John Travolta gifts his 707-138 to HARS
Alan
I expect the aircraft you saw at Southend was VH-XBA formerly VH-EBA:
VH-EBA
JT's aeroplane is the former VH-EBM which had a nosewheel collapse at Luton on 28 March 1977 while operated by Tracy Investments as N108BN.
VH-EBM
There were only 13 B707-138s built and thanks to JT's generosity Australia will now have the first and the last as perfect bookends.
Does anyone have any local knowledge of the NLG collapse at Luton?
I expect the aircraft you saw at Southend was VH-XBA formerly VH-EBA:
VH-EBA
JT's aeroplane is the former VH-EBM which had a nosewheel collapse at Luton on 28 March 1977 while operated by Tracy Investments as N108BN.
VH-EBM
There were only 13 B707-138s built and thanks to JT's generosity Australia will now have the first and the last as perfect bookends.
Does anyone have any local knowledge of the NLG collapse at Luton?
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morno, in a word, the B747.
Entering the Jet Age
The Jumbo Jet
Entering the Jet Age
Entering the Jet Age
When Gough Whitlam was in China, Qantas was there
Between July and September 1959, ahead of every other airline outside the US, Qantas took delivery of seven Boeing 707-138 jet aircraft. Boeing 707 services to the United States began in July. Two months later the service was extended to London via New York. Sydney-London services via India began in October.
So great were its advantages that Qantas modified its existing 707-138 fleet with the turbo-fans. With the arrival of its first 138B series aircraft, Qantas called its Boeings V-Jets, from the Latin 'vannus', meaning fan. Two more were ordered in 1963.
Four of the new 'B' version of the 707, fitted with revolutionary turbo-fan engines developed by Pratt and Whitney, were purchased in 1961. They offered lower fuel consumption, shorter take offs, larger payloads over longer distances and a faster cruising speed of 960km/h. Range, as always, was of critical importance to Qantas because of Australia's geographical isolation.
Qantas 707
The tail fins of all the 707 airliners were painted red with the V-Jet logo boldly displayed in white.
The Boeing 707 fleet was expanding rapidly. By 1964, 13 of the Boeing 707 jetliners were operating on most Qantas routes and the airline had begun selling its propeller driven aircraft. By March 1966 Qantas' Boeing fleet had reached 19 jets, six of which were the larger 707-338C series. Five more were on order.
In June 1966 Sir Hudson Fysh retired as Chairman of Qantas and was soon followed by the man most responsible for the post-war Qantas expansion, Chief Executive and General Manager Sir Cedric Turner. Captain R J Ritchie, who had taken a leading role in the building up of the fleet and network after the war, became General Manager. Sir Roland Wilson, a Qantas Board member, was the new Chairman.
When Gough Whitlam was in China, Qantas was there
Between July and September 1959, ahead of every other airline outside the US, Qantas took delivery of seven Boeing 707-138 jet aircraft. Boeing 707 services to the United States began in July. Two months later the service was extended to London via New York. Sydney-London services via India began in October.
So great were its advantages that Qantas modified its existing 707-138 fleet with the turbo-fans. With the arrival of its first 138B series aircraft, Qantas called its Boeings V-Jets, from the Latin 'vannus', meaning fan. Two more were ordered in 1963.
Four of the new 'B' version of the 707, fitted with revolutionary turbo-fan engines developed by Pratt and Whitney, were purchased in 1961. They offered lower fuel consumption, shorter take offs, larger payloads over longer distances and a faster cruising speed of 960km/h. Range, as always, was of critical importance to Qantas because of Australia's geographical isolation.
Qantas 707
The tail fins of all the 707 airliners were painted red with the V-Jet logo boldly displayed in white.
The Boeing 707 fleet was expanding rapidly. By 1964, 13 of the Boeing 707 jetliners were operating on most Qantas routes and the airline had begun selling its propeller driven aircraft. By March 1966 Qantas' Boeing fleet had reached 19 jets, six of which were the larger 707-338C series. Five more were on order.
In June 1966 Sir Hudson Fysh retired as Chairman of Qantas and was soon followed by the man most responsible for the post-war Qantas expansion, Chief Executive and General Manager Sir Cedric Turner. Captain R J Ritchie, who had taken a leading role in the building up of the fleet and network after the war, became General Manager. Sir Roland Wilson, a Qantas Board member, was the new Chairman.
