Tom Cruise lands helicopter at premiere of Top Gun: Maverick

Actor Tom Cruise arrived at the Wednesday premiere of his upcoming film, Top Gun: Maverick, in a helicopter he piloted himself.

The 59-year-old star landed the helicopter on the USS Midway aircraft carrier docked in San Diego before walking down the runway in a black tuxedo and signature Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses.

Cruise is famous for doing many of his own stunts, leading to injuries that have delayed filming on some of his projects.

The film was originally set to be released in 2019 but was repeatedly delayed due to difficulties filming during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The highly anticipated sequel explores the end of the era of dogfighting and the impact of unmanned drones, with Cruise playing an aging flight instructor.

Along with a cast of new pilots, Val Kilmer reprises his role as Cruise’s former rival, Tom “Iceman” Kazansky.

The original Top Gun was the highest-grossing film of 1986, earning more than $350 million worldwide on a $15 million budget.

It became a cult classic that left a lasting mark on pop culture and public perceptions of the military. The U.S. Navy say a 500% increase in recruitment the year following its release, which has led to scrutiny of its close involvement with the film.

Sales of Ray Bans Aviator sunglasses also saw a 40% jump due to their use in the film.

Top Gun’s soundtrack also became one of the most popular movie soundtracks to date, reaching 9x Platinum certification. “Danger Zone,” performed by Kenny Loggins, persists in popular culture to this day as a popular meme.