Cheryl Cole has a Top Gun moment as she arrives at X Factor auditions in a helicopter

By Mail Online Reporter
Last updated at 4:42 PM on 23rd June 2010

On last year's X Factor, Cheryl Cole experimented with a variety of looks in a style battle with fellow judge Dannii Minogue.

But as she arrived via helicopter to the latest round of auditions in London today, Cole found fashion inspiration from an unlikely source - Tom Cruise in Top Gun.

Perhaps in a bid to channel aviator-style as she enjoyed the helicopter flight, the 26-year-old looked ready to join the Air Force in her leather jacket and a pair of aviator shades.

Ready for business: Cheryl Cole goes for flying chic in a leather jacket, skinny jeans and aviator shades as she arrives at the ExCel Centre in London

Travelling in style: The slim star looked like she had enjoyed the helicopter ride

Her black and white ensemble was a far cry from the more feminine outfit she sported at the auditions earlier this week, which saw her team an orange shift dress with the same pair of Christian Louboutin dogtooth heels.

Despite reports Cole and Simon Cowell had clashed with Louis Walsh at Tuesday's auditions in the capital, the trio looked back on good terms as they disembarked the helicopter at the ExCel Centre in Docklands.

The Irish music mogul stormed out of the auditions after Cole and Cowell refused to put through a singer that he had given a '100 per cent yes' to.

Walking tall: Cole nearly measured up to Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh in her killer heels

Flying high: The judges arrived at the ExCel Centre in a helicopter

An X Factor spokesman confirmed Walsh was angry: 'Louis was back in time to judge the next act.'

As they walked into the large arena, Cowell narrowly avoided falling flat on his face after falling over some equipment outside ExCel.

Joining the trio was new Xtra Factor host Konnie Huq, who mingled with wannabe stars queuing for their chance to become the next Alexandra Burke or Leona Lewis.

Whoopsie: Cowell trips over some equipment lying outside the centre as Cole and Walsh carry on chatting oblivious

Today marks their third or four days at the London auditions, before heading to Dublin next week, before Cardiff on 2 July and Manchester from 9-11 July.

Unlike previous auditions in Glasgow and Birmingham, no guest judge has joined Cowell, Cole and Walsh in the capital.

Geri Halliwell and Natalie Imbruglia stood in for pregnant judge Dannii Minogue at the Birmingham and Glasgow auditions, with Katy Perry expected in Dublin and Pixie Lott in another city.

In the summer spirit: Xtra Factor presenter Konnie Huq chats to wannabes queuing outside