In 1966 Qantas decided to standardise its fleet with the larger 338C series Boeing 707. In December the airline opened its luxury 450 room Wentworth Hotel in Sydney adjacent to the company's headquarters in Elizabeth Street.
In the late 1960s Qantas was evaluating an even bigger aircraft, the Boeing 747, soon to be known as the Jumbo Jet. Rather than accept the first 747 model, Qantas decided to retain its 21 707s and wait for the more advanced B series. An initial order for four Boeing 747Bs was placed in August 1967. Although this meant other airlines would operate the wide-bodied jet for nearly two years before Qantas took delivery, the B series had features suited to long-haul operations. It was a new era in air travel and the airline changed its name on 1 August 1967 to Qantas Airways Limited.
The first Boeing 747-238B aircraft went into service in September 1971. Qantas introduced a range of low fares offering travellers charter level prices with the benefits of scheduled services. As the fares represented huge savings, passenger traffic and revenue grew phenomenally despite sharp increases in fuel prices.
In 1974 Qantas established a then world record for carrying the most passengers when it evacuated 673 people on a 747 flight from Darwin after the city was devastated by Cyclone Tracy. The airline flew out a total of 4925 people.
In the late 1960s Qantas was evaluating an even bigger aircraft, the Boeing 747, soon to be known as the Jumbo Jet. Rather than accept the first 747 model, Qantas decided to retain its 21 707s and wait for the more advanced B series. An initial order for four Boeing 747Bs was placed in August 1967. Although this meant other airlines would operate the wide-bodied jet for nearly two years before Qantas took delivery, the B series had features suited to long-haul operations. It was a new era in air travel and the airline changed its name on 1 August 1967 to Qantas Airways Limited.
The first Boeing 747-238B aircraft went into service in September 1971. Qantas introduced a range of low fares offering travellers charter level prices with the benefits of scheduled services. As the fares represented huge savings, passenger traffic and revenue grew phenomenally despite sharp increases in fuel prices.
In 1974 Qantas established a then world record for carrying the most passengers when it evacuated 673 people on a 747 flight from Darwin after the city was devastated by Cyclone Tracy. The airline flew out a total of 4925 people.
Chuks
It's all very simple.
JT owned the aeroplane.
JT flew the aeroplane.
JT had an arrangement with Qantas.
What would you (or indeed Qantas pilots) have him wear? Jeans and tee shirt?
It's all very simple.
JT owned the aeroplane.
JT flew the aeroplane.
JT had an arrangement with Qantas.
What would you (or indeed Qantas pilots) have him wear? Jeans and tee shirt?
I well remember the 138s which were sold to Braniff lined up at Mascot, ready to be delivered, painted pink, lime green, yellow, purple, maybe orange, in 1969.
Braniff went bust a few years later.
Alan
I expect the aircraft you saw at Southend was VH-XBA formerly VH-EBA:
VH-EBA
JT's aeroplane is the former VH-EBM which had a nosewheel collapse at Luton on 28 March 1977 while operated by Tracy Investments as N108BN.
VH-EBM
There were only 13 B707-138s built and thanks to JT's generosity Australia will now have the first and the last as perfect bookends.
Does anyone have any local knowledge of the NLG collapse at Luton?
I expect the aircraft you saw at Southend was VH-XBA formerly VH-EBA:
VH-EBA
JT's aeroplane is the former VH-EBM which had a nosewheel collapse at Luton on 28 March 1977 while operated by Tracy Investments as N108BN.
VH-EBM
There were only 13 B707-138s built and thanks to JT's generosity Australia will now have the first and the last as perfect bookends.
Does anyone have any local knowledge of the NLG collapse at Luton?
Technically thought weren't there 7 707-138s built and 6 -138Bs with the first 7 being modified later to 'B' standard???
I always thought there was a letter missing somewhere in there so didn't realise it ended at 'M' but did know there were 13.
AP
Correct. I showed all 13 as 138s for simplicity. Here is a list of the first 7 showing conversion details:
THE QANTAS BOEING 707-138 TURBOFAN MODIFICATION PROGRAM
Rgds
Correct. I showed all 13 as 138s for simplicity. Here is a list of the first 7 showing conversion details:
THE QANTAS BOEING 707-138 TURBOFAN MODIFICATION PROGRAM
Rgds
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The SEN model was HZ-123 Saudi Royal Family; I believe the a/c had become redundant but as part of the Hawk deal it was fully refurbished at Southend as a gift for the King who died during the refurb period.
