New generation fans of Tom Cruise were shocked to learn that he was part of many of the fighter jet stunts in his 2022 film, Top Gun: Maverick. However, little do they know about the challenges he had to face inside real jets during the filming of the first film, Top Gun, which was released in 1986. During the training sessions, Cruise was paired with Lieutenant Commander Lloyd ‘Bozo’ Abel, who was a badass fighter jet pilot in the U.S. Navy.
The Mission: Impossible actor had one hell of an adventure with Bozo and he revealed one particular experience he had inside an F14 Jet. Bozo went for a daring maneuver just when Cruise had finished chucking in a plastic bag, throwing him off balance in the jet.
Tom Cruise Couldn’t Handle The F14 Jet Ride During His First Time
The crew of Top Gun did a video special where the director, actors, and other crew members opened up about the behind-the-scenes of the film. During the series of interviews, Tom Cruise shared his experience about the first time he rode in an F14 with a professional pilot. Lt. Cmdr Lloyd ‘Bozo’ Abel, who helped Cruise, was also interviewed for the special.
Cruise revealed that he had to fly three times a day in the F14 jet and his morning pilot was for some reason called the ‘Bozo’. He shared that the training took place over the desert where they were flying air combat maneuvers.
The heat was too much for Cruise who was sweating inside the jet. He realized at one point that he couldn’t hold it in and found a plastic bag to vomit. He shared during the interview:
I had three flights in one day and my pilot’s name was Bozo. So we’re flying air combat maneuvers over the desert. You know the F-14s are like Cadillacs with lots of air conditioning coming in and we were cranking around trying to find setup. The sun was beating down on us and the sweat was pouring off my face. So I realize, ‘Geez, I’m gonna [vomit] and gonna have to bag it.’ So I bent over and I chucked in this plastic bag.
Lt. Cmdr Bozo shared that the Jerry Maguire actor only had the issue the first time and he flew perfectly fine during the subsequent sessions. Cruise further shared that Bozo did something unpredictable when he was finished chucking into the plastic bag.
Bozo’s action led the Eyes Wide Shut actor to hold on to the plastic bag tightly to avoid an even more embarrassing first flying lesson.
Lt. Cmdr Lloyd Abel Revealed To Tom Cruise Why He Was Called ‘Bozo’
Cruise shared that Bozo pulled up so hard into a maneuver that sent his head touching the ground. He recalled that he tried hard to hit the intercom button and let Bozo know of his situation. But he couldn’t reach the button and the Lt. Commander didn’t see Cruise’s struggle behind his back.
It took some time before Bozo leveled the jet and Cruise was back in position, still holding on to the plastic bag as if it were a trophy. When Cruise asked him if he didn’t see him in the mirror, Bozo just had a badass reply ready for the A-list star of Hollywood. Cruise shared:
At the same time, Bozo, my pilot, just pulled up really hard into a maneuver. Now that kind of pressure at the back of my head, my helmet was pressing on the floor. And I’m trying to hit the intercom button, holding on to the bag.
I’m like, ‘Bozo! Bozo!’ Finally, he levels off and I come flying up and I push the intercom button. I said, ‘Bozo, Did you see in your mirror that I wasn’t there?’ He said, ‘Oh man sorry, they don’t call me Bozo for nothing.’
Tom Cruise shared the story in many interviews over the years. It appears that Cruise was fascinated by the Lieutenant Commander’s attitude. Fans would be able to see more of Cruise flying as a threequel to the film has already been announced. Both Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick are now available for streaming on Paramount+.
