Hollywood star John Travolta has used a video message to explain why he decided to give his Boeing 707 to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) at Albion Park Rail.
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Sitting in the cockpit of the donated vintage passenger jet, Travolta said the plane was Illawarra-bound because HARS was a “flying museum”.
“Which is very different than all the rest of the museums in the world. These planes actually stay in the air, not static,” he said.
“I'm very happy and proud, and privileged, to have donated this to the museum.”
Travolta revealed he had gifted the ex-Qantas plane – which bears the unique registration 707JT – to HARS in a shock announcement, made via social media, during May last year.
However, earlier this month it was revealed the backers of the bid to bring the Boeing 707 to the Illawarra had to foot a $4 million maintenance bill before the prized bird could make the journey to its new intended home.
The sum was four times that flagged when Travolta’s donation to HARS was announced.