. “Sometimes, I get stopped. But also, I spend a lot of time on racetracks, on motorcycles, in helicopters, so I get a lot of that stuff out.”
The actor, 60, doesn’t just pretend to be a pilot in the movies. After playing US Navy pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in the originalTop Gunin 1986, Cruise went on to get his own pilot’s license in 1994.
Chief executive of the RAF Charitable Trust Enterprises Paul Athertontold the Press Associationthat the organization had been keeping the visit a secret, but it was difficult to keep it under wraps. “Keeping secrets like that is hard when they’re so exciting,” he said.
RELATED VIDEO:Tom CruiseTakes James Corden to the Danger Zone with Frightening Flight in Top Gun Fighter Jet
“The Top Gun films and Tom’s famous passion for aircraft and flying have really helped to catapult aviation into the spotlight, which will help promote and inspire future generations of young people,” Atherton continued.
Cruise’sTop Gun: Maverick,passed the $1 billion markat the global box office,Varietyreports.
source: people.com