I need a flying 707. Seriously.
 

The U.S.NBC TV show "Pan Am" called and asked if I could help them find a flying 707 for use in the U. S. to pretend to be flying into Port au Prince. They'll find an airport somewhere in the U. S. that can stand in for Haiti, but they need the airplane at FRG, on Long Island, by the end of next week. (That's how television works...)

No, John Travolta's airplane won't work, they've already looked into that; it's too highly modified to be a stand-in for a 1960s airliner.

And yes, I know there's probably no such thing as an FAA-legal 707.

I'll also post this in History & Nostalgia.

I need a flying 707. Seriously.
 

The U.S.NBC TV show "Pan Am" called and asked if I could help them find a flying 707 for use in the U. S. to pretend to be flying into Port au Prince. They'll find an airport somewhere in the U. S. that can stand in for Haiti, but they need the airplane at FRG, on Long Island, by the end of next week. (That's how television works...)

No, John Travolta's airplane won't work, they've already looked into that; it's too highly modified to be a stand-in for a 1960s airliner.

And yes, I know there's probably no such thing as an FAA-legal 707.

vintage era 707 in flying condition
 

you may want to contact an air force that is still using the 707 in servisable condition. for a good donation and proper PR it may work. try the israeli air force etc.

about flying 707's
 

I think your best bet would be to get your hands on one of the many
converted tankers that are still in good flying conditions and are currently quickly fased out in many militaries.
E.g. an old RAAF tanker, ex Chili air force tanker, maybe an ex Israeli bird.
Also they do carry windows sometimes IIRC, so that would certainly add to realism.

Or how about leasing one of SAHA air's 707's, provided you can get the paperwork done between the US and IRAN, that's gonna be more difficult ,I
would guess.

Has John Travolta still the Qantas one?

I am surprised to be the first cynic to point out that most viewers barely know the difference between a 737 and a 747, which leads me to suggest that if you can't get a 707, you might consider a DC8 or a Convair 880/990 as they are visually similar enough to fool 90% of viewers. Whether or not you will find one airworthy is another question which I can't answer, but I do know that there were a couple of the Convairs parked up at Bisho for a few years. At least one of them was turned into a restaurant.

If there are any still flying 707s, and I truly believe that there are, find somebody at the Miami International Airport (MIA) because that is where they will most likely be. However, I am also sure that they have been modified the same as John Travolta's 707.

A lot of 707s were modified at the Santa Barabara (SBA) Airport to comply with FAA regulations. You might contact some one there, I cannot find the name of the company that does the modifications.

Good luck.




One more thing, a bit off topic, but tell the producers that when they have Navy pilots in uniform on the program, make sure they wear Naval Aviator wings on their uniforms. A pretty bad omission for a show that has done a very decent job of period accuracy so far.

Hi stepwilk, I may be wrong but I think the Lowa Inc 707-330B is still current - or at least it is according to the FAA on line register. Check out N88ZL. Unfortunately you can't avoid the Chapter 3 hush-kits!
Cheers Ken

Well the Força Aérea Brasileira has 4 KC-137 (-320Cs) still flying, and they are regular visitors to the real Port au Prince in support of the UN mission there.

However your timeframe is probably a little too tight even if they were willing to play ball.

Good luck

Stepwilk, try Omega, they may have one free to fit your schedule: Omega Aerial Refueling Services Inc.

What's the betting the tv company think this sort of thing happens for free, just for the kudos of getting your 707 on the telly, and they won't have budgeted for $12k/hr? (or even $12/hr)

Trade-a-Plane?

USAF might be persuaded to remove the boom and re-spray a KC-135, provided NBC promised to under-write about half of next year's USAF budget.

Surely, for NBC, a matter of the utmost ease and triviality.;)

As much as they blew on the advertising, this is chump change.

With all the stock footage that's been taken over the years, why can't they just photoshop some of of that in?

OK some sensible suggestions - but only for the exterior which I think isn't your problem

Omega Air Tankers
SAHA Air Iran
Spanish Air Force
Colombian Air Force
Brazilian Air Force
NATO Luxembourg (they have ones without the radar)

If its the interior you need then there are many museum 707s which might do.

Lastly, I can't see the problem with JT's 707. Most US TV shows people boarding a Lear Jet but once in the air getting up and walking around and then getting out of a Gulfstream at the other end. What's their problem?

SGC

N88ZL has everything you want even stage three hush kits.

Google suggests plane spotters wanting a flight in a 707 used to go to Iran.

Boeing 707 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This lot list a 707..

Aircraft
but perhaps thats JT's?

One in the middle east?..
Boeing B707 cargo aircraft facts

How about contacting Boeing directly. Surely they would know if there is still one possibly flying somewhere.