John Travolta bought a Zeppelin

[gatt]

Saw that on TV the other day. Just passing it along as trivia.

Not a fan of the guy, but I admire and respect his appreciation for flying.

-c

[Robert M. Gary]

I always thought it was strange that he bought a 727 but never bothered
getting a commercial certificate or even a type rating. He does have a
type rating for the Citation but its limited to VFR.

[Larry Dighera]

On Wed, 5 Jan 2005 12:53:10 -0800, "gatt" >
wrote in >::

>Saw that on TV the other day.

I guess he'll be constructing a hangar for his new toy unlike the
others that sit outside his home.


Here's a little more information:


http://www.malefirst.co.uk/17542004.html
Travolta buys Zeppelin for christmas [sic]
Hollywood superstar and aviation enthusiast JOHN TRAVOLTA has bought
himself an $11 million (#6 million) Zeppelin airship for Christmas
(04).

The PULP FICTION star, who is a qualified pilot, told wife KERRY
PRESTON he "had to have" one of the eight ton flying machines after
spotting it in a festive catalogue from American department store
NEIMAN MARCUS.

A source says, "John was blown away by it and told Kelly he had to
have one. He can't wait to fly it, but she's told him he won't get it
until Christmas day."

The airship will be the third plane 49-year-old star owns.
He already has a $83 million (#46 million) Boeing 707 and a Gultstream
executive jet at his Florida home, which is designed to look like an
old-fashioned airport with runways, arrivals hall and a departure
lounge.

** Article Continues

---------------------------

http://in.news.yahoo.com/041213/139/2ifpu.html
Entertainment

Monday December 13, 4:03 PM

Travolta buys himself a Zeppelin for Xmas!

London, Dec 13 (ANI): Hollywood superstar John Travolta, known for his
love for aviation, has bought an 11 million dollar Zeppelin airship as
part of his Christmas celebrations.

According to Female First, Forty-Nine-year-old Travolta, who is also a
qualified pilot, told his wife Kerry Preston that he "had to have" one
of the eight ton flying machines after spotting it in a festive
catalogue from American department store Neiman Marcus.

"John was blown away by it and told Kelly he had to have one. He can't
wait to fly it, but she's told him he won't get it until Christmas
day," Female First quoted a close associate of Travolta as saying.

----------------------------------

http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/sitelets/christmasbook/fantasy.jhtml?gift=2&spread=16&gid=1048579&catalog=1&passback=&rfx_base=http%3A//neimansholiday.richfx.com.edgesuite.net/catalog_neimansholiday/holiday2004/&omni=1&catalog_base=http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/sitelets/christmasbook/christmasbook.jhtml?&firstpage=16&PassBack=&catalog_name=holiday2004&catalog=1&o=1

Be the first on your block (or in the world for that matter) to
privately own a modern Zeppelin NT.

• A famous first of German ingenuity when it was launched in 1900, the
iconic transportation genius of Count Ferdinand Graf von Zeppelin has
achieved another milestone.
• Re-engineered with the best new technology, your Zeppelin is the
first modern airship licensed to carry commercial passengers.
• It floats with safe, non-flammable helium contained in an inner
envelope of high-strength multi-layered material.
• The roomy cabin features panoramic window views of the clouds above
and sights below.
• Can comfortably accommodate 11 pipers, a couple of lab assistants, a
pilot, and a flight attendant (15 total).
• With its lightweight aluminum and carbon-fiber framework, three
200-hp engines, and swivel propellers, you can take off and land
easily, like a helicopter.
• It can achieve 70 knots and has a flight duration of up to 24 hours.
• You'll want to plan ahead for parking; your eight-ton sky gem will
be around 230 feet long, 60 feet wide, and 53 feet tall.

For more information and to order, please call 1-877-9NM-GIFT.*

*Neiman Marcus is acting as the advertising agent for this product.
All sales will occur through ZLT Zeppelin Luftschifftechnik Gmblt & Co
KG. Price listed is 2004 U.S. dollars.
Item
Zeppelin Nt
Price $10,000,000.00

OCBF5_O2071

[Allen]

"Larry Dighera" > wrote in message
...
> On Wed, 5 Jan 2005 12:53:10 -0800, "gatt" >
> wrote in >::
>
> >Saw that on TV the other day.
>
> I guess he'll be constructing a hangar for his new toy unlike the
> others that sit outside his home.
>
>
>
> The airship will be the third plane 49-year-old star owns.
> He already has a $83 million (#46 million) Boeing 707 and a Gultstream

$83 million dollar Boeing 707 hehe

[Ron Natalie]

Robert M. Gary wrote:
> I always thought it was strange that he bought a 727 but never bothered
> getting a commercial certificate or even a type rating. He does have a
> type rating for the Citation but its limited to VFR.
>
It's simple. You hire a real pilot to fly the thing. The SIC doesn't
need a type rating.

[Jose]

> The PULP FICTION star, who is a qualified pilot, told wife KERRY
> PRESTON he "had to have" one of the eight ton flying machines after
> spotting it in a festive catalogue from American department store
> NEIMAN MARCUS.

But he didn't "have to have one" after seeing them actually flying in
the air during his lifetime - only after it appeared in a Neiman
Marcus catalog? What is it about being in a catalog that triggers the
"gotta have it" reflex?

I bet if somebody put a toxic waste dump in the Neiman Marcus catalog,
somebody would buy it.

Jose
--
Money: What you need when you run out of brains.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[Peter R.]

Larry Dighera ) wrote:

> On Wed, 5 Jan 2005 12:53:10 -0800, "gatt" >
> wrote in >::
>
> >Saw that on TV the other day.
>
> I guess he'll be constructing a hangar for his new toy unlike the
> others that sit outside his home.

Who's going to be the lucky ferry pilot that brings that craft over from
Germany?

--
Peter

[Jim Burns]

> I bet if somebody put a toxic waste dump in the Neiman Marcus catalog,
> somebody would buy it.
>
> Jose
> --
> Money: What you need when you run out of brains.


....and they'd charge it on their credit card.

Jim

[G.R. Patterson III]

"Robert M. Gary" wrote:
>
> I always thought it was strange that he bought a 727 ....

He bought a 727?

George Patterson
The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.

[Blueskies]

"Robert M. Gary" > wrote in message ups.com...
>I always thought it was strange that he bought a 727 but never bothered
> getting a commercial certificate or even a type rating. He does have a
> type rating for the Citation but its limited to VFR.
>


All wrong....

He bought a 707, negotiated and got sponsorship from Qantas, thus the 'retro' Qantas paint job.

He hold a private license with single, multi and instrument ratings.

He holds four type ratings - P/CE-500, P/G-1159, P/HS-125, P/LR-JET; the P/CE-500 is VFR only

[Ron Natalie]

G.R. Patterson III wrote:
>
> "Robert M. Gary" wrote:
>
>>I always thought it was strange that he bought a 727 ....
>
>
> He bought a 727?
>
It's a 707 actually. N707JT.

[Gene Seibel]

What would he want a commercial for? He's not going for a pilot job.
--
Gene Seibel
Gene & Sue's Aeroplanes - http://pad39a.com/gene/planes.html
Because I fly, I envy no one.

[Robert M. Gary]

Ron Natalie wrote:
> Robert M. Gary wrote:
> > I always thought it was strange that he bought a 727 but never
bothered
> > getting a commercial certificate or even a type rating. He does
have a
> > type rating for the Citation but its limited to VFR.
> >
> It's simple. You hire a real pilot to fly the thing. The SIC
doesn't
> need a type rating.

I understand but I find it strage. As a pilot, if I had that much money
I would certainly enjoy getting the type rating.

[houstondan]

i am and i do to.

everything i've seen/read says he loves and respects flying and
approaches it very responsibly.

dan

[Andrew Gideon]

Gene Seibel wrote:

> What would he want a commercial for? He's not going for a pilot job.

Sh! Don't say that around my wife. I'm working on my commercial just for
the fun of it.

- Andrew

[Robert M. Gary]

Gene Seibel wrote:
> What would he want a commercial for? He's not going for a pilot job.

Most people that get commercials don't go for a pilot job. Most get it
because they enjoy flying and want to achieve something fun. (As did I
until I later decided to get the CFI).

[Jeff Franks]

Max Pruss IV?

Sorry, you might have to look that one up before it's remotely funny....then
it's not really :-/

jf


"Peter R." > wrote in message
...
> Larry Dighera ) wrote:
>
> > On Wed, 5 Jan 2005 12:53:10 -0800, "gatt" >
> > wrote in >::
> >
> > >Saw that on TV the other day.
> >
> > I guess he'll be constructing a hangar for his new toy unlike the
> > others that sit outside his home.
>
> Who's going to be the lucky ferry pilot that brings that craft over from
> Germany?
>
> --
> Peter
>
>
>
>
>

[Peter R.]

Jeff Franks ) wrote:

> Max Pruss IV?
>
> Sorry, you might have to look that one up before it's remotely funny....then
> it's not really :-/

Just a guess as I rush off to bed: Grandson of the Hindenberg captain
perchance? :)

--
Peter

[Ron Natalie]

houstondan wrote:
> i am and i do to.
>
> everything i've seen/read says he loves and respects flying and
> approaches it very responsibly.
>
> dan
>
Didn't he also by an Connie at one point with the idea of
starting an airline with it?

[Jeff Franks]

>
> Just a guess as I rush off to bed: Grandson of the Hindenberg captain
> perchance? :)

LOL yep. I don't know if the "IV" exists or not. Just that the "I" did ;)

jf

[[email protected]]

> Didn't he also by an Connie at one point with the idea of
> starting an airline with it?

There was a derelict connie that sat for quite a while at
Camarillo airport (CA) some years ago. One engine was laying
on the ground when I saw it. I was told that Travolta had
owned it. Evidently he changed his mind about restoring it.

It was likely the same plane that was later restored to
flying condition and offered for rides and charters. It was known as
the "Camarillo Connie". I did a walk through at
an airshow once. The last I heard it was for sale.

David Johnson

[Blueskies]

> wrote in message oups.com...
>> Didn't he also by an Connie at one point with the idea of
>> starting an airline with it?
>
> There was a derelict connie that sat for quite a while at
> Camarillo airport (CA) some years ago. One engine was laying
> on the ground when I saw it. I was told that Travolta had
> owned it. Evidently he changed his mind about restoring it.
>
> It was likely the same plane that was later restored to
> flying condition and offered for rides and charters. It was known as
> the "Camarillo Connie". I did a walk through at
> an airshow once. The last I heard it was for sale.
>
> David Johnson
>

There is still a Connie at Camarillo, but I do seem to remember there being two there a while back...

[[email protected]]

> There is still a Connie at Camarillo, but I do seem to remember there
being two there a while back...

It appears that the Connie Travolta owned was later restored by others
and painted in MATS livery
(as used by the Air Force for personnel transport). I have seen it on
the airshow circuit.

For the last word on what became of many Constellations check out
www.conniesurvivors.com.
There is a related page that has more detail and photos - but there
seems to be no link from
the one above: www.conniesurvivors.com/1-constellation_survivor.htm.
If you are into Connies, you will love this website.

David Johnson

[Marty]

> the one above: www.conniesurvivors.com/1-constellation_survivor.htm.
> If you are into Connies, you will love this website.
>
> David Johnson
>

Yes, I am.
Thanks for sharing Dave. :-)

Marty