For a luxury jet that was one the plaything of Hollywood superstars, this was perhaps a fall from grace.
After two months at sea travelling from Georgia USA to Australia, the fuselage, wings and tail from John Travolta’s old aircraft have been unloaded in Wollongong.
The vehicle carrier transporting the prized cargo docked at Port Kembla around midday today.
The vice president of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS), Maureen Massey, said the momentous occasion came after nearly a decade of waiting.
“It’s so exciting because we’ve waited so many years for this to happen and to have it here on Australian soil is such a thrill,” she said.
“We had no intention of doing this nine years ago when it was first donated, but this was the best way to get it back to Australia.
“The day has arrived and here it is.”
Dual star power
While the enduring celebrity of John Travolta attracts attention to the plane, it was owned by another big name before him.
“Not only did John Travolta fly it, prior to him owning it, it was Frank Sinatra’s,” Ms Massey said.
“I think it had a fair history of movie stars being entertained onboard.”
Maureen Massey says the plane has already attracted significant interest in the aviation museum. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)
The plane parts will now be transported 15 kilometres south to HARS at Shellharbour Airport, where it will undergo a rebuild and be put on display.
The rebuilding process is likely to take at least six months.
The aircraft had to be carefully dismantled by a team of experts in the US. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)
“We’ll take our time, but we’ll get it together and it will be at a taxi-able stage and the amount of interest from different organisations already is amazing,” Ms Massey said.
“It’s been such an ordeal to get it here and with what’s happening in the world with different conflicts, it was heart in mouth about whether we were doing the right thing.
“In the long term it’s going to be a wonderful thing for HARS and for Australian history in general.”
Bob De La Hunty and Maureen Massey from HARS have both toured the plane extensively with John Travolta. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)
Why is the plane here?
John Travolta first announced he would donate the plane to HARS almost a decade ago.
The former Qantas ambassador purchased the Boeing 707 and fitted out a luxury interior that includes two bedrooms, a bathroom and entertaining areas.
Despite being in excellent condition, airworthiness restrictions meant members of Shellharbour’s HARS were unable to fly it to Australia.
Hollywood star John Travolta talks to media in front of the Connie aircraft at the Shellharbour Airport in November 2019. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)
Instead, the plane was dismantled and sent by ship.
The plane’s engines and small parts have already been sent to the museum, but today’s arrival of the fuselage and wings were the final pieces of the puzzle.
Transporting a plane by sea
The Boeing 707 is 46.6m in length with a wingspan of 44.4m.
A small team of aviation specialists spent 60 days disassembling the aircraft in Georgia before it was loaded onto the ship in the US.
Qube Ports operations manager Paul Rabbas said removing the plane was a delicate operation.
Paul Rabbas says it has been exciting to be involved in transporting the significant aircraft. (ABC Illawarra: Justin Huntsdale)
“We’ve had to put skilled operators on it that we’ve hand selected to do the discharge, along with the planners to ensure the cargo comes off without any damage and in a safe manner,” he said.
“We have tidal charts that need to be considered, as well as the length of the cargo and the position of the ramp.”
Mr Rabbas said it had been a thrill for his workers to be involved with such a historical piece of unusual cargo.
“It’s great — a lot of work goes into this and given it’s going to the local aviation museum and it’s got a significant positive impact to the community, it’s pretty exciting,” he said.
