John Travolta's former jet begins journey from Georgia to Australia for restoration

A rare piece of aviation history is making a long journey across the globe after being donated by John Travolta.

The Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, known as HARS, says a Boeing 707-138 once owned by Travolta has been dismantled in Georgia and is now being shipped to Australia, where experts will attempt to rebuild it. The renowned actor donated the aircraft to Hars in 2017. 

It is considered one of the last of a special series known as "hot rods," originally built for the Australian airline Qantas. It is expected to arrive at Port Kembla in early May before being transported to Shellharbour Airport, where restoration work will begin.

Unlike a typical reassembly, engineers say this will be a full rebuild, a complex process that could take years.

"This is a long-term project, but we have the expertise," the organization said in a statement.

The plane holds a unique place in aviation history. It was one of just 13 shorter, lighter Boeing 707 aircraft built specifically for Qantas, designed to operate on routes where larger jets could not. Over time, the aircraft earned the nickname "hot rod" because of its powerful engines paired with a lighter frame, giving it strong performance.

Travolta, a longtime aviation enthusiast and licensed pilot, acquired the aircraft years ago and later had it repainted in Qantas colors after learning about its history. He eventually donated the jet to HARS after rising maintenance costs and new federal safety requirements made it difficult to keep the aircraft flying privately.

At one point, there were plans to fly the plane to Australia. Engineers who inspected it believed it was in good enough condition to make the trip. However, U.S. regulators denied approval for a ferry flight, forcing the team to consider other options.

Delays during the COVID-19 pandemic further stalled the project. Maintenance backlogs meant the aircraft could sit untouched for years if left in place.

Ultimately, the decision was made to dismantle the jet and ship it overseas.

Once it arrives in Australia, engineers will begin the careful process of rebuilding the aircraft piece by piece. The long-term goal is to restore it to taxi condition, and possibly even make it flight-ready again, though officials say that remains uncertain.