Speculation is growing that John Travolta may arrive at Shellharbour Airport on board the Boeing 707 he is donating to HARS as early as the first week of November.
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It comes as Markson Sparks announced the movie star will be appearing live on stage for An Evening With John Travolta in Sydney on November 6 at The Star and in Melbourne on November 10 at The Palais Theatre.
The plane was initially expected to arrive in the Illawarra in late November, but the event announcements indicate the flight may be moved forward.
The Sydney show would enable Travolta to board the 707 in Sydney for the last leg of its journey to Albion Park. The aircraft is likely to fly via Singapore and Darwin en route to its new home at HARS.
HARS president Bob De La Hunty could not commit to a date in early November which would fit perfectly in with Travolta's Sydney and Melbourne schedule. But said it is possible.
Travolta has always told HARS that he will keep himself available in November for the 707's arrival.
Mr De La Hunty said a team of engineers from HARS and Stambaugh are still working on the aircraft and the timing of the flight will be determined by when it is ready for the trip from Brunswick, Georgia to Australia via Europe and the Middle East.
"When John Travolta was juggling his timetable he only asked if he could have some flexibility. We said "yes" because we still have many hurdles to overcome.
"We have set a target but it doesn't mean we are going to hit that target. It might take longer depending on the resources. And the gathering strength of the hurricane has slowed down things people can do for us over there. Dorian is not far from where we are.
"Given what we still have to do it is not likely to fit in with the first week of November I don't think. It would require a full-on effort".
In July, Qantas celebrated the 60th anniversary of entering the jet age when it flew a Boeing 707-138 from Sydney to San Francisco in 1959 Qantas ceased Boeing 707 operations 20 years later in 1979 with the retirement of the last 707. That saw Qantas became the only airline in the world with an all-747 fleet.
November 16, 2020 will be the 100th anniversary of Qantas and in 12 months some at HARS would love to see the Super Constellation "Connie" and the Travolta 707 join a 747 for a a fly-over of Sydney Harbour on that date.
Read more:
- John Travolta and his famous Boeing 707 still on track for November arrival at Albion Park
- Meet the HARS crew preparing to fly John Travolta's Boeing 707 to Albion Park
- John Travolta to fly into Illawarra on Boeing 707 he donated to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society
- John Travolta's message ahead of Boeing 707 delivery to HARS at Albion Park Rail
- The day John Travolta walked up in his swimmers and asked Wollongong's Allison Dawson for some sunscreen
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Greg Ellis
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
Almost four decades in electronic, print and digital media. A writer, presenter, emcee, photographer and videographer with degrees in business management, marketing and human resources and tertiary qualifications in photography.
