This is the fascinating story of one (fortunate) B707 (that many of us maybe already aware of). This Boeing 707 was special, starting from its birth, in 1964. This was the last (13th) of the so-called "Hotrod" 707s, custom built by Boeing, for Qantas. "13th" may be (universally) considered the "unlucky" number, but, this "13th" 707 was/is one fortunate plane, as we'll see! I say fortunate, because, airliners, at the end of their useful lives, unless, unfortunately, met with an accident, are (typically) abandoned in the (so-called) aircraft boneyards (or graveyards) e.g. in the deserts of western U.S., for storage, then, scrapped and salvaged for spare parts, or, in extremely rare cases, reclaimed to be preserved in a museum. [Side Note: For example, the Davis-Monthan AFB outside Tuscon, AZ, is one of the world's largest such sites (if curious, you may look it up on Google Earth).]

Here, while, on the topic of 707, I could not help pondering, for a moment, about the fate of the world's very last B707, to perform civil operations in commercial service: Saha Airlines' B707-3J9C (EP-CPP). The 1976-built plane, while still on active duty, met with an accident, and was destroyed, (likely) for no fault of its own. Per investigation results, "The aircraft was on an international cargo flight, on 14 January, last year (2019), carrying meat from Manas International Airport in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to Payam International Airport in Karaj, Iran, but the flight crew actually landed at Fath Air Base. Poor weather conditions were reported, and the crew probably mistook Fath Air Base's runway with the much longer Payam International Airport runway, as the two runways are just a few miles apart, and on an almost identical alignment. A 707 generally requires a runway length more than 8,200 ft, but the runway at Fath Air Base is only about half this length (4,300 ft)...." The plane was 43 years old at the time, having "toiled" for all these years (without a rest?), and, finally, meeting with such a tragic end!

Anyway, back, to our "Hotrod" B707-138B (VH-EBM), owned and operated by Actor John Travolta, (Hotrod => built only for Qantas, by Boeing, a specialized 707 (shortened by 10 feet to reduce empty weight), with greatly enhanced ratio of engine-thrust to takeoff-weight)...And, in the Jumbolair Aviation Estates, seven miles northeast of Ocala, FL, exists a 7,550-foot-long main runway that’s long enough to accommodate planes as big as a Boeing 747, or Travolta's beloved 707 jetliner. He could park his iconic, Qantas-liveried 1964 Boeing 707 right outside his door, along with his Bombardier Challenger 601 business jet, and an Eclipse 500. The estate allows (adjacent) parking of the B707, and has direct taxiway access to the runway.

The plane, which started life as VH-EBM, was delivered to Qantas in 1964. Travolta, a longtime pilot, acquired the aircraft in 1998. It was repainted in the (well-known) Qantas 'V-Jet' livery (see images below) for a Qantas marketing campaign in June 2002. Travolta earned his private pilot’s license at age 22 (Side Note: Within a year of it, in 1977, Travolta would score his box-office smash with Saturday Night Fever, at the age of 23). One yardstick for pilots, is the number of aircraft types they can fly, and Travolta’s list is impressive. He holds 11 jet type ratings, for everything from small military aircraft to the Boeing 707. He has bought and trained on a Bombardier Challenger 601. But, here, is yet another (impressive, but, somewhat little-known) fact that stands out: He was the first non-test pilot to fly the Airbus A380! It happened due to a (personal) recommendation (put forward) by the Qantas chairman of the board (while dining out with the Airbus manufacturers), to which, they agreed! Nonetheless, it's (quite) an endorsement of John Travolta's reputation and credibility, as a jet pilot...!

If you wish to view this (interesting) Qantas B707, parked, just outside the residence, you may search for the (relevant) images (e.g. "john travolta plane images"), and then look for:

1. The (striking) image of the B707 just outside the entrance, with the plane's nose inside a covered porch. The taxiway, amazingly, reaches the porch itself ("a 707 in the front yard", so to speak, and literally so...)!
2. On the other side of the same entrance, the Challenger-601 resides, with its front, also, under another porch. You may also spot the Eclipse 500, parked, nearby.

