Tom Cruise's antics aboard his
Super Hornet
fighter in his latest film
Top Gun
has clearly given the Air and Space Forces wings.
And an idea, which has slowly made its way since the release of the action film last May.
The air force announced Friday that it had admitted the American actor to the ranks of the Patrouille de France, on an honorary basis.
“A new honorary member has joined the community of French fighter pilots
,” said General Stéphane Mille, Chief of Staff of the Air and Space Force, on Twitter on November 18.
The announcement came on the occasion of the second edition of the Congress of Fighter Aviation.
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In full post-production of the next
Mission: Impossible
, Tom Cruise expressed from South Africa his gratitude for this high-flying distinction, apologizing for not having been able to make the trip for the event.
"And on the hunt!"
“I am deeply honored and proud to accept to become an honorary member of the French fighter pilot community,”
said Tom Cruise, after a greeting –
Bonsoir les aviateurs!
-
taking on the expression of his character from
Top Gun.
"I had the privilege of meeting the Patrouille de France and
witnessing a wonderful flight in the sky of Cannes last summer
,
" he continued.
We all share an absolute passion for the love of flying and its freedom.”
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The star also paid tribute to the
"talent"
and
"commitment"
of the aerobatic pilots of the acrobatic patrol.
"It's a real privilege for me to be part of your team,"
he concluded, not without throwing, in French
"and hunting!"
-
in a nod to French airmen.
Organized by the Air and Space Force in collaboration with the association of fighter pilots, the Fighting Congress took place on Friday at the Bourget Museum.
The event brought together nearly a thousand French and foreign pilots.
The former leader of the Patrouille de France Samuel Lanos notably gave a conference there, alongside other interventions led by astronauts and experts.
