You may or may not like John Travolta, but one thing is clear: the actor has a genuine passion for airplanes and the thrill of flying, not just flaunting his wealth to the public.
Like many of his blockbuster movies, John Travolta’s aeroplane collection has always fascinated cinematics and aviation fans alike. Even now, people are still curious about the specific aircraft models he owns. Let’s take a closer look at some of his most iconic ones!
In this article:
A Look Into 4 Of John Travolta Jet Planes
Travolta currently has three registered aircraft models: the Dassault Falcon 900, Boeing 737-300, and Eclipse 500. Although the Boeing 707-138 is no longer part of his collection, it remains his most famous plane, so much so that it’s still associated with his name even to this day.
Dassault Falcon 900
Dassault Aviation produced this corporate jet in France, following the Falcon 20 and 50. Its first-ever flight took place on 21 September 1984, which led to its successful production only 3 years later (1987).
Given that it was supposed to be a faster, larger successor to the Falcon 50, the Dassault Falcon 900 is about 5.5 ft longer with an extended wingspan and taller tail, allowing it to accommodate 12 to 14 passengers.
The jet carries an extra 544 gal of fuel, boosting its range by 700 nautical miles compared to its predecessor! It also boasts 3 TFE731-5AR Honeywell jet engines, each delivering 4,500 lbs of thrust.
Unfortunately, production ceased in 1999 after 177 aircraft were made, and only one is still operational. Approximately 10 percent of the entire fleet is available for sale for business owners and A-list celebrities like John Travolta; North America leads in ownership with 69% of Falcon 900s, followed by Europe with 17%.
Boeing 707-138 (no longer owned)
One of Travolta’s most recognized aircraft is the quadjet Boeing 707, originally operated by Qantas Airlines.
Though Travolta no longer owns this variant (it has found its home in a Shellharbour museum), this aircraft is undoubtedly the most famous of his vast collection. Thus, it totally deserves a spot on our highlight list!
According to Aussie Airliners, this variant is known as the 707-138B, which is 10 ft (about 3 m) shorter than standard 707 models. This shortening directly responded to Quantas’ requirements for less operational weight and better range — a crucial factor given its remote location. The name “707-138” was inspired by Qantas being the 38th customer to order from Boeing.
The jet first joined Qantas’ fleet in 1964, initially documented as VH-EBM. Now almost 60 years old, the registered number has changed to N707JT. Despite being the 13th Boeing aircraft supplied to Qantas, it actually served with the airline for just about four years before being sold to private owners like Travolta.
Boeing 737-300
Originally made in 1988, the 737-300 boasts quite a storied past in commercial service. It began its career with British Airways, later operating for Germania, Maersk Air, and eventually Delta Airlines from 1998 to 2007. It could originally seat about 120 in an all-economy setup.
Afterward, the aircraft underwent a huge transformation under Sands Aviation (2007 to 2021) when it was converted into a Boeing Plane for VIP business travel.
John Travolta acquired the plane in early 2022. He also revealed his pilot’s license in March of the same year in a video shared on his Instagram, captioned, “It’s always exciting to get back in here again!”.
Eclipse 500
This light and compact jet became the newest addition to John Travolta’s aircraft collection. In 2019, the actor (sporting a beard but without his trademark toupee) even shared an Instagram clip of himself piloting this small airplane solo!
The Eclipse 500, originally derived from the V-Jet II (Williams), debuted around 2006 but already ceased production in 2008 after producing only 260 units (including Travolta’s).
Eclipse’s price started at $775,000 but escalated to $1,400,000 by 2006. Due to the unexpected production costs, the company later increased the price to $2,150,000 in 2008, which led to widespread order cancellations and refund requests. When it became obvious that the company couldn’t reimburse all its depositors, Eclipse had to file for bankruptcy that same year.
How About Travolta’s Past Airplanes?
The Legendary Boeing 707-138
The Boeing 707-138 we discussed earlier remains Travolta’s most well-known, with quite a few interesting side stories! He actually fell in love with the plane years before he owned it.
In 1995, Travolta was requested to travel to Berlin over a weekend to promote the movie “Get Shorty.” Due to concern about Monday’s work fatigue, a small Boeing 707 equipped with a private bedroom was arranged for him. He rested so well that night that he felt completely refreshed upon landing – as if he hadn’t traveled in the first place.
For the next 3 years, Travolta patiently waited for its price to drop to a level he could afford, and finally, his bid was accepted.
Since obtaining his pilot license, Travolta has logged over 1,000 flight hours. He channels all his earnings as an A-list actor into his pilot life, covering ongoing training, upkeep, and travel expenses to improve his flying skills.
Other Planes
Boeing 707 aside, the actor has a long history of owning quality yet interesting aircraft.
1. The Lockheed Constellation (register number N494TW) proudly stood out. He briefly owned the plane around the 1980s before selling it to Vern Raburn. It was restored and remains operational today.
2. Travolta also bought a Douglas DC-3 Dakota. Though the timeline of his ownership isn’t clear, it was eventually repainted bright yellow and continued flying until Hurricane Wilma damaged it beyond saving at the Opa Locka Airport in 2005.
3. Travolta’s collection also includes business jets that have seen lots of action in the sky. In 1992, his small Gulfstream II experienced a complete electrical failure over Washington, narrowly avoiding a disastrous crash onto a Boeing 727 midair.
4. Throughout his ownership history, he’s been associated with a Lockheed Jetstar (which he then sold) and a Canadair CL-41 Tutor, later donated to local universities.
5. In a 2013 interview with BJT, he mentioned owning a Soko Galeb G-2, a Bombardier Challenger 601, and 2 other ultralights.
He Is The First Non-Pilot Ever To Control An Airbus A380
The Actor Casually Brought Up The Experience In An Interview
We are talking about John Travolta here — a famous Hollywood star and a licensed pilot with over 5,000 flight hours, who owns an extravagant collection of aircraft and a house airport in Florida.
Understandably, everyone pays attention whenever he talks about his aviation experience – even some major European plane makers. In fact, in 2007, at the Paris Air Show, Travolta (very casually) mentioned how flying the A380 superjumbo was a total breeze for him!
The actor became its first-ever non-test pilot in 2002 in Australia, and when asked about the experience, he decided it was “very easy…but technically complicated.”
Hollywood fans were pumped back then when Travolta hinted about one-upping Tom Cruise to become the real-life Top Gun. Still, despite the magazines and tabloids hyping up the rivalry between Cruise and Travolta, it all boils down to pure love of aviation at the end of the day for the latter.
How Did It Happen?
Given that Travolta was Australian-born, it’s unsurprising that he has quite a tight friendship with the country’s national airline, the Qantas, even becoming its ambassador in 2002. This connection led to a golden opportunity for him: he was invited to pilot the first test flight of the Qantas A380 during its early stages of development.
Travolta recalled the moment the chairman asked him if he would like to fly the test flight. Our Hollywood actor responded, “Are you kidding?” and immediately accepted the offer! The chairman had negotiated with the aircraft manufacturers to ensure Travolta wouldn’t miss out on the chance.
After the first test fight, Travolta also participated in other significant Qantas events, including inaugural flights of the Airbus A380 (e.g., the one from Sydney to Fort Worth/Dallas in 2008). At the time, he even wore a fake beard and cowboy hat to celebrate the occasion!
John Travolta Had An Unforgettable Near-Death Flying Experience 32 Years Ago
In November 1992, Travolta flew a Gulfstream turbojet from Florida (Fort Lauderdale) to Maine (Rockland). His then-wife and infant son were also among the passengers.
During the flight, the plane experienced a complete electrical failure, leaving Travolta to rely on just a compass and flashlight for navigation. Air traffic controllers tried their best to guide a large commercial plane into Travolta’s airspace so he could follow its lights and land safely.
There was one tense moment when the plane nearly collided with a 727 Boeing (as we said briefly earlier).
Fortunately, the two passed each other without incident, and Travolta managed to use the emergency brake to land at Arlington National Airport, Virginia. Although the tires blew out badly upon emergency landing, none of his passengers were injured.
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Conclusion
Nobody ever comes close to John Travolta when it comes to aviation collections. Do you know he even has his own house airport right in his yard, on top of his impressive fleet of planes? If you want to learn more about his jaw-dropping flying adventures, don’t hesitate to contact our team!
