Kurt Russell Talks About Teaching Tom Cruise on Becoming a Real Pilot

Kurt Russell is sharing a lesser-known story about Tom Cruise and how his love of flying became very real. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Russell explained that he played an early role in helping Cruise move from pretending to fly on screen to actually learning how to do it for real.

Russell said that after the release of Top Gun in 1986, Cruise showed a serious interest in aviation. He wasn’t just curious. According to Russell, Cruise genuinely wanted to understand how planes work and what it feels like to be in control of one.

At the time, Russell had decades of experience as a pilot. He flew for more than thirty years and handled many different types of aircraft. He invited Cruise up in his own plane, and they spent time flying together. Russell said once he realized Cruise was committed, he supported him however he could.

Cruise didn’t stop there. With help from director Sydney Pollack, he went on to get formal flight training. Pollack later gifted Cruise flying lessons while they were working together on The Firm. From that point on, flying became a big part of Cruise’s life.

Over the years, Cruise has built a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most fearless performers. He flew planes himself in American Made and returned to the skies in Top Gun: Maverick in 2022. Russell said watching the sequel made him proud and praised how well the film handled the return of the story. He described Cruise as a truly skilled pilot and said the sequel was done fantastically.

Although Russell no longer flies these days, aviation still follows him. His recent Super Bowl commercial for Michelob ULTRA leaned into that same adventurous energy. The ad features Russell as a legendary ski instructor mentoring a rookie played by Lewis Pullman, who also appeared in Top Gun: Maverick.

Russell joked about the idea of appearing in a possible Top Gun 3 and didn’t sound too serious about it. Still, he spoke highly of Kosinski and also praised Pullman. He said Pullman was easy to work with and willing to try things on set. Russell explained that the heart of the ad was about growth, going from a beginner to someone confident, and he felt Pullman nailed that idea.

The tradition of actors helping the next generation seems to be continuing. Just as Russell and Pollack helped Cruise, Cruise has reportedly done the same for others. According to a social media post shared in 2020, Cruise paid for Glen Powell to earn his private pilot’s license. Powell also said Cruise gave him an iPad filled with flight training materials.

Today, Kurt Russell remains busy. He currently stars in season two of Monarch Legacy of Monsters on Apple TV Plus, playing Lee Shaw alongside his son Wyatt Russell. He is also set to appear in the upcoming Yellowstone spin-off, The Madison, where he stars opposite Michelle Pfeiffer.

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