The end of “Top Gun: Maverick” would see the use of a P-51 Mustang where Rooster, which Maverick uses to fly with his love interest, Penny (Jennifer Connelly). The impressive machine, which was originally built as a fighter jet in the 1940s for use in World War II, belongs to Tom Cruise. “You know if ‘Top Gun’ was made in the 1940s … this airplane is the star of the show,” says “Top Gun: Maverick” technical advisor Steve Hinton in a behind-the-scenes featurette (via YouTube). “Airplanes today are very computer-oriented and P-51 is all push, pull, cables, nothing’s automatic.” To promote the film’s release, Cruise even brought late-night television host James Corden into the plane for a special flight — much to Corden’s dismay (via YouTube).
While Cruise may be well-known for his daring array of stunts within such movies as the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, the actor also has a real-life need for speed, owning a varied collection of valuable automobiles, motorcycles, and planes. This should come as no surprise, considering that Cruise obtained his pilot’s license in 1994 (via Style). His plane collection is especially impressive, as he is reported to own upwards of five private jets, including a Gulfstream IV G4 jet, which he originally got for his then-wife, Katie Holmes. Even his famous Mustang would sport “Kiss Me, Kate” on its side for some time until the two broke up (via Forbes).
