Rob Gronkowski‘s looks like he’s ready if Tom Cruise wants to do a third ‘Top Gun’ film all about helicopter pilots … ’cause he just jumped out of an airplane on live TV to honor vets.

The former tight end was commentating on “Fox NFL Sunday” as he always does … but, he decided to change it up a little in honor of Veteran’s Day tomorrow — throwing on a wet suit and flippers and throwing himself out of a helicopter.

Watch the video … a real Navy enlistee jumps out of the plane first to show Rob how it’s done — before he leaps and lands in the water. It’s only about 20-25 feet in the air, but, as one of the guys on the broadcast points out, that’s higher than most people want to jump from.

Gronk wore a GoPro so the audience at home could get a good look at his face, and he made his way to the aircraft carrier where his colleagues were … climbing up on deck and doling out high-fives to the assembled military members.

Of course, no Rob Gronkowski achievement would be complete without spiking a football … and, Rob slams one down with authority.

Rob tells his colleagues he’s feeling fine after the jump … though he’s a bit cold — and, he shows love for the active servicemen and women who are constantly jumping out of planes and performing other unbelievable feats.

Worth noting … Gronk clearly doesn’t have an issue with heights — ’cause last year, they convinced him to jump out of a plane to highlight veterans.