Latest news with #G-forces
Business Insider
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Insider
Tom Cruise climbs between two planes in the new 'Mission: Impossible.' Here are his best stunts, ranked.
He started to do a lot of his own stunts when appearing in action blockbusters like " Top Gun," "Mission: Impossible," and "Minority Report." Now, stunts have become Cruise's calling card. His ambitiousness also bled into real life at the 2024 Paris Olympics ' closing ceremony when he jumped off the roof of the Stade de France. Now, the actor has added another stunning aerial sequence to his list of feats, in his latest movie: "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning." Here are the best stunts of Cruise's career, ranked. When you see Cruise and the cast looking like they are battling G-forces in the jets, complete with distorted faces, it's because they really and the cast went through training so their dogfight scenes could look as realistic as possible — which meant sitting in the F/A-18 jets as they were spun around and took dramatic dives. 8. Cruise climbed a 2,000-foot cliff in "Mission: Impossible 2." In the opening scene of 2000's "M: I 2," Cruise is seen climbing a cliff. And yes, that's really scaled the cliff in Utah with nothing but a safety rope. He also did a 15-foot jump from one cliff to another. Tom Cruise loves to run in his movies; it's become his trademark. But his ability to continue running came into question after a stunt went wrong on the set of "Fallout."While jumping from one one building to another, Cruise hit the wall of the building the wrong way and broke his accident halted production for months and doctors told Cruise his running days might be over. But, six weeks later, Cruise was back on set doing sprints. 5. Cruise climbed the tallest building in the world for "Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol." The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest building in the world, and Cruise climbed "Ghost Protocol," the actor's climb got him up to 1,700 feet in the also fell four stories down by rappelling on the surface of the building. Rebounding from the so-so performance of "Jack Reacher," McQuarrie jumps on the "Mission: Impossible" franchise and ups the action stakes. Yep, this is the one where Cruise hangs from the side of a giant plane taking off. The movie also got an extra jolt with the inclusion of Rebecca Ferguson in the supporting cast. 2. Cruise navigated between two flying planes in "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning." In the climax of "The Final Reckoning," Hunt holds on to a biplane during takeoff, before eventually punching its pilot, throwing him out of the vehicle, and climbing into another plane being flown by the villain, Gabriel (Esai Morales).The ambitious nature of the scene is what we've come to expect from Cruise, but seeing him cling on for dear life above the valleys of South Africa is nothing short of he was strapped to the two different vehicles during multiple takes to achieve the sequence, but watching it unfold on the big screen is still breathtaking. While Cruise was healing the broken ankle he sustained earlier in the "Fallout" production, he went and pulled off the most amazing stunt he's done in his career so the movie, Cruise's character and CIA tagalong August Walker (Henry Cavill) decide to do a HALO jump — a high-altitude, low-open skydive, in which you open your parachute at a low altitude after free-falling for a period of time — out of a giant C-17 plane to get into Paris did this for real by executing the jump 106 times over two weeks, many of them done during golden hour, a very brief period of perfect lighting that occurs just before sunset.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Aisha Bowe on her journey from community college to rocket scientist
Aisha Bowe, a former NASA rocket scientist and two-time tech company founder, is set to make history as the first person of Bahamian heritage to travel to space when she joins an all-female Blue Origin crew launching on April 14. Bowe appeared on "CBS Mornings" to discuss her preparation for the historic mission alongside co-host Gayle King, who will also be part of the crew. "I have been preparing for this moment my entire life," Bowe told King during the interview. "I mean, I started my career thinking I was allergic to math ... And here I'm sitting here, and I'm just like, we are going to space." In addition to Bowe and King, the groundbreaking mission features a group of women that includes musician Katy Perry, civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen, philanthropist Lauren Sánchez and film producer Kerianne Flynn. "This crew represents the best in the future of humanity," Bowe said. "It's really space for the benefit of Earth." Bowe also shared how she overcame early discouragement, including being told she should pursue cosmetology instead of aerospace engineering. "I was told I couldn't, I wouldn't, I shouldn't, and I can't, and I did," said Bowe. "I went from community college to studying aerospace at the University of Michigan to working at NASA for six years." The crew recently appeared on the cover of ELLE magazine's special April digital edition, where they met in person for the first time. When asked what excites her most about the upcoming journey, Bowe emphasized the impact on future generations. "I did it because I saw all of you reach for the sky, and I knew it could, too," Bowe said. Bowe's preparation has included experiencing G-forces to simulate the physical demands of spaceflight. She joked that her biggest concern for the actual flight is streaking makeup through the tears of excitement. Watch live coverage of "CBS Mornings" co-host Gayle King's trip to space aboard a Blue Origin rocket on Monday, April 14, starting at 9 a.m. ET on CBS, CBS News 24/7 or Paramount+. Authors of "Autism Out Loud" on motherhood, diagnosis and growth on the spectrum Democratic-backed candidate wins record-breaking Wisconsin Supreme Court seat Deborah Norville on final season at "Inside Edition" after 30 years
