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Tom Cruise's Aerial Fight In Top Gun: Maverick Ending Underwhelms Real Fight Pilot

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A new video from The Late Late Show with James Corden sees the host terrified by a real fighter jet experience with Top Gun: Maverick star Tom Cruise. The actor has been promoting the new sequel to 1986's Top Gun , which helped launch him into superstardom alongside a cast that included Val Kilmer, Tim Robbins, Kelly McGillis, Anthony Edwards, and Meg Ryan. Top Gun: Maverick , from TRON: Legacy director Joseph Kosinski, sees Cruise reprise his role as Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, with Val Kilmer also returning to the part of Tom "Iceman" Kazansky. The sequel also features several new faces in the cast, including Miles Teller, Jon Hamm, Jennifer Connelly, Monica Barbaro, Glen Powell, and Jay Ellis.

Cruise has had fun pushing  The Late Late Show  host Corden out of his comfort zone on previous episodes. Most notably, while promoting Mission: Impossible - Fallout , Cruise took Corden skydiving. During that experience, Corden was visibly terrified but pushed through his fears, leaping from the plane in a tandem parachute jump while Cruise jumped solo alongside him. While Corden ultimately admitted that it was a rush, he seemed content not to ever jump out of a plane again. However, Cruise appears to have found a new way to scare the late-night talk show host.

Related:  Top Gun 2 Can Set Up A Sequel Without Tom Cruise

A new video on Monday's The Late Late Show with James Corden  sees Cruise whisk the host away, only to reveal they are going to have a "Top Gun day,"  with  Cruise piloting a fighter plane with Corden set to be his passenger. Cruise begins with a leisurely flight as they take to the air, but as another plane comes in close, a simulated dog fight begins, leaving Corden screaming in terror. As the video continues, they take a volleyball break before switching planes and taking off in a fighter jet set to the sounds of Kenny Loggins' Danger Zone. Check out the Late Late Show 's Top Gun experience video below:

Click here to see the original video

Cruise holds several pilots licenses and various others, making him more than qualified to fly the planes seen in the video. Cruise also utilized these same skills for Top Gun: Maverick , where he piloted real jets for the film. Much like what Corden endured, Cruise's fellow Maverick co-stars underwent the same immersion in preparation for the sequel.

Top Gun: Maverick is slated to hit theaters on Friday after numerous delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Trailers for the sequel have already given audiences glimpses of the intense, practical flying stunts, and Top Gun: Maverick  reviews praise it as a true summer blockbuster that needs to be experienced on the big screen. With Corden and Cruise's history, audiences may yet see the two in another terrifying, high-octane adventure to promote Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One following the release of Top Gun: Maverick .

Next:  Top Gun 2’s Reviews Break A 20 Year Streak

Source: The Late Late Show with James Corden

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Tom Cruise surprises James Corden with fighter jet flight: 'You're an actor, not a pilot'

"With all due respect, you played a lawyer in A Few Good Men, I wouldn't want you to represent me in court," the late-night host told the Top Gun: Maverick star.

James Corden lived the Top Gun: Maverick experience to the extreme when Tom Cruise visited The Late Late Show .

In 2018, Cruise took Corden skydiving ; this time, he flew him in a vintage fighter plane and a modern war jet.

"I'm gonna go up in a 75-year-old plane with someone who isn't a pilot? Yeah, that sounds like a good idea," Corden says before running in the opposite direction.

Cruise promises Corden that he's not just an actor, but a pilot too, to which Corden retorts, "With all due respect, you played a lawyer in A Few Good Men , I wouldn't want you to represent me in court."

Through Corden's quips asking for the plane's Wi-Fi password and holding up a sign that reads "Help me," he laughs through much of the fear, mixed in with some blood-curdling screams.

As Cruise smiles for the duration of flight, in his element, he plays with Corden, taking him along for a dogfight with a neighboring plane, flying right over mountains and dropping at a 90-degree angle.

"The fact that this is your idea of a fun day out just tells me how different we are as human beings," a winded Corden says.

When the pair gets out of the plane and heads back to camp, Cruise reveals that the day is not yet over. They prepare for a second flight the way any high-intensity fighter pilots do: a game of slow-motion volleyball and a "You've Lost That Lovin Feelin" serenade.

"You're the first half of the film Goose," Cruise reassures Corden, comparing him to the Anthony Edwards Top Gun character before his death in the second half of the film.

The new Hollywood power duo ends their night in a tent, where Corden confesses, "Tom, if you kill me tomorrow, I'll haunt you for the rest of your life." Cruise replies, "James, if I kill you tomorrow, I'll be dead too."

