PDF Version October November 2008 - Midwest Flyer

Both Ford and Travolta were
interviewed at EAA’s outdoor movie
theater and during special events.
Travolta emceed a showing of his
motion picture “Broken Arrow”
August 1 in which he and Christen
Slatter played Air Force pilots, with
Travolta the bad guy, and Slatter, the
good guy.
Travolta told his fellow EAA
members before the start of the movie
that he has owned 17 airplanes, or as
he said, he has been fortunate to have
“relationships” with 17 airplanes, and
has earned eight jet type ratings.
Travolta purchased his first airplane –
an Ercoupe – in 1974, which he later
gave to his flight instructor as a gift.
When Travolta learned that he had
sold the airplane because he needed
the money, Travolta told him that he
liked the airplane, and would have
rather kept it and given his friend the
money. The same thing happened
with a Ford Mustang he owned. He
gave it to a friend, and the friend
sold it. Travolta now vows never to
make that mistake again, even though
interviewer, Skip Lehman, promised
never to sell anything he would give
him.
Travolta also put down a down
payment of $400.00 for a BD5
micro plane to hold his position in
the production schedule. When the
company failed, he lost his $400. “All
I got for the $400.00 was a brochure,”
said Travolta.
Among the jets Travolta currently
owns is the Boeing 707, a Gulfstream
G2, and an Eclipse 500, which he
has had for a year, and compares its
mileage to the mileage of a Sport
Utility Vehicle. He said that he liked
the economy of the aircraft, and
valued his friendship with former
CEO Vern Rayburn, who Travolta
sold his Constellation to 25 years ago.
“Vern will go down in history for this
incredible airplane,” said Travolta.
Travolta remembers growing up in
New York and seeing Constellations,
DC6s, and DC7s flying over his home
to land at La Guardia. He attributes
seeing these airliners fly for giving
48 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2008 MIDWEST FLYER MAGAZINE
him his initial desire to become a
pilot. But like many other would-be
pilots, Travolta did not complete flight
training all at once.
Travolta started taking flying
lessons three different times and
quit each time, because his flight
instructors did not have a passion
for flying. When his third instructor
(a furloughed United Airlines pilot)
learned that Travolta was quitting
again, “he cried,” said Travolta.
“I knew then that I had found a
passionate instructor.”
Commenting on the future of
aviation, Travolta said: “We are in a
time in history when there is a lack of
interest in aviation. It’s not as natural
now as it was for us as kids. The
Young Eagles program is working
to get thousands of kids interested,
however,” and Travolta sees that as a
very good thing for aviation.
“When I look out the window of
my house, I see my 707 and G2. When
we were kids growing up watching
the ‘Jetsons’ on television, we were
all supposed to have an airplane in our
backyards.” I sensed that Travolta still
hopes that day will still come.
In 2003, Travolta flew a Qantas
Airline Boeing 747 around the world
to encourage people to get back flying
(as passengers) after the events of
September 11, 2001.
During AirVenture, Travolta got
to fly the EAA Ford Tri-Motor with
his son, “Jet.” Travolta was also
introduced to the Lockheed F/A-22
Raptor demo pilot who he referred
to by his first name, “Max,” and
they each took a special liking to one
another. “Watching Max perform
during the show was like watching my
son. When he did a tail-slide, I said to
myself, ‘don’t do that Max,’ concerned
for his safety. Watching him perform
was a highlight of my day.”
Jetpack Jumpstarts
The Martin Jetpack made its first
public flight while at EAA AirVenture
2008 on Tuesday. The actual flight
lasted seconds and was confined to a
few feet off the ground, with handlers
gripping the device even as 16-yearold
Harrison Martin manipulated the
controls.
EAA & Aero Friedrichshafen
A relationship between EAA
and the European trade show, Aero
Friedrichshafen was announced. This
alliance will further advance the cause
of the overall general aviation industry
globally, and open up additional
business opportunities for EAA
members in the expanding European
marketplace. Additionally, this venture
will allow EAA to provide new
benefits and services to its worldwide
members, as well as expand the EAA
message and brand globally.
Making the announcement was
EAA President Tom Poberezny,
and Aero Friedrichshafen Project
Manager, Thomas Grunewald. Aero
Friedrichshafen will be held April 2-5,
2009 in Friedrichshafen, Germany,
and Grunewald extended an invitation
to all EAA members to attend as their
guests. For additional information
refer to www.eaa.org and
www.aero-friedrichshafen.com.
Daily Airshows Among The Best!
The daily airshows at EAA
AirVenture may be lacking Bob
Hoover, Leo Loudenslager, the
French Connection, Duane Cole, Bill
Barber, the Eagles Aerobatic Team,
Jimmy Franklin, Bobby Younkin, Jim
LeRoy, and many other mainstays that
have either retired from performing,
or who are no longer with us. But
there still remains some big name
performers such as Patty Wagstaff,
The Pepsi Aerial Entertainers, Sean
D. Tucker, modern military demos,
warbird shows, and the Aeroshell
Aerobatic Team to name but a few.
Unfortunately, the Aeroshell Aerobatic
Team featured only three T6 warbirds
this year because team leader, Alan
Henley, was partially paralyzed
playing with his young children at
home.