In June 2017, actor and aviation enthusiast John Travolta announced that he had donated his Boeing 707 to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS), based in Albion Park, Australia. The aircraft will ultimately join the collection of the HARS Aviation Museum, located approximately 90 miles (140 km) south of Sydney.
In a statement released on his website at the time, Travolta expressed his enthusiasm for the project: “It gives me great pleasure to make this exciting historical announcement that my beloved Boeing 707 aircraft has been donated to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) based in the town of Albion Park, approximately 90 miles (140 km) south of the city of Sydney in Australia. As many of you will know, flying is a passion of mine and I am just so grateful to be fortunate enough to count many hours flying such a beautiful aircraft. The aircraft was originally delivered to Qantas Airways in 1964 and was converted for private use after it finished its life with the ‘Flying Kangaroo.’ I was honored to have the 707 repainted in the original Qantas colors when I became an ambassador for the airline, and it’s so fitting that many of the volunteers at HARS are retired Qantas employees. The aircraft currently requires a lot of work to be restored to a safe flying state and, having seen firsthand the dedication and passion of the people at HARS, I have no doubt this beautiful and historical aircraft will be flying again. HARS have an impressive track record of restoring historical aircraft and I have personally flown in a Super Constellation that they restored to flying condition from almost nothing. I am hoping to be part of the crew to fly the aircraft to Australia, supported by well qualified and experienced pilots and engineers. In making this announcement, I would like to mention the significant support given by the Bendigo Bank Oak Flats and Shellharbour Community Bank branches, which, as a local organization, have been very supportive of HARS’ efforts in aircraft restoration. Thanks must also go to QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited Services for their significant support as well. I am truly excited by this project and am just so pleased that this beautiful aircraft, for which I obviously have very fond memories, will continue to fly well into the future.”
The aircraft will eventually be displayed at the HARS Aviation Museum in Albion Park, which is home to an impressive collection of historic aircraft, including a flying Lockheed Super Constellation that the organization continues to maintain in airworthy condition so that visitors can experience flight aboard the classic airliner. Travolta had originally hoped to fly the 707 to Australia himself, as he had done on previous occasions. However, due to the high costs of restoration and the challenges involved in returning the aircraft to an airworthy condition, the decision was made to transport the aircraft by sea. The aircraft is therefore being dismantled in Georgia and will be shipped to Australia for reassembly and static display at the museum.
The complex disassembly and transport operation has been entrusted to Worldwide Aircraft Recovery, a specialized aircraft relocation company. The firm handles the complete process of dismantling, transporting, and reassembling aircraft, often for museums and organizations that preserve historic military and civilian aircraft for training or display. Over the years, Worldwide Aircraft Recovery has relocated numerous aircraft around the world. Travolta’s Boeing 707, registered N707JT, has already been transported to the port in Brunswick, Georgia. The aircraft’s components have been delivered and are awaiting shipment to Australia. The aircraft itself is one of the finest surviving examples of the Boeing 707-138B. This variant is approximately 10 feet shorter than the standard Boeing 707, giving it improved airfield performance and range. The 707-138 series was developed specifically for Qantas and represented the airline’s first generation of jet-powered airliners.
N707JT is the last of 13 aircraft built in this configuration for Qantas. The first example is preserved at the Qantas Founders Museum in Longreach, Queensland. During their airline service, these aircraft earned the nickname “Hotrods” due to their powerful engines combined with relatively light weight. HARS plans to launch a fundraising campaign to support the aircraft’s transportation, restoration, and long-term preservation. Funding will come from a combination of sponsorship and private donations. While the exact costs have not yet been finalized, the organization notes that preserving historic aircraft is always a significant undertaking. Encouragingly, HARS reports that there is already considerable interest from potential sponsors eager to support the project.
