With his highly-anticipated sequel Top Gun: Maverick hitting theaters this summer, Glen Powell celebrated by getting his pilot’s license, with Tom Cruise’s help.
The 31-year-old actor took to Instagram on Tuesday, sharing a brief video with him and his flight instructor, after he took his first solo flight.
Powell, who plays the pilot dubbed Hangman in the sequel, in theaters June 24, revealed that Cruise bought him his flight school training as a Christmas gift.
Pilot: With his highly-anticipated sequel Top Gun: Maverick hitting theaters this summer, Glen Powell celebrated by getting his pilot’s license, with Tom Cruise’s help
Christmas: Powell, who plays the pilot dubbed Hangman in the sequel, in theaters June 24, revealed that Cruise bought him his flight school training as a Christmas gift
‘Try not falling in love with aviation after living out every pilot’s dream while shooting @topgunmovie. Especially when you see the way @tomcruise flexes it,’ Powell began.
‘After wrapping a shooting day, Tom would rocket off into the sunset in his P-51 while I would limply shuffle into the cast van,’ Powell added.
‘The wings were just so much cooler than the wheels…and for Christmas, Tom bought me an iPad with my flight school downloaded and prepaid. And yesterday, after months of flying, studying, and testing…I’m the real deal,’ Powell declared.
Aviation: ‘Try not falling in love with aviation after living out every pilot’s dream while shooting @topgunmovie. Especially when you see the way @tomcruise flexes it,’ Powell began
Tom flies: ‘After wrapping a shooting day, Tom would rocket off into the sunset in his P-51 while I would limply shuffle into the cast van,’ Powell added
He explained that the video was taken, ‘after my first solo flight,’ featuring his instructor literally ripping the shirt from his back.
‘It’s a tradition in the aviation community for your instructor to tear away your shirt signifying that teacher’s finally “off your back,”‘ Powell said.
He also joked that his instructor, ‘is just following ceremony, he doesn’t rip off my clothes after every flight.’
Ripped: He explained that the video was taken, ‘after my first solo flight,’ featuring his instructor literally ripping the shirt from his back
‘Thank you Walt for being my sky shepherd, thank you Shane for making my experience effortless, and thank you Tom for being my hype man every step of the way,’ Powell exclaimed, adding, ‘If you’re looking for me, look ☝’
Cruise got his pilot’s license in 1994, revealing in a Wired interview in 2017 that he is a, ‘multi-engine instrument rated commercial pilot.’
Cruise returns as Maverick from the 1986 classic Top Gun in Top Gun: Maverick, alongside Val Kilmer as Iceman and a slew of new stars including Powell.
Sky shepherd: ‘Thank you Walt for being my sky shepherd, thank you Shane for making my experience effortless, and thank you Tom for being my hype man every step of the way,’ Powell exclaimed, adding, ‘If you’re looking for me, look ☝’
New star: Cruise returns as Maverick from the 1986 classic Top Gun in Top Gun: Maverick, alongside Val Kilmer as Iceman and a slew of new stars including Powell
Powell’s Hangman is one of several new characters including Miles Teller’s Rooster, the son of Cruise’s late wingman Goose (Anthony Edwards), Monica Barbaro as Phoenix, Jay Ellis as Payback plus Jon Hamm and Ed Harris.
The actor told People last month that the movie, ‘is in really good shape’ while having nothing but high praise for Cruise himself.
‘Tom’s as great as people think he is,’ Powell said. ‘He’s as nice, he’s as hardworking, he’s as generous, he’s as available. He’s the man.’
New role: Powell’s Hangman is one of several new characters including Miles Teller’s Rooster, the son of Cruise’s late wingman Goose (Anthony Edwards), Monica Barbaro as Phoenix, Jay Ellis as Payback plus Jon Hamm and Ed Harris
High praise: The actor told People last month that the movie, ‘is in really good shape’ while having nothing but high praise for Cruise himself