The actor has recently donated his 707 to an Australian aircraft preservation group, HARS, Historical Aircraft Restoration Society. The aircraft is, currently, being prepared and safety-checked, in Brunswick, Georgia, to comply with an Airworthiness Directive. Once ready, this fortunate, and personally cared-for, Boeing 707 will then to travel to Sydney. It will become an exhibit at the society’s museum at Albion Park south of Sydney - in what would become a fairy-tale ending to this 13th Hotrod, born 56 years ago!

Next, about my subject plane (and flight) of this post:

In 2011, John Travolta's V-Jet participated in a show representing a Pan American aircraft for the TV series "Pan Am". The "PAN AMERICAN" markings (including the Pan Am blue stripe) were applied to the aircraft while it still retained its Qantas livery (flying kangaroo logo). This is the livery I've shown, below (see the first 10 images). BTW, the TV series, was not very successful, and lasted only one season, but, you may, still, find it interesting to watch a couple of episodes for their 1960's period appeal. For example, for a bit of fun, may I suggest watching, at least the (1 min 53 sec) trailer (search for "pan am tv series videos"). Notice e.g. the customary (pre-flight) weigh-in routine of the stewardesses..., and, you can also catch one (good) glimpse of this (famous) plane, at ~1:43, in the same (combo "Qantas + Pan Am") livery, I've started off, this post, with, below. The last 10 images (11-20) display the color of John Travolta's classic (pure) Qantas V-Jet livery (please note the livery switch, at screenshot #11, from V-Jet Pan Am to V-Jet Qantas)! My subject-flight, here, is just symbolic of a final (expected) departure, of this famous plane, to its final home, lifting off from U.S. (KJFK) - please note the Tower, Terminals, and the Delta planes in the shots. And, on one top-down shot, you may spot the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge connecting the NYC boroughs of Staten Island and Brooklyn. The touch-down images, shown, are into, Australia,  (YSSY) Sydney - future home of the plane.

Hope you enjoy this account, and these (SIM) pictures of the unique (and fortunate) B707-138B (VH-EBM)!!

Thanks for viewing!

[Freeware HJG(B707-138)/Drzewiecki Design(KJFK)/Orbx(AU)/REX]

Edited June 3, 20206 yr by P_7878

I was aware that Travolta had acquired that particular 707 because I remember reading a feature about it as it called into the UK on either e ferry or repaint job, but the rest of your post is absolutely riveting You, besides being a very talented multi-aircraft sim jockey here, are also a talented aviation historian. Kudos to you.👍

The "P" in your username must be for "Professor" 😄 Thanks for another interesting aviation pictorial and history lesson sir. I'm glad to hear John's plane will be retiring to a museum. I'm sure he could sell enough tickets for that last flight to pay for the delivery costs but insurance and regulations would probably prohibit it.  I wonder what he will be replacing it with?

I didn't know John's 707 was used in the Pan AM TV series. I think that show would have done better if the scripts were a little more aviation based. They did a good with the scenery but the plots left a lot to be desired.

Yes, a 707 in the yard would be great but I'm not greedy, at this point I'd just settle for a good P3Dv4 or v5 707.

Ted

You guys know why Travolta wanted a 707 right? Before he acquired it, he was looking at getting a DC-8. If you look up Xenu, you'll know why. 🤣

That certainly puts a different spin on this....

Very interesting and beautiful photos!

I can see it will cost me about $6500 to learn more... 😄

Rick:
Glad you enjoyed it..."riveting"...I don't know about...🙂...Thank you! That plane had been spotted in many parts of the world (and in many airports) is what I read....so, not surprising that you recall reading about it being in UK...

Ted:
Thanks for the kind words! Google is my friend...and learning is a two-way street (as I know it)...🙂....BTW, you were the one who had made a reference (in one of my earlier posts) to the very last commercially used B707, being, in Iran...Of course, my finding of it, did not lead to a happy conclusion, as I've stated in my post...I was not aware of the 2019 crash...! Regarding "Pan Am" Series, you're right, I also felt it was "too much lovey-dovey and too little aviation"...

Alan:
Uh...Oh...the DC-8 connection, I didn't know this before....🙂...

Doering:
Appreciated the comments!! (BTW, I do recall Burlington...years ago, had travelled, by road, via it, a couple of times to Toronto (including a few days stay in Mississauga area, with an acquaintance...)

Mark:
I also noted the stated conversion cost of extra learning: $6500 = £3,830!
And, this learning, here, is free...(whether you want it or not)...🙂...! Thanks for the note!