Ex-Qantas Boeing 707 destined for HARS arrives in Australia
The ex-Qantas Boeing 707 that has now arrived back in Australia | Seth Jaworski
An ex-Qantas Boeing 707 jet has arrived on Australian soil after two months at sea.
The vice president of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS), Maureen Massey, said "It's so exciting because we've waited so many years for this to happen, and to have it here on Australian soil is such a thrill".
"It's been such an ordeal to get it here, and with what's happening in the world with different conflicts, it was heart-in-mouth about whether we were doing the right thing. In the long term, it's going to be a wonderful thing for HARS and for Australian history in general."
The jet was donated to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) at Albion Park by hollywood star, John Travolta. Travolta, a former Qantas ambassador purchased the aircraft in 1998, equipped it with a luxury interior returning it to its iconic Qantas livery and flew it for several years. However, as it aged, Travolta announced he’d donate the aircraft to the HARS almost a decade ago.
Originally, the team of volunteers at HARS intended to fly the aircraft back home to Australia to the home of HARS at Shellharbour Airport about an hour south of Sydney.
However, due to costs associated with COVID and issues with corrosion, these plans were scrapped and the aircraft would instead be transported back in parts and reassembled at HARS.
After spending more than 60 days dismantling the aircraft, it has now been shipped and has safely arrived at HARS and will now be reassembled.
Unfortunately, it won’t be returned to flying state but the team hopes it to restore it to a taxiable condition. The rebuilding process is likely to take at least six months.