With just over 16 weeks until John Travolta flies into Albion Park in the Boeing 707 he is donating to HARS his air crew is busy putting final plans in place.
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Dick Elliott, Don Hindle, Reg Darwell, Jim Marshall and Warren Goodhew will be on the historic flight when it leaves Georgia.
And when Travolta joins them for the final leg of the journey he will be in experienced hands.
All enjoyed long careers with Qantas before retiring to help the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society. Together they have more than 250 years experience in airlines and the air force. But despite all those air miles they admit to being excited about the November flight in the Travolta plane.
Mr Elliott started flying in 1969 when he joined the RAAF for 21 years. "In 1989 I left and joined Qantas and had 26 years flying just about every type of 747".
Joining HARS when he retired in 2016 he loves how it preserves the heritage of aviation in Australia. And is familiar with the 707 after flying the them with the RAAF.
"This is pretty exciting. I have been looking at photographs and reading manuals to familiarise myself with the Travolta plane. We need to go over there a good deal before because there is simulator flyer training we have to do. And we actually have to fly the airplane itself and get used to the systems.
"So there will be quite a bit of lead up work required before we actually take to the skies. I am pretty excited about flying the Travolta 707. We are in the planning phase at the moment. I am really looking forward to it".
Mr Darwell joined Qantas as an office boy in 1958 before doing pilot training and working as a second officer/navigator on Constellations. He ended his career as a training captain on the 747-400.
"I have been associated with HARS now for 20 years. It is a way of putting something back in after a career that has been very rewarding to me".
Mr Darwell said the Travolta flight will capture international attention for HARS.
"He was the Qantas ambassador at large and attracted a lot of publicity. So it is just great that he has donated this airplane to us. We will do our best to bring it back and show it in its best light.
"The 707 is going to be a great addition to everything we do at HARS. I have actually flown John Travolta's 707 for Qantas in the 60's".
Mr Hindle started flying in 1956 and was in the Canadian Air Force for eight years. He joined Qantas in 1964 and flew the 707 before going on to 747.
He joined HARS in 2000 but made first contact when he was a Qantas pilot flying its members to the US when they were restoring Connie and preparing to fly it to Australia.
He said planning for the Travolta 707 flight is well underway. It will start at Brunswick in Georgia, cross the Atlantic and then head south via Saudi Arabia, Singapore and Darwin.
"We certainly look forward to going and getting it and bringing it back here as a big showcase for HARS. And it will be very nice having John Travolta on board," Mr Hindle said.
And the crew will be happy for the Hollywood star to take the controls.
Mr Marshall started his career as a Qantas apprentice in 1956 and initially work on Connies. "I worked on the 707 including the Travolta plane. I have an engineering air frame licence for that and others. I have been with HARS for 26 years".
Mr Marshall has already been to Georgia to inspect the 707.
"I am going over again soon to make more arrangements and have another look at the aircraft. I will be doing any maintenance the inspection brings up to make sure it is all set to fly to its new home," he said.
"We had a look at the airplane in March and I thought it was in absolutely excellent condition."
HARS vice president Maureen Massey said donations were still welcome as the flight is still going cost around $0.5 million.
Mr Marshall is a ground engineer and started his apprenticeship on the same day as flight engineer mate Mr Goodhew did at 16.
"Warren and I went to primary and secondary school together and we are still here," he said.
Mr Goodhew got his engineer licence on the Connie but when they wanted flight engineers thought that sounded like a good idea.
"I started flight engineering in 1964. I have 167 hours and 8 minutes on the 707 we are bringing out".
After joining HARS in 1992 Mr Goodhew made 18 trips to and from the US restoring Connie and was on the recovery flight to Australia.
"I have flown with John Travolta on the Connie. He flew around in it one day and I was the operating flight engineer".
Mr Goodhew will be joined by fellow flight engineer Greg Deards on the flight to Australia. He said having the Connie and the 707 at HARS was going to be fantastic.
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