Tom Cruise gets special thanks from prestigious French flying club

American actor Tom Cruise has been awarded a special medal for his contribution to the history of aviation from one of the world’s oldest flying clubs. 

Paris’ Aéro-Club de France honoured Mr Cruise in a ceremony on Saturday (February 8) at their Paris headquarters, where he was awarded the institution’s ‘Grande Médaille’.

“You are much more than an actor, even an exceptional one, with spectacular aerial scenes. You are an excellent pilot,” said the club’s president Catherine Maunoury about the actor.

“Your commitment to aviation is as genuine as your on-screen performance and reflects your deep respect for the art of flying. In fact, you don't play Maverick, you are Maverick!

We honour your role as a role model for future generations,” she added.

The Aéro-Club is France’s second oldest-flying club, being founded in 1898. The Grande Médaille is not an annual award, but exceptionally given to those who make significant advancements in the sector.

Recipients of the prestigious award include Charles Lindbergh (first aviator to solo fly across the Atlantic), cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, and astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

Aviation fan

Tom Cruise is known for his role as a pilot in the Top Gun series as well as performing many stunts himself. 

“My fellow dreamers, you are my fellow adventurers, my fellow lovers of flight. [...] For me, it's an honour to have played a tiny part in contributing to this dream,” the actor said when receiving the medal. 

He is an avid aviator, owning several planes including a P-51 Mustang.

The ceremony was attended by French astronauts Thomas Pesquet, Jean-François Clervoy, and Claudie Haigneré.

You can read our interview with Mrs Haigneré below.

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