An American Stearman Spotted In The U.K.

Regular Minnesota Flyer readers may recall a promise to provide updates on the saga of a 1943 Boeing Stearman, previously owned by Ray Johnson.

Johnson had sold his beloved biplane to Paramount Productions and it departed Buffalo into a cold morning sky in March 2021, initially arriving in Florida but ultimately touching down in the United Kingdom as part of an upcoming movie production. (See "Buffalo-Based Boeing Stearman Leaves State" April 2021 issue.)

While not a condition of the sale, the destination and role of the Stearman was to be kept quiet for a time. That time has now elapsed, based upon recent local newspaper reports and a YouTube video.

Plane spotters observed actor Tom Cruise getting "checked out" in the Stearman in preparation for his role in the next Mission: Impossible movie.

Cruise, already a rotary and fixed wing licensed pilot, has a reputation for personally performing most of the stunts and action sequences in his movies. The reported training was being done at historic Duxford Airfield near Cambridge.

Johnson said he would have preferred to have the airplane remain in Minnesota, but when asked for his feelings about seeing the Stearman being flown by someone else, he responded as a truly philosophic former owner, "How could it be in any better situation than it now is?"

Those of us who will fill the movie house seats when the new film is completed will be able to admire Johnson's handiwork as the airplane serves its role as a platform for Tom Cruise and his daring adventures.

And those of us fortunate enough to have had a ride in the historic Stearman may be able to imagine ourselves in the role of the heroic pilot ..."Curse you, Red Baron!" (Oops, wrong storyline, but you get the idea!)

And, while we don't know the end production date of Mission: Impossible 8, we'll be sure to follow along with the Stearman's next step, whatever it might be. Stay tuned.