Top Gun star Tom Cruise tricked the film's producer Jerry Bruckheimer into allowing him to train with the Navy's flight demonstration squadron.

The actor, 54, was lined up by Jerry for the role of Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell in the iconic 1986 movie following brash Navy aviators.

Earlier this year (16) the producer told chat show host Jimmy Kimmel that Tom had been reluctant to star in the film until he flew with the Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration team.

However Tom told Jimmy his hesitation in agreeing to star was merely a ruse to convince Jerry to send him up into the skies with the aerobatic team.

"OK, this is really funny," Tom looked into the camera and revealed. "Jerry, I've never told you this story. The truth is that after the first meeting, I met with Tony (Scott, the film's director), Jerry and (studio bosses from) Paramount Pictures.

"I got in the car and I was flying to New York. I told my agent, 'I'm going to make this movie, but don't tell Jerry I want to make this movie, because I want to fly with the Blue Angels.'"

Tom drove a hard bargain, as he revealed he insisted on not just one flight, but three flights in the then top-of-the-range supersonic F-14 military aircraft.

"You've got to work these things, you know? I'm a businessman. Also, I said, 'I want to fly the F-14. I've got to have at least three flights in the F-14. I want all the training.'"

Jerry has revealed he's been in discussions with Tom about returning to play Maverick in a long-awaited Top Gun sequel.

The actor says he wants to return as the character, but is determined that the new film lives up to the original, saying, "It's just got to be right. That's all. We've just gotta figure it out."

Tom's latest film, action thriller Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, opens in cinemas in October (16).