Tom Cruise takes James Corden to the 'Danger Zone' with hilariously frightening flight in Top Gun Fighter Jet

Tom Cruise has found himself an extremely reluctant "Goose" stand-in ...

Appearing on The Late Late Show, the 59-year-old actor hilariously took host James Corden out for a ride in a pair of fighter jets to mark the release of Top Gun: Maverick.

And it was a once-in-a-lifetime getaway that Corden wasn't necessarily excited about.

Cruise, for his part, was thrilled to be palling around with Corden, telling the camera: "I'm very excited that James is doing this. Was he the first late-night show that I asked? Hell no. He was just the first one, the only one, to say yes."

To kick things off, the movie star took Corden for a ride in a 1944 fighter aeroplane, in which Corden quickly put up a sign in the window that said: "Help Me."

After landing, and just when Corden thought he'd survived, Cruise informed him the two would be going up again.

Amid Corden's "I don't want to do it" objections, Cruise told the host, "You are my Goose," a reference to his Top Gun character's best friend in the original 1986 movie.

"When you said I'm your Goose it makes me feel excited and then I realise that Goose dies in the film," Corden explained in response.

From there, Cruise and Corden shared in some additional Top Gun experiences, including a quick duet of 'You've Lost That Loving Feeling,' a game of volleyball and a camping getaway, before heading up for their second flight.

For all his anxiety, Corden seemed to enjoy the first few moments in the jet, even channelling his Carpool Karaoke segment by singing Kenny Loggins' 'Danger Zone' and Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band's 'Old Time Rock and Roll' — two tunes famously featured in the original film.

But that swiftly changed as the actor began dive-bombing, zipping through narrow mountain gaps and making loops in the sky.

Back on the ground, Cruise praised Corden for how he handled it all, saying: "You can be my wingman anytime."

"You know what, I think I'm good," joked Corden.

Top Gun: Maverick, which has so far received rave reviews from critics, sees Hollywood star Cruise reprise the role of US naval aviator Pete Mitchell and is being released 36 years after the 1986 original.

Other stars include Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Monica Barbaro, Val Kilmer, Jon Hamm and Glen Powell.