When Corden and Cruise board the next plane, a much cushier, newer vehicle, the host seems to feel more at ease. Upon Corden's request, the action star says, "We'll just fly straight, just relax, just take it easy for a little bit" while he shakes his head at the camera. But Cruise doesn't hold out, nearing the plane to trees and cliffs and pulling off 360-degree loops and spins.

Finally done with the adventure, Corden seems relieved to be returning to the comfort of his studio: "You can be my wingman anytime," Cruise says. "You know what? I think I'm good," Corden replies with a laugh.

Hopefully for Corden's sake, Cruise won't sign him up for any other wild antics in his eighth and final season.

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Tom Cruise terrifies James Corden on Top Gun fighter jet flight

Tom Cruise has terrified James Corden by re-enacting an aerial stunt scene from his film Top Gun : Maverick with the late night TV star.

Cruise persuaded The Late Late Show host to go on the daring adventure while promoting the movie, a sequel to fighter-pilot action movie, Top Gun, which comes out in cinemas Friday.

The stunt was even more hair-raising than the previous time the pair were filmed jumping out of an aeroplane for Corden’s talk show four years ago.

“I’m very excited that James is doing this,” Cruise said in a 15-minute-long segment that aired in Monday’s episode.

“Was he the first late-night show I asked? Hell, no. He was just the first one, the only one who said yes.”

Corden could be seen looking nervous as the pair undertake Top Gun training in the air for the stunt, with Cruise referring to Corden as ‘Goose’ - a reference to one of the film’s characters.

“You are my Goose,” said Cruise. “When you say I am your Goose, it makes me feel excited and then I realise that Goose dies at the end of the film,” replied Corden.

After finishing the training, Corden told the actor: “The fact that this is your idea of a fun day out shows us how different we are as human beings”.

However, little did the former Gavin and Stacey star know that he would actually be taking to the skies again in a fighter jet the following day - with Cruise saying: “Don’t worry, the next plane has air conditioning”.

In the end Corden, who often drives with celebrities in cars around LA for his Carpool Karaoke segment, appeared to enjoy the adrenaline-inducing flight, singing Kenny Loggins’ Danger Zone.

After they disembarked their last flight, Cruise told his friend: “You can be my wingman, anytime.”

“You know what? I think I’m good,” Corden concluded.

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Tom Cruise Gives James Corden Top Gun Training in Hilarious Video Clips

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Tom Cruise is flying high these days with his first billion-dollar movie Top Gun: Maverick crushing it at the box office. Even with his forthcoming seventh Mission: Impossible movie, Dead Reckoning Part One on the horizon, this has not stopped the 60-year-old from slowing down on the dare-defying feats, this time taking Late Late Show host James Corden with him. When Cruise appeared on the Late Late Show , he told the host that he jumped from a plane at an altitude of 25,000 feet for his role in Mission Impossible. Corden replied:

“Meh…You say ‘jump’ but it’s falling. I think we’re all getting carried away with the ‘Tom Cruise: Action Hero’ thing.”

Those words prompted Cruise to challenge Corden to go “falling” with him plus insist on training the host for an adventure in the friendly skies. Of course, the British comedian's landing was not as smooth as his mentor's, but he made it back to earthly soil safely, with a little help.

RELATED: James Corden Will Leave the Late, Late Show in 2023

James Corden Attempts an Impossible Mission to Become a Top Gun Maverick

A reluctant Corden agrees to fly with Cruise but not without protests, to no avail. The 43-year-old admitted to feeling like it was a mistake and confessed to trying to get out of this airborne training with Cruise over fear the actor would crash. Speaking to Alison Hammon on the British magazine show This Morning , Corden stated:

“Producers on the show got an email from me saying, ‘Guys, this is stupid. He’s an actor. He’s not a pilot. When you’re in a plane, and its just you and Tom Cruise, if something goes wrong, you’re both dead.”

However, Cruise has had his pilot’s license since 1994 and owns several planes, including a luxury Gulfstream jet and his beloved P-51 Mustang, a WWII fighter that appears in Top Gun . Cruise told Hello magazine:

“The P-51 Mustang you see in the movie is actually my plane, so I got to pilot in those sequences. I also got to be in the jet fighter a lot more this time, which was thrilling. It was something I had been working up to.”

Although there were hilarious moments where it looked as if Corden would have welcomed the sweet relief of death, he did conquer his fears, looked danger in the eye, attended Tom Cruise’s faux boot camp, took flight on his own (well, on ground by trying to run away) and passed Maverickism 101.

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Tom Cruise Takes James Corden to the Danger Zone with Frightening Flight in 'Top Gun' Fighter Jet

Monday's Late Late Show with James Corden featured the host going on a pair of flights with Top Gun: Maverick star Tom Cruise

Dave Quinn is a Senior Editor for PEOPLE. He has been working at the brand since 2016, and is the author of the No. 1 New York Times best-selling book, Not All Diamonds and Rosé: The Inside Story of the Real Housewives from the People Who Lived It.

James Corden feels the need — the need for a speedy landing.

The Late Late Show host, 43, had an adventurous two days with Tom Cruise on Monday night's show, joining the Top Gun: Maverick actor for a terrifying trip in the air on a pair of fighter jets.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime getaway that Corden wasn't necessarily excited about. In a package of the high-flying experience, he played as an unwilling participant in Cruise's plan — admitting, "When Tom Cruise calls, you sort of have to say yes."

Cruise, for his part, was thrilled to be palling around with Corden again, as the 59-year-old actor previously jumped out of an airplane with Corden while promoting 2018's Mission: Impossible — Fallout .

"I'm very excited that James is doing this," Cruise said, before piloting Corden in both planes. "Was he the first late night show that I asked? Hell no. He was just the first one, the only one , to say yes."

To kick things off, Cruise took Corden for a ride in a 1944 fighter airplane, Corden quickly putting up a sign in the window that said "Help Me."

Things got serious when a dueling plane popped up to challenge them. "We're in a dog fight," Cruise said, as Corden screamed, "I don't give a s---."

For more on Tom Cruise and James Corden flying on fighter jets, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.

"You did good," Cruise assured Corden after they landed, the comedian teasing, "The fact that this is your idea of a fun day out tells me how different we are as human beings."

Just when Corden thought he'd survived, Cruise informed him the two would be going up again, this time in a jet fit for modern aerial warfare.

Amid Corden's "I don't want to do it" objections, Cruise told the host, "You are my Goose," a reference to his Top Gun character's best friend in the original 1986 movie.

"When you said I'm your Goose it makes me feel excited and then I realize that Goose dies in the film," Corden explained in response. "You're the first half of the film Goose," Cruise insisted. "That 'You've Lost that Loving Feeling' Goose."

"That's the Goose I want to be," Corden quipped. "I want to be in a bar, singing..."

From there, Cruise and Corden followed through with some additional Top Gun experiences (like a game of volleyball and a camping getaway) before heading up in their flight.

"You look like a fighter pilot, I look like a hamster," Corden said, as they suited up for the flight.

Corden loosened up for his second flight, even channeling his "Carpool Karaoke" segment by singing Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone" and Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band's "Old Time Rock and Roll" — two tunes famously featured in Cruise's movies.

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But when Cruise started stunting, even flipping the plane upside down, Corden got scared. "Oh my God," he screamed. "This is absolutely ludicrous. This is the craziest thing... this is the stupidest thing I have ever done."

"You absolute bastard," he told Cruise. "I've got an idea, why don't we fly straight for a bit?"

"Okay, we'll fly straight," Cruise said, before flipping them over again.

Back on the ground, Cruise praised Corden for how he handled it all. "You can be my wingman anytime," he said.

"You know what, I think I'm good," joked Corden.

Top Gun: Maverick opens in theaters on Friday. The long-awaited sequel sees Cruise making his triumphant return as Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell, this time returning as an instructor for the elite fliers three decades after his graduation from the TOPGUN Naval aviation program.

Among his young charges is Lt. Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, the son of Goose ( Anthony Edwards in the first movie). Miles Teller , who plays Rooster, is among the actors cast as new class of pilots. Also joining are Glen Powell , Greg Tarzan Davis and Lewis Pullman .

Aside from the hands-on skills required for the film, Cruise still had more to share with his costars, when the training was over and the cameras turned off.

"There were times after we were wrapped for the day, we would spend an hour circled around him, listening to the stories that he's been through," Davis, 28, told PEOPLE in a new all- Top Gun special edition .

Added Pullman, 29, "Every one of the pilots has a story of him talking about what he thinks is great about them, what they can do with that quality. He teaches you, basically, how Tom Cruise became Tom Cruise ."

The Late Late Show with James Corden airs weeknights (12:30 p.m. ET) on CBS.

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‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Star Tom Cruise Takes James Corden for a Terrifying Ride

From  Carpool Karaoke  to  The Late Late Show with James Corden , James Corden always finds hilarious and fun ways to hang with today’s biggest stars and  celebrities . One of Corden’s pals and Hollywood icons, Tom Cruise, recently had a big surprise.

To help promote his latest film,  Top Gun: Maverick , Cruise invited Corden to the airport. A quick flight to a desert airstrip with Cruise at the controls  wasn’t all Corden had to come. The next adventure proved to be terrifying. And knowing how Cruise had previously invited Corden to skydive with him, this latest surprise excursion would be a doozy.

A terrifying yet cool ride in a vintage jet

We know Tom Cruise can fly  a plane. That’s not so scary, especially with the first flight taking place in a modern jet. However, Tom Cruise surprised James Corden by flying the two to a desert airfield. And as  Today  called it, the danger zone met the funny bone in this hilarious yet terrifying experience for Corden.

When the next plane ride was revealed to be in a vintage 1944 fighter plane, Corden grew incredibly nervous. He said to Cruise, “with all due respect; you played a lawyer in  A Few Good Men . I wouldn’t want you to represent me in court.”

James Corden’s hilarious reaction to the wild ride

You can watch the whole encounter on  YouTube  via  The Late Late Show with James Corden . But be prepared for your stomach to hurt from laughing. As the pair prepped for flight in this vintage fighter plane, Corden inquired about what to do should there be a malfunction. Cruise responded by saying he’d just “roll the plane over” and dump him out. “I’m going to plop you out,” he said, leaving Corden looking stunned and terrified.

Corden’s reactions throughout the flight were downright gut-busting. Upon takeoff, he asked Cruise for the Wi-Fi password. He signaled “help me” to the camera and called Cruise a “madman” as they soared over a mountain. In another instance, Cruise is pointing out trees nearby when Corden responds, “this is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.”

The 75-year-old jet was very much  Top Gun  style, in its prime, and quite the war machine. It’s a P-51 Mustang that  Cruise himself purchased  in 2001. According to  World War Wings , he would also frequently give his friends rides in this iconic piece of flying history.

Tom Cruise is back in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’

Unless you’ve been off-grid, you likely have heard the buzz about the  Top Gun  sequel,  Top Gun: Maverick  hitting theaters. It’s a box office smash, but don’t worry; no spoilers here if you haven’t seen it yet. Although you should prepare for an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride featuring the military’s most dynamic aircraft.

Tom Cruise may have a pilot’s license  for recreational flight, but the Pentagon wouldn’t allow him to fly the official military craft in the movie. And you know Cruise is all about doing his own stunts whenever possible, so he was disappointed. Instead, according to Fortune , the actors were positioned behind the official F/A-18 pilots only after they’d completed required safety training on how to eject during an emergency situation.

However, Tom Cruise did get to interject some of his previous Top Gun and flight knowledge for the movie. He created his very own flight training program, far more demanding than the standard requirements, to help the movie’s younger stars prepare for and withstand the intense, nausea-inducing jarring of aerial flight maneuvers.

Check out the video of James Corden’s terrifying flight with Tom Cruise . You’ll get to appreciate a cool 1944 vintage plane and probably laugh a bit as the two pull off their stunt to help promote the new movie.

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Desiree Homer began contributing content to MotorBiscuit in 2018. She is a veteran in all things sales and marketing and at writing results-oriented sales copy. Her professional credentials include: 15+ years in direct Sales (local, regional and national industries), 5+ years in Television Advertising, 5+ years in Staffing and Business Development, and 3+ Years in Automotive Sales.

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James Corden is ‘Honey Butter’ as he joins Tom Cruise and ‘Top Gun’ squad in hilarious skit

“Top Gun” with James Corden is more like the “The Naked Gun.”

On an episode of “The Late Late Show with James Corden” posted on Friday, the host showed some work he did with the “Top Gun: Maverick” cast before the smash movie came out.

The bit began with stars Tom Cruise, Monica Barbaro, Jay Ellis and Glen Powell giving their call signs while piloting their own jets before Corden chimed in with his own less-than-intimidating moniker: Honey Butter.

“Your call sign should strike fear in the heart of the enemy,” Ellis told him.

“Alright, what about Karen?” Corden said. “Nothing’s scarier than a Karen with an agenda.”

“What about Phantom?” Corden continued.

“That works,” Cruise said.

“Of the opera,” Corden finished.

Cruise, who previously teamed up with Corden on a hilarious flying adventure on his show last month, ordered the pilots to focus on call names later before urging them to get cracking on their mission.

“How long are you guys flying with your eyes closed?” Corden said when Cruise asked if there were any questions. “I’m up to 30 seconds.”

After Corden said he’s made it to 35 seconds, Cruise sounded impressed.

“Would a bad pilot do that?” he asked.

“Yes! That is exactly what a bad pilot would do,” Ellis fired back.

“You should change your call sign to K-Y because you sound jelly,” Corden quipped.

As the team buckled down to face the enemy at 3 o’clock, Corden helped himself to some tea, confusing the time of day with the location.

“I always have tea at 3 o’clock. We’re fighter pilots, not barbarians,” he said as he took a sip.

Corden tried to calm everyone down by telling them to have a biscuit, before Ellis discovered his parachute bag is filled with the treats.

As Powell and another fighter pilot named Wildcat got shot down, Corden spruced himself up with an Instagram filter making him look like a cat. The team then goes for a final push before we see Corden and Cruise had been playing in virtual reality.

“Honey Butter, you can be my wingman anytime,” Cruise said.

Drew Weisholtz is a reporter for TODAY Digital, focusing on pop culture, nostalgia and trending stories. He has seen every episode of “Saved by the Bell” at least 50 times, longs to perfect the crane kick from “The Karate Kid” and performs stand-up comedy, while also cheering on the New York Yankees and New York Giants. A graduate of Rutgers University, he is the married father of two kids who believe he is ridiculous.

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James Corden Puts Life in Tom Cruise’s Hands Aboard ‘Top Gun’ Fighter Jet

Jenna Bush Hager Brutally Roasts Hoda Kotb For Outfit She Wore To Meet Tom Cruise: "You Look Like A Condom"

How to watch tom cruise's paris olympics closing ceremony stunt: time, livestream and more, here's why the tom cruise 'jack reacher' movies are better than the tv show everyone loves, gina gershon thought she "broke tom cruise's nose" while filming their 'cocktail' love scene.

In honor of the highly-anticipated May 27 theatrical release of Top Gun: Maverick , James Corden had the action-drama film’s star, Tom Cruise , join him for a very special YouTube segment of  The Late Late Show With James Corden . What unfolded from there was an adventure whose thrills rivaled that of a  Top Gun   movie, and also probably gave the late night host a heart attack (or at the very least, a damp jumpsuit).

It all began with Corden waiting outside of the Burbank Airport, where Tom Cruise’s charter plane picked him up at 5 AM. “I feel like I’m being kidnapped,” the host said as their sojourn began, making it clear that he had no idea what lay in wait for the pair. By the time Cruise landed them in the middle of the desert, he explained that they were about to top (…gun) their shared experience parachuting out of an airplane by taking to the sky in a vintage little fighter plane worthy of Top Gun  itself.

“We’re gonna have a  Top Gun  day,” Cruise said, before clarifying that it would just be the two of them heading up in the small jet, and that he’d be piloting it himself.

“With all due respect, you played a lawyer in A Few Good Men , I wouldn’t want you to represent me in court,” Corden replied, clearly not freaky out. “I’m going to go up in a 75 year-old plane with someone that isn’t a pilot. Okay, yeah, that sounds like a good idea.”

Between Cruise’s explanation of what they’d do during an emergency protocol (“I’m just going to turn over, and I’m going to plop you out”), the emergence of a rival jet (“I don’t want to fight them, I’d like to go home, please”), and a training sequence so delightfully absurd that it’s a feat neither performer broke into fits of laughter (“This is reinforcing my belief that you don’t have a clue what you’re doing”), there’s a lot to love about this almost 15 minute clip (which you can watch above this article now) where Cruise is clearly having a blast (and looking good and impressive while doing it).

Ultimately, despite a healthy dose of terror from Corden (which Cruise clearly reveled in), both the late night host and actor took the highway to the danger zone and lived to tell the tale. And if Top Gun: Maverick  is even half as entertaining as that clip, then it’s definitely going to be a spirited, sky-high hit to remember.

Top Gun: Maverick  premieres in theaters on May 27.

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Tom Cruise Makes James Corden His Reluctant Goose on a Wild ‘Top Gun’ Jet Ride

• By Jon Blistein

Jon Blistein

Tom Cruise made James Corden his extremely reluctant Goose stand-in as he took the  Late Late Show  host out for a ride in a pair of fighter jets to mark the release of  Top Gun: Maverick . 

The segment began with Cruise picking up Corden at the airport at five in the morning, then taking him for a topsy-turvy ride on a 1944 airplane. But the real fun — or horror, for Corden — began when Cruise started prepping Corden for a ride on a much faster, modern jet. When Corden tried to run off, Cruise stopped him and insisted the comedian was his Goose — the character played by Anthony Edwards in the first  Top Gun  flick. 

As Corden quickly noted, however, “When you say, ‘I’m your Goose,’ it makes me feel excited, and then I realize that Goose dies at the end of the film.” Cruise then eased Corden’s anxiety by insisting he was only Goose from the movie’s first half. “That’s the Goose I want to be,” joked Corden. “I want to be in a bar,  singing ‘You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling.'”

From there, Cruise set about trying to acclimate Corden as best he could to the experience of flying in a fighter jet, dropping into “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” each time the comedian’s nerves began to spike. And with some time to kill before the flight the following day, they attempted to play a little beach volleyball, but the game was cut short when Corden hurt his wrist on the first volley. 

For all his anxiety, Corden seemed to enjoy the first few moments in the jet with Cruise, but that swiftly changed as the actor began dive-bombing, zipping through narrow mountain gaps, and making big fat loops in the sky. After safely getting back to Earth, Cruise even told Corden,  “You can be my wingman anytime.”  Corden swiftly retorted, “You know what, I think I’m good.” 

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James Corden terrified as Tom Cruise takes him to 'Top Gun' school

Tom Cruise took James Corden to Top Gun training school on The Late Late Show Monday night, which ended up being super awesome and hilarious.

Cruise picked up Corden in a private plane at 4:56am at the Burbank Airport, where Cruise himself flew them to the desert. Some might remember the last time Cruise was on the Late Late Show in 2018, when he forced Corden to go skydiving. Now, Cruise is promoting his highly-anticipated Top Gun sequel, Top Gun: Maverick , so it was only fitting that this time around they stay in the plane, but with Cruise as the pilot. "You're not a pilot, you're an actor," a skeptical Corden pointed out.

"With all due respect, you played a lawyer in A Few Good Men , I wouldn't want you to represent me in court, okay? I'm gonna go up in a 75-year-old plane with somebody who is not a pilot," asked Corden before he took off running in the opposite direction.

Eventually, Cruise got Corden strapped in, where he warned him that, should the engine catch fire, he would "get rid of the canopy, pitch the nose up 45 degrees and then go inverted" and ultimately "dump" Corden out of the airplane. Understandably, the late night host was petrified.

Corden had a tough time with that first flight, even feeling a little sick when he finally got back on stable ground. So you could imagine his reaction when Cruise pointed to a modern fighter jet fit for warfare, and told him they would be going up in that plane next.

However, after some Top Gun training, a little bit of singing, and even a conga line that included a small model jet, Corden was strapped in and on the highway to the danger zone.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Tom Cruise flight without Maverick going inverted, which he proceeded to do after telling Corden he would "just fly straight."

"I love you and I hate you at the same time. That was absolutely outrageous," said Corden in the end.

Video Transcript

TOM CRUISE: Hey, we're going to go flying.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

JAMES CORDEN: But we just went flying. That's what we literally just did.

TOM CRUISE: We're going to fly in that. We have a Top Gun vint.

KYLIE MAR: On The Late Late Show Monday night, Tom Cruise took James Corden to Top Gun school, which ended up being super awesome and hilarious. And before airing the clip, Corden prefaced it by saying everything was completely real, and he does not have the need for speed.

JAMES CORDEN: I'm going to go up in a 75-year-old plane with someone who isn't a pilot. OK, yeah, this sounds like a good idea. Cool, yeah, I look forward to.

TOM CRUISE: What? James.

KYLIE MAR: Some might remember the last time Tom was on The Late Late Show in 2018 when he forced James Corden to go skydiving. Now, Tom is promoting his highly anticipated Top Gun sequel, so it was only fitting that this time around they stay in the plane, but with Tom as the pilot.

JAMES CORDEN: Oh, my God.

TOM CRUISE: Get our kill.

JAMES CORDEN: I don't give a-- So probably flying quite close to the top of this mountain.

TOM CRUISE: Remember, we're in a dogfight.

JAMES CORDEN: That is a mountain. Oh, my God. Tom, Tom, oh, my God, I proved right.

KYLIE MAR: Corden had a hard time with the first flight. So you could imagine his reaction when Tom told him that next they would be flying this.

TOM CRUISE: Now, we're getting into the serious Top Gun stuff. You and I are going up in that.

JAMES CORDEN: OK. I'm going to go. I'm getting out of here.

KYLIE MAR: But with a little bit of encouragement.

TOM CRUISE: Baby.

JAMES CORDEN: Baby.

TOM CRUISE: I need your love.

JAMES CORDEN: Need your love.

KYLIE MAR: The next morning, James was strapped in and on the highway to the danger zone.

TOM CRUISE: Yeah, we'll just fly straight, just relax, just take it easy just for a little bit.

JAMES CORDEN: Oh, my God. Tom, Tom. Oh, hell.

TOM CRUISE: Yeah, we just got to check the airplane.

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Taking on Tom Cruise’s Top Gun jet trainer

As Top Gun: Maverick hit theatres this summer, a clip of British TV presenter James Corden of The Late Late Show flying with Tom Cruise to promote the blockbuster movie racked up more than 27 million views on YouTube.

Having joined Cruise in the Hollywood superstar’s personal P-51 Mustang, Corden’s next challenge was to experience flight in an L-39 jet trainer, again with ‘Maverick’ at the controls. The YouTube stunt was an instant hit, giving the public a brief but entertaining glimpse of what it’s like to fly military jets. The reality of flying the Aerovodochody L-39 Albatros surpasses even the screen version. Corden was elated after the trip, although also relieved to be back on the ground.

“The reality of flying the Aerovodochody L-39 Albatros surpasses even the screen version,” writes AeroTime’s Ben Griffiths. Image by Michael Jorgensen 

I’ve been privileged to fly the L-39 twice with a group of Dijon, France-based aviators who performed at airshows and offered experience flights under the Breitling watch brand up until 2019. Today, the team are known as ‘Apace Aviation’ and continue to operate the aircraft. The L-39 itself has been in operation for over 50 years, with more than 30 armed services flying the type, including the former Soviet and East German air forces.

Described as having excellent handling characteristics across the whole flight envelope, more than 2,800 examples were delivered worldwide, with some 300 in civilian hands today. Having made its first flight in 1968, the L-39 was designed as a successor to the earlier L-29 Delfin, with full-scale production beginning in 1972.

AeroTime’s Ben Griffiths recalls taking to the skies in the Aerovodochody L-39 Albatros. Image by Michael Jorgensen.

Pairing an efficient but powerful jet turbofan engine with a sleek, streamlined fuselage, the Albatros was built to deliver a strong but economical jet trainer for Warsaw Pact air forces. Easy to maintain, cheap to operate and highly reliable, the aircraft can operate from grass strips and semi-prepared airfields.

The one downside is the Albatros lacks power when compared with Western counterparts like the BAE Systems Hawk, chosen mount of the Red Arrows. But it looks good, is easy to fly and to maintain, is reliable and quite affordable to operate if you compare it with other military jets.

Given my logbook when I flew with the team had a mere 140 hours in it, and all on piston-engined, propeller aircraft, I had a sense of trepidation as to how a lowly private pilot would cope with the experience. I needn’t have worried. Team leader Jacque Bothelin and his fellow pilots were determined that I’d get to control, and enjoy, their airplane by trying my hand at jet formation flying, as well as riding along during a seven-aircraft aerobatic routine that would demonstrate the L-39’s full capabilities.

The L-39 has been in operation for over 50 years with more than 30 armed services. Image by Michael Jorgensen

Suited up in flying kit and helmet, the nerves were building as I was settling into my seat in the rear cockpit of Francois Ponsot’s aircraft. The team’s pilots are all highly experienced, mainly French air force and some ex-Patrouille de France – the French equivalent of the Red Arrows. With Ponsot – nicknamed ‘PonPon’ – I was in good hands. The maintainer strapping me in pointed out the various safety features of the jet, but my heart jumped a beat when he explained the ejection seat, which would propel me clear of the stricken airplane should disaster strike. Removing the safety pins, I was now sitting atop a rocket. That does wonders for your concentration.

Looking around the cockpit to familiarize myself helped me to relax. The battleship grey instrument panel and dials were simple and basic, similar to most trainers I’ve flown, aside from the chunkier switches and prominent stick and throttle controls. The canopy closing with a clunk brought my attention back to the outside world as PonPon began the starting sequence.

The L-39 uses a small motor to spool up the fan of the main engine and get it to operating speed before fuel is added and the jet bursts into life. A muffled roar can be heard from inside the cockpit – outside I knew a veritable tornado was now searing the air in a cacophony of noise.

The one downside is the Albatros lacks power when compared with Western counterparts. Image by Michael Jorgensen.

As our wingmen checked in on the radio as being ready to launch, PonPon released the brakes, and we began our slow trundle towards the active runway. Soon we were all lined up and ready to go. Our jet sat in the number 2 position to the left of the leader in the first element of three aircraft. The remaining four were in a diamond shape behind us on the runway. With a distinct nod of the head, Bothelin signaled the takeoff and our jets surged forward as one, thudding over the gaps in the concrete runway at Dijon with increasing speed until that delightful moment when the wheels left the earth, and the aircraft take to the wing.

This was followed by a heavy clump, clump as the wheels retracted into their bays and we accelerated away from the airport. Our lead element was rapidly joined by the other four jets. PonPon called: “Look left”, and outside another wingman slid effortlessly into position and stayed locked there as if glued in place. My fellow passengers were grinning away, like me barely able to comprehend what their eyes were seeing. Your first taste of formation jet aerobatics is truly sensational. The power and sense of freedom is overwhelming. We were bobbing along in the leader’s slipstream. I felt I could almost touch his jet and feel the air streaming over the wings.

A short transit to the team’s training area and we began the aerobatic sequence with a series of wingovers and formation changes. I was barely prepared for the onset of ‘G’ – the gravitational pull that loads up the body with additional forces and can easily lead to blacking out if you’re not ready, as the blood is pushed towards your feet and away from the brain. I was looking over my left shoulder as we pulled 4.5G – I was now 4.5 times my normal bodyweight – and my head was uncomfortably pinned in place.

The Albatross has an efficient but powerful jet turbofan engine and a sleek, streamlined fuselage. Image by Michael Jorgensen.

Easing off the ‘G’ briefly, I determined to keep looking straight ahead during the routine, as we dived down to begin a loop, describing a perfect circle in the sky. Pulling firmly back on the controls, PonPon steered us skyward, the aircraft becoming inverted before diving back down to our starting position to complete the loop.

Our routine was soon over and PonPon invited me to take the controls. At this point I felt like James Corden must have done, seriously out of my depth. But, with PonPon’s expert instruction, I was soon making a reasonable fist of remaining in position with frequent but tiny adjustments to throttle and stick, chasing the aircraft in front and to the side as I fought hard to stay in formation.

After enjoying this for a while, PonPon took back control and our element slipped down into low level for our transit back to Dijon. The jet was bumping around over the fields of rural France, akin to driving over a rutted road. Fighter pilots fly low to avoid enemy radar, just as they did in their F/A-18s in Top Gun: Maverick when attacking the enemy missile site. We were doing it just for fun and the sensation of speed was sensational.

Making our approach to land back at the airport, the team lined up for a formation run-in-and-break in classic military style. This not only looks good but is designed to position the jets for landing, adequately spaced out but also to slow down to approach speed.

Having enjoyed flying with the team and been impressed by their skills, I was not the least surprised that our touchdown was silky smooth. The L-39 gliding down to kiss the runway, with the nose kept high for aerodynamic braking. The nosewheel dropped and we coasted back to our parking spots outside the team’s HQ building.

The canopy opened and the fresh air blasting into the cockpit reawakened my senses. It was pleasant to remove my helmet and just sit in the cockpit for a while to listen to the gyro instruments winding down and to contemplate what I’d just experienced. 

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Tom Cruise Turns James Corden's World Upside Down In Fighter Jet Stunt

General Assignment Reporter, HuffPost

James Corden had no need for speed, but “ Top Gun: Maverick ” star Tom Cruise gave him heaping doses of it anyway in a vintage fighter plane and a modern jet fit for warfare. (Watch the video below.)

Between the two missions to promote his pilot sequel on “The Late Late Show” Monday, Cruise gave Corden a crash course, “Top Gun” style. He tried to assure Corden that the talk host is his Goose, but Corden took no comfort in that because Goose died in the original “Top Gun.”

He’d just have to trust in Tom, who of course pulled stomach-wrenching maneuvers that included flying the jet upside down.

Corden went skydiving with Cruise in a bit a few years ago. This time, he warned the action hero that if he dies: “I’ll haunt you the rest of your life.”

From Our Partner

More in entertainment.

ICYMI: Tom Cruise Takes James Corden on ‘Top Gun’ Flight

The top gun: maverick actor subjected corden to the ride of a lifetime in an aero l-39 albatros light attack and fighter trainer., kimberly johnson.

[YouTube Screenshot: The Late, Late Show with James Corden]

Actor—and arguably the most popular pilot in the U.S. this week—Tom Cruise recently treated comedian James Corden to a "Top Gun Day" of flight, subjecting the flight-adverse entertainer to a day he won't forget anytime soon.

Cruise's latest blockbuster, Top Gun: Maverick , opens nationwide Friday, May 27. For pilots, the scenes promise to be epic, thanks to a purpose-built L-39 Cinejet outfitted for filming the adrenaline-inducing sequences.

• READ MORE: Pilots Will Love Top Gun: Maverick—It’s a Lot More Real

Standing under a light in the predawn hours alongside the darkened runway at Bob Hope Hollywood-Burbank Airport (KBUR), the British comedian summed up what was to come next: "I'm here because Tom Cruise has asked me to meet him here at 5 a.m. When Tom Cruise calls, you sort of have to say yes."

The pair boarded a Honda HA-420 business jet, which Cruise flew to a remote desert landing strip to rendezvous with his own vintage warbird, a P-51 Mustang . Up in the air in the World War II-era fighter, Cruise showed off his aviator chops by performing a series of maneuvers that included threading a gap in a ridgeline.

• READ MORE: Before Top Gun, Other Aviation Movies Inspired Us

"Tom, you're a madman. You're insane," Corden said, coming up for air.

But there would be more. Flying an Aero L-39 Albatros fighter jet trainer, Cruise demonstrated tactical maneuvers, including loops and inverted flight.

Cruise, who has been a pilot since 1994 , flew in many of the scenes in the Top Gun: Maverick . 

"The Navy wouldn't let him fly an F-18," the film's producer, Jerry Bruckheimer said, according to USA Today. "But he flies a P-51 in the movie and he flies helicopters. He can do just about anything in an airplane."

It wasn't Corden's first aviation rodeo with Cruise. In 2018, and while promoting Mission Impossible: Fallout , Cruise talked Corden into going skydiving.

• READ MORE: U.S. Navy, Air Force Banking On Top Gun: Maverick Recruitment Boost

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