VH-EBM Boeing 707-138B

VH-EBM. Boeing 707-138B. c/n 18740-388.

Was also registered as: N108BN; N707XX; N707JT.

This aircraft was the last Boeing 707-138B ordered new by Qantas Airways - ?

This variant of the Boeing 707 was built only for Qantas Airways

It was some 10 feet shorter than the standard Boeing 707-100s built for other airlines

Rolled off the Boeing production line at Seattle (Boeing Field) - July 29, 1964

First flown as 'VH-EBM' - September 01, 1964

Entered onto the Australian Aircraft Register as VH-EBM - September 10, 1964

Registered to Qantas Empire Airways Ltd, Sydney

Accepted by P. Jost for Qantas Airways at Seattle (Renton) - September 10, 1964

This was the 13th Boeing airliner delivered new to Qantas Airways

Departed Seattle (Boeing Field) on the delivery flight to Australia - September 10, 1964

It arrived at Sydney (Kingsford Smith - 19:28 local) on completion of the delivery flight - September 12, 1964

The aircraft was named 'City of Launceston'

It operated its first revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Tokyo - October 02, 1964

Departed Sydney (Kingsford Smith) on the proving flight for the Fiesta Route - November 12, 1964

Route: Sydney - Nadi - Papeete - Acapulco - Mexico City - Nassau - Bermuda - London return

It operated the inaugural 707-138B service on the 'Fiesta Route' - November 26, 1964

This route was 12,562 miles long, flying time of 27 hours 10 minutes, total time of 45 hours 20 minutes

It suffered an undercarriage failure on take off from Perth Airport - March 06, 1965

The right rear axle on the starboard undercarriage truck broke leaving the wheel assembly hanging by the torque rod

The aircraft landed safely and the undercarriage was repaired

It operated a VIP flight Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Launceston (Tasmania) - October 29, 1966

This special flight was for the opening of the new airport terminal

This flight marked the first 707 visit to Tasmania with Sir Hudson Fysh as a passenger

Operated a number of test flights for England's ARB for type certification - November 08 to 10, 1967

It operated its final revenue service Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - London via Southern Cross Route - April 01, 1968

Withdrawn from use and stored engineless at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) having flown 11,995 hours

Sold to Braniff International via Regency Income Corp - June 07, 1969

Entered onto the United States Aircraft Register as N108BN - ?

Cancelled from the Australian Aircraft Register - June 23, 1969

Departed Sydney on the ferry flight to the United States in the standard Braniff blue livery - June 24, 1969

Ferry route: Sydney - Honolulu - Dallas

Withdrawn from use and stored - October 20, 1973

Sold to Boeing Airplane Company - June 1974

Registered to Great American Insurance Company - January 1975

Sold to Kirk Kerkorian / Tracy Investments Corp (Tracinda) - September 1975

It was observed at London (Heathrow) in the standard Tracinda livery without titles - October 31, 1975

Aircraft was damaged whilst landing at London (Luton) when the nose wheel collapsed - March 28, 1977

It was on a flight from New York (Newark) - London

The aircraft was repaired on-site and returned to service

Sold to TAG Aviation, Saudi Arabia - September 26, 1977

Overhaulled and repainted at London (Luton) Airport

Rolled out in the standard TAG livery at London (Luton) Airport - October 05, 1977

Ferried London (Luton) - Paris (Le Bourget) on delivery to TAG - October 18, 1977

Withdrawn from use and stored at Newark where it was advertised for sale - August 25, 1981

Returned to service and observed at Washington (Dulles) Airport - June 24, 1982

Registered to TAG Aviation Ltd - September 1983

Registered to TAG Group USA - March 1985

It was observed at Orlando, Florida undergoing interior refurbishment and repaint - September 1988

Reregistered as N707XX to TAG Aviation Ltd - July 1990

It was observed stored at Las Vegas - March 02, 1994

Registered to Aviation Methods - October 29, 1995

Registered to Jet Clipper Johnny LLC (John Travolta) - May 20, 1998

Sold to Jet Clipper Johnny LLC - May 25, 1998

Reregistered as N707JT - December 13, 1998

To read about how John Travolta acquired this aircraft please click 'HERE'

Repainted in the standard Qantas 'V-Jet' livery for a Qantas marketing campaign - June 2002

Owned and operated by John Travolta

It was observed at New York (Farmingdale) participating in an American Broadcasting Company (ABC) show

representing a Pan American aircraft for the TV series 'Pan Am' - October 25, 2011

The 'Pan Am' markings were applied using decals whilst the aircraft retained its Qantas livery

It was observed at New York (Farmingdale) as Pan Am Clipper Majestic 'N1703D' - October 29, 2011

Ferried Nadi - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - November 15, 2011

The aircraft was displayed at Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - November 16, 2011

Performed a local flight Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - November 17, 2011

Ferried Sydney (Kingsford Smith) - Melbourne (Tullamarine) - November 19, 2011

Departed Melbourne (Tullamarine) on return flight to the United States - November 20, 2011

Ferry route: Melbourne - Noumea - Honolulu

It was observed operating at Miami - February 2014

It was observed stored at Brunswick, Geoegia in good condition - January 2017

Representations made to John Travolta to donate this aircraft to HARS which was agreed to - 2017

Registration inquiry lodged with F.A.A. by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society - May 15, 2017

John Travolta announces that he has donated this aircraft to the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society - May 27, 2017

To read the Press Release transcript please click 'HERE'

VH-EBM. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - the cockpit section in the construction jig at the Boeing plant, circa 1963.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4605-240.)

VH-EBM. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'City of Launceston' in the standard livery at Nassau Airport, circa 1964.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4605-167.)

VH-EBM. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'City of Launceston' Coat of Arms.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 1950-174.)

VH-EBM. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'City of Launceston' in the standard livery at Mexico City Airport, November 1966.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-128.)

VH-EBM. Qantas - in the all-white livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 1968.

(R. N. Smith Copyright Image 4604-630