Tom Cruise flying the AS350
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
From: West Wales and Zug, Switzerland
I know his stunt coordinator (not the one on here) and Tom does his own flying in his own helicopter. He rents his 350 as well as his own biz jet back to the film company increasing his revenue stream.
The funny thing is none of the film crew or other actors will fly with him as his flying is, lets just say interesting!
The funny thing is none of the film crew or other actors will fly with him as his flying is, lets just say interesting!
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,670
Likes: 1
From: UK
Why does he need a CPL?
3 months training, flying 8hrs a day makes hime eligible to do what he does. A PPL would have only taken him around a couple of weeks at the most!! The fact that he goes where lesser mortals fear to tread ("Spiral manouevres???") is entirely his decision.
Live by the sword etc etc.....
I'm not jealous - honestly...
3 months training, flying 8hrs a day makes hime eligible to do what he does. A PPL would have only taken him around a couple of weeks at the most!! The fact that he goes where lesser mortals fear to tread ("Spiral manouevres???") is entirely his decision.
Live by the sword etc etc.....
I'm not jealous - honestly...
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 15,111
Likes: 1,085
From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
I probably wouldn't like the guy personally
Joined: Aug 2009
Aviation Qualifications: Military
Posts: 9,337
Likes: 2,185
From: Texas
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 542
Likes: 5
From: Europe
My experience echoes Shy's. TC is a top bloke - loves driving any sort of machinery, works hard to learn and no prima donna either, being courteous to others. With his enthusiasm too, he's a great ambassador for our helicopter industry.
Last edited by rotorspeed; 9th February 2018 at 14:00.
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 595
Likes: 58
From: UK
Why does he need a CPL?
3 months training, flying 8hrs a day makes hime eligible to do what he does. A PPL would have only taken him around a couple of weeks at the most!! The fact that he goes where lesser mortals fear to tread ("Spiral manouevres???") is entirely his decision.
Live by the sword etc etc.....
I'm not jealous - honestly...
3 months training, flying 8hrs a day makes hime eligible to do what he does. A PPL would have only taken him around a couple of weeks at the most!! The fact that he goes where lesser mortals fear to tread ("Spiral manouevres???") is entirely his decision.
Live by the sword etc etc.....
I'm not jealous - honestly...
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 15,111
Likes: 1,085
From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
I'm agnostic, so I back well away from those with any sort of evangelical disposition, but I'd be very surprised if he even mentioned religion, unless you chose to make an issue of it.
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 35
Likes: 1
From: UK
Whilst not knocking his flying, remember that for this film they had a full AS350 cockpit replica setup in the studio with a green screen where you can do whatever flying you like, with Tom flying in that setup as well as in the real machine.
All may not be what it seems on YouTube. :-)
All may not be what it seems on YouTube. :-)
Joined: Apr 2008
Aviation Qualifications: SLF
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 227
From: troposphere
Shortly after 'Top Gun' was released Tom Cruise came into a studio I was working at for an interview. Very courteous and respectful guy. No ego on display whatsoever.
Joined: Sep 2002
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,722
Likes: 637
From: Great South East, tired and retired
From personal experience, a very nice guy, no ego apparent, happy to talk with the lowest in the social order (helicopter pilots) and learn what he can.
Joined: Feb 2005
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 371
Likes: 17
From: UK
I concur. I had the very great pleasure of driving him around for a week (fixed wing, I'm afraid, people). He was eager to learn how we did what we did, and why, was pleasant company without exception, courteous and mindful of our needs as well as his and generally, as you say, a top bloke.