Fox News
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
William Shatner shares extreme warnings ahead of Katy Perry, Gayle King's space flight
William Shatner had some less than reassuring words of advice for Gayle King ahead of her journey into space. In 2021, the "Star Trek" actor made history when he became the oldest person to travel to space after flying aboard Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin New Shepard rocket. During a Thursday appearance on "CBS Mornings," Shatner joined King, 70, to discuss the talk show host's upcoming space flight, which she will take alongside Katy Perry and Bezos' fiancée Lauren Sanchez as part of an all-female crew. At the beginning of the segment, King recalled watching Shatner on TV after he returned from space, noting that he appeared "so euphoric" and "it was so blissful." "I watched you, and I thought, what must it be like to feel like that?" King asked. "You're going to feel it, Gayle. And I don't want you to wear that dress because it's the color of blood, OK?" the actor told King, who was clad in red. "We don't want any blood, Gayle." "No, we don't want any blood," King agreed. "You're right about that." Shatner advised King to "take control of your emotions" while on the trip, telling her that she would be "on an adventure" and she had to "embrace it." "Yes, that's how I look at it," King said. "You're lying there waiting to take off — that's the most exciting moment of all, because the G-forces that are going to be on you," Shatner said. "You're going to think, 'I'm going to die.' But you're not going to die, Gayle! You're on an adventure!" "You're on an adventure," Shatner repeated as King laughed nervously. "Embrace the adventure!" "You are scaring the bleep out of me now!" King exclaimed. "Gayle, Gayle, Gayle…" Shatner continued as King leaned over and covered her face with her hands. "Say a mantra! Say something," he advised. "When I was lying there and aware the hydrogen was being poured into the ship, and the Hindenburg had burned with hydrogen, I'm thinking, 'What's going to be?' The guy says over the earphones—" "This is so not helpful!" King interjected. You're going to think, 'I'm going to die.' But you're not going to die, Gayle! Trying to redirect the conversation, she asked Shatner, "Were you nervous?" "Yes!" Shatner exclaimed. "The nitrogen! And going up! The G's! That's frightening, girl! But embrace the adventure, embrace it. You're on an exciting trip that you'll never do again. You're going to live through it, and you'll be fine." "Got it," King replied. "Just mesmerize yourself," Shatner added. "It's the adventure of a lifetime, and you're going to see the world like nobody… only 600 people have seen it, and you're going to see it." King told him that she was "focusing on that," but noted that she was "stepping way out of my comfort zone." When asked if she already had a mantra in mind, King said that she did, and she had been meditating ahead of the trip. Shatner then recalled that he had been offered one last opportunity to leave the rocket ship in the final moments before launch. "'If you want to get off. Now's the time," Shatner remembered being told as King laughed and shook her head. "And I thought, 'I can't go. I'm Captain Kirk.' They might say that to you. It felt badly enough." "You remain in your seat," he emphasized. "You're on an adventure. Embrace the moment. You're on a voyage of exploration about your nature." The "Boston Legal" star then reflected on experiencing zero gravity. "There are no words in the English language to explain what weightlessness is like. It is the strangest feeling. Nothing is like it — not swimming in a pool where they have the exercise, the astronauts," Shatner said. He continued, "That's what you're going to practice for days on end, and you know what, no matter how much you practice, you can't imitate it." "For me, I wanted to see outside so I didn't hover around," Shatner added. "I went to the window to take a look out the window and I advise you to do that because the voyage is over so quickly." As the segment was coming to a close, Shatner shared a final warning about what King could expect from the trip. "Oh and there's one more thing," the Golden Globe winner said. "Between the time you leave your bed and get to the ship and deal with the press and go up in the air and come back down and deal with the press, a long time. And there's no bathroom facilities. So they're going to give you diapers." King, Perry and Sanchez will be joined by film producer Kerianne Flynn, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe and civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen on the space flight, which is scheduled for April 14.
New York Times
06-02-2025
- Health
- New York Times
House Committee to Examine Secret Navy Effort on Pilot Brain Injuries
The Navy's elite TOPGUN pilot school quietly undertook an effort called Project Odin's Eye in the fall of 2024 to try to detect and treat brain injuries in fighter crew members, and leaders kept it so confidential that not even the broader Navy knew about it. Now, the powerful House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is demanding to learn about the project, and what the Navy knows about the risk that high-performance jets pose to the brains of the crew members who fly in them. 'It is imperative to ensure the warfighter has full and accurate information about health risks and the tools, both mental and physical, to safeguard their health,' the chairman of the committee, Representative James Comer of Kentucky, said in a letter sent on Thursday to the acting secretary of the Navy. The letter cited a report by The New York Times published in December that detailed how a number of F/A-18 Super Hornet crew members, after years of catapult takeoffs from aircraft carriers and dogfighting training under crushing G-forces, experienced sudden and unexplained mental health problems. The problems included insomnia, anxiety, depression and PTSD-like symptoms — all of which can be caused by repeated sub-concussive brain injuries. Many of the problems started when the aviators were in their 40s, near the end of their careers, but those affected often kept their struggles hidden, even after leaving the Navy, so that they could continue to fly. The Navy tells its pilots that it has no evidence that flying poses a risk of brain injury. That remained the official line even after three pilots with symptoms consistent with brain injuries died by suicide in a span of 12 months. But in November, leaders at TOPGUN — where the Navy's best fighter pilots learn aerial dogfighting — quietly adopted Odin's Eye, a brain injury program that has been used by some Navy SEALs. The move allowed TOPGUN to use its own budget to screen pilots and sidestep the sometimes sluggish Navy bureaucracy. The letter from Congress demands that the Navy share what it knows about possible brain injuries in aircrew members, including all studies and communications about the issue, as well as data on the number of aviators injured over the last 10 years. It also asks why Odin's Eye was created in secrecy. It 'is concerning that Navy command may not be fully aware of its existence,' the letter says, adding that the situation, 'raises additional questions about the Navy's knowledge of potential issues and whether it is acting to mitigate these issues in a comprehensive and effective manner.' 'Our Navy invests a lot in these pilots to make sure they are the best, and we expect the best, but we also want to make sure they are being taken care of,' Mr. Comer said in an interview. The problem may be difficult to see clearly, even with the power of an influential House committee. Brain injury symptoms often resemble those of unrelated psychological disorders, and many aviators who experienced them said they had never been assessed for a brain injury by the Navy, so data on the injuries' prevalence may not exist. Even so, retired pilots suggest that the problem is not new and has been crippling high-performing pilots for decades. Capt. Frederic G. Ludwig Jr., known as Wigs, commanded TOPGUN in the late 1980s, when the blockbuster movie carrying the same name was released. Public interest in Navy pilots was so strong that crowds would sometimes roll out a red carpet for him when he got out of his jet, according to his son, Eric Ludwig. But a few years later, after 20 years of flying and 1,200 carrier landings, Captain Ludwig started to unravel, his son said. He had panic attacks in the cockpit and had to stop flying single-seat aircraft. While commanding a carrier air group, he had a mental breakdown, escaped a locked psychiatric hospital in Singapore through a window and was missing for days. The Navy gave him electroshock therapy and quietly retired him in 1995, but his problems grew worse, with moods that swung between reckless confidence and inconsolable sorrow. His ability to plan and finish projects deserted him. In his flying career, he never had an accident, but as a civilian he became so uncoordinated and distracted that he repeatedly got into fender benders. He was never assessed for a brain injury. He died in 2023, at age 78, of a brain bleed. 'It's so tragic,' his son said in an interview. 'He tried and tried and tried for decades to get better, but he never could.' Neil Sullivan, known as Sully, who trained under Captain Ludwig at TOPGUN, had similar problems after flying Navy fighters for 14 years and airliners for another 10. At age 48, he suddenly started waking up soaked in sweat and developed crippling anxiety. 'I tried to John-Wayne it for six months, but eventually it go so bad that I had to stop flying,' he said in an interview. He divorced, turned to alcohol and then hard drugs, and felt unable to work. 'My life completely fell apart, and I could never understand why,' said Mr. Sullivan, who eventually went into rehab for alcohol and drug abuse. 'For decades, I was trying to treat what I thought was a psychiatric disorder, but there's a very good chance I've had hundreds of small brain injuries.' He added: 'There must be a lot of us out there; you just don't see us. They never make a movie about this part of the story.' Pinning down the causes of the problem and its scope will not be simple. There are no brain scans or blood tests that can detect the unique pattern of microscopic damage caused by repeated sub-concussive blows in a living brain. It can be seen only post-mortem. Capt. William Catlett, a rear admiral's son who went by the nickname Chance, was in the very first TOPGUN class in the late 1960s and flew for 24 years. In his 40s, he developed anxiety and depression, and those often kept him from being able to leave the house, his daughter Mallory Catlett said. She saw similar problems in other pilots of his generation, including a friend of the family — another highly decorated test pilot whose father was a rear admiral — who, she said, died by suicide shortly after retiring. 'These dads were all kind of crazy, and we never really understood why,' she said. 'But certainly, if you look at it in terms of brain injury, it makes sense.' Her father continued to struggle with mood swings and deteriorating brain function for decades, and died in January. His family donated his brain to the Defense Department's brain tissue repository, an advanced laboratory that studies military-related brain injuries, but that has only one fighter pilot's brain in its collection, in part because the risk of brain injury in aircrew members has largely gone unacknowledged. 'My father and grandfather gave their lives to the Navy,' Ms. Catlett said. 'We wanted to give back. Maybe his brain can provide some understanding.' If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or go to for a list of additional resources. Go here for resources outside the United States.