Its last Saudi role was use for the Saudi Ambassador to the UN. The aircraft was refurbed some years ago at SEN and then flown back to the collection via several stops that it needed to make and also had been serviced at its time with Qantas.
HZ-123 having been parked untouched for nearly 10 years was back in the air after 3 months. I must be assume that JT's is in far better condition. I believe that there is footage of the SEN exercise on U-tube.
Its last Saudi role was use for the Saudi Ambassador to the UN. The aircraft was refurbed some years ago at SEN and then flown back to the collection via several stops that it needed to make and also had been serviced at its time with Qantas.
HZ-123 having been parked untouched for nearly 10 years was back in the air after 3 months. I must be assume that JT's is in far better condition. I believe that there is footage of the SEN exercise on U-tube.
Interesting, thanks for the info. I totally forgot that they had 707-338's after the 138's.
morno
morno
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Cost to Get to Australia about $1 million
Revealed: the cost of getting John Travolta?s plane from the US to Australia | Stuff.co.nz
It seems to me that if the cost of getting the aircraft airworthy and flying it to Albion Park is about a million, including fuel, there can't be too much wrong with it.
Getting Hollywood star John Travolta's Boeing 707 from the United States to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, at the Illawarra Regional Airport in Australia, is expected to cost about A$1 million.
Restoration society president Bob De La Hunty said that expense was "not an unrealistic figure", and stressed the exposure generated by the aircraft and its star power would be invaluable for the Illawarra.
Restoration society president Bob De La Hunty said that expense was "not an unrealistic figure", and stressed the exposure generated by the aircraft and its star power would be invaluable for the Illawarra.
The former Qantas plane, which has also been owned by singer Frank Sinatra, requires a large amount of work before it can be flown to its new home at Albion Park
Last edited by feueraxt; 3rd Jun 2017 at 09:13. Reason: Spelling
Not making money. If US tabloids are to be believed then old Mr Travolta doesn't have the cash to splash that he used too. As another poster mentioned the costs to keep a 707 airworthy would be eye watering.
Whatever the motives HARS will appreciate the gift very much.
Whatever the motives HARS will appreciate the gift very much.
Absolutely fantastic we are preserving some of these iconic representations of a bygone era.....well done!
Now all we need is one of the original Ansett or TAA 727-100's to be flown in as well
Now all we need is one of the original Ansett or TAA 727-100's to be flown in as well
Some ships captains have four bars.
Don't they all?
Don't they all?
AP
Correct. I showed all 13 as 138s for simplicity. Here is a list of the first 7 showing conversion details:
THE QANTAS BOEING 707-138 TURBOFAN MODIFICATION PROGRAM
Rgds
Correct. I showed all 13 as 138s for simplicity. Here is a list of the first 7 showing conversion details:
THE QANTAS BOEING 707-138 TURBOFAN MODIFICATION PROGRAM
Rgds
Now all we need is one of the original Ansett or TAA 727-100's to be flown in as well...
.
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I would agree, but it could be under flight permits for ferry only. It may still require heavy maintenance here in Australia.
As part of John Travolta's Ambassador deal Qantas was meant to pick up the maintenance costs of this aircraft, I guess that not the case now. It certainly would cost less to maintain than a Joyce and far more liked.
I would agree, but it could be under flight permits for ferry only. It may still require heavy maintenance here in Australia.
As part of John Travolta's Ambassador deal Qantas was meant to pick up the maintenance costs of this aircraft, I guess that not the case now. It certainly would cost less to maintain than a Joyce and far more liked.
As part of John Travolta's Ambassador deal Qantas was meant to pick up the maintenance costs of this aircraft, I guess that not the case now. It certainly would cost less to maintain than a Joyce and far more liked.
Does say something about Boeing Aircraft though, I wonder how many Airbus' will still be flying 53 years after they rolled off the assembly line.
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Who cares about the money... I'd gladly donate a few dollars if it helped. This is an aeroplane with history and one which deserves to be preserved. It marks a part of history for many of us and our families.
Does say something about Boeing Aircraft though, I wonder how many Airbus' will still be flying 53 years after they rolled off the assembly line.
Does say something about Boeing Aircraft though, I wonder how many Airbus' will still be flying 53 years after they rolled off the assembly line.
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Looks like John Travolta is a national hero down there, you blokes go to the movies too much?
Last edited by TowerDog; 3rd Jun 2017 at 22:24.
