Turns out, the skies are full of famous faces who’ve either trained for their pilot license, earned one outright, or flew military aircraft long before their red carpet days. Here’s a list of celebrities who’ve taken their passion for aviation to altitude.

Kurt Russell

The longtime actor holds a private pilot license with single-engine, multi-engine, and instrument ratings. He’s clocked thousands of hours in the air and flies everything from small piston planes to jets. He’s also an advocate for humanitarian aviation through Wings of Hope.

Angelina Jolie

Jolie picked up her private pilot license in 2004. She initially learned to fly to connect with her son Maddox, who was fascinated with aircraft. She owns a Cirrus SR22 and a Cessna Grand Caravan, and has used her flying for humanitarian missions. In interviews, she described flying as meditative.

Elon Musk

Before building rockets, Musk flew jets. He earned his private pilot license in 2002 and piloted aircraft like the Aero L-39 Albatros. By 2008, he gave it up, saying he couldn’t justify the risk with five kids and two companies. He still owns planes but now leaves the flying to professionals.

James Franco

Franco learned to fly while filming Flyboys, a 2006 WWI aviation film. He earned his license during production, which was confirmed in a Houston Chronicle interview. While not active in aviation circles, he did hold a license at the time.

Gisele Bündchen

The supermodel trained for and received her helicopter pilot license while pregnant. She said she wanted to face her fear of flying and connect more deeply with the world. She trained on a Robinson R44 and passed both written and flight tests.

Hilary Swank

To play Amelia Earhart in the 2009 biopic Amelia, Swank completed flight training in a Cirrus SR22. She didn’t go on to obtain a full license, but did fly several hours during filming and expressed interest in continuing lessons afterward.

Jimmy Buffett

The late Buffett was a serious aviator. He held a commercial license and owned seaplanes like the Grumman Albatross “Hemisphere Dancer.” He famously used it for tours and adventures across the Caribbean. He also wrote about flying in his songs and books.

George W. Bush

Before becoming the 43rd president, Bush flew F-102 Delta Dagger interceptors in the Texas Air National Guard. Though he never held a civilian pilot license, his military training and service from 1968 to 1973 made him a capable aviator in high-performance jets.

Dr. Phil McGraw

Yes, the TV therapist can fly. Dr. Phil holds a private pilot license and an instrument rating, allowing him to fly in low-visibility conditions. He’s known to fly light jets and logged many hours over the years.

Clint Eastwood

Eastwood doesn’t just play tough guys. The actor-director has been flying helicopters recreationally for over 30 years. He’s said that he finds it peaceful and often flies himself to film sets or locations near his California home.

Dennis Quaid

Quaid has been a licensed pilot since the early ’90s and owns a Cessna Citation jet. He frequently flies between California and Montana and has said piloting helps him unwind. He even considered an aviation career before turning to acting.

From high-powered business moguls to Oscar winners, many celebrities don’t just fly private; they can pilot the actual plane. Some simply trained for roles. Others earned their stripes through years of flight time or military service.