Friday, 23 September 2011

Travolt-Air

Props (ahem) to John Travolta for buying and running this Boeing 707-138B jet, the only one in active service. Daubed in its original 60s livery, it started life as a Qantas jet before Braniff bought it in 1969. It was then converted into a private VIP craft and has been around the block in terms of owners (Frank Sinatra, everybody!) and pretty, swirly liveries, until John snaffled it up in 1998.


Qantas does John's maintenance in return for him being all ambassador-y about their flying kangaroo. It does the trick. Even a Hollywood billionaire can't afford to keep such a beast running alone. Good to know. It's above our heads after all.




Most excitingly, it also mean't Johnny painting it faithful to yesteryear. Look at the lovely Qantas font(as). And I really enjoy the aesthetic of a black nose which makes it almost anthropomorphic. An airborne puppy sniffing out turbulence. As Travolta preceptively says: 'Owning a big plane like this without it looking like an airline seems odd to me.'


He even has his own uniform for him and his six crew: An efficient navy, wavy and white get up with tasty epaulettes, that shout competence. Not white and flared, unfortunately. But then I'm pretty sure he didn't contemplate calling his liner Night Fev-Air either, but it's fun to ponder. And really, Tony Manero in the cockpit? He'd be too busy showing the laydee's his throttle. What a yoke. Fnrr.

I once I spent an entire afternoon talking about all the things your could paint planes to look like: sausages, toothpaste tubes, pencils, an accusatory finger...


Basically anything long and pointy (stop it). But let's face it, none of those are as good as a plane looking like a ruddy good plane.

Having said that, I'd still love to see a giant hotdog careering across the horizon...



(left, below: the beauteous original 707 interior)


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