Entertainment
Tom Cruise pictured piloting World War II biplane as he learns skills for Mission: Impossible 8
Tom Cruise was seen adding to his piloting skills at a Cambridgeshire airbase (Picture: Stephen Keeler/SWNS)
Tom Cruise has been seen in pictures for the first time learning to fly a World War II fighter jet in preparation for Mission: Impossible 8.
Rumours have been proven true, with daredevil and keen stunt-doer Cruise never one to back down from a challenge.
The photographs show the Top Gun star learning to fly a 1943 Boeing-Stearman Model 75 with the help of ex-German Air Force pilot Klaus Plasa.
The 59-year-old actor is reportedly practising in the former military training plane so that he can perform stunt scenes in the next chapter of the Mission: Impossible franchise.
He could be seen both seated in the red aircraft while it was airborne, alongside his teacher, as well as receiving instruction from Plasa on the runway, with the star dressed all in black, and with a hat on under his radio helmet.
Video also showed the actor taking to the skies four times to fly short circles around the runway in windy conditions at Duxford Airfield, Cambridgeshire on September 29.
The star took to the skies with his instructor (Picture: Stephen Keeler/SWNS)
He was wrapped up for the windy conditions (Picture: Stephen Keeler/SWNS)
Cruise took pointers from his instructor (Picture: Stephen Keeler/SWNS)
We already know the actor can pilot a helicopter – as he demonstrated when landing a couple’s garden in Warwickshire – as well as parachuting out of one.
Cruise boasts both a helicopter licence and a fixed-wings pilot’s licence, which should stand him in good stead as he masters an 80-year-old aircraft.
A source told The Sun: ‘Tom had started to learn to fly a Boeing Stearman biplane earlier this year for a major stunt scene in Mission: Impossible 8.
‘It’s obviously a highly skilled task but as usual, he has no plans to cut any corners or bring in a stuntman.
Cruising at altitude (Picture: Stephen Keeler/SWNS)
‘Filming has only just wrapped on Mission: Impossible 7 but Tom has not given himself a break.’
They added that his attempt to film ‘jaw-dropping scenes’ in a historic plane was ‘particularly dangerous’.
More: Tom Cruise
Throughout the franchise, he has scaled the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, and hung from the side of a plane as it was taking off amidst many crazy chase scenes and incredible feats of strength.
It will be quite some time before audiences get to enjoy Cruise’s airborne feats in the series eighth film, as Mission: Impossible 7 is still almost a year away after multiple pandemic-related delays, wit a release date of September 30, 2022.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Chris Martin and Dakota Johnson hold hands after The Lost Daughter premiere in rare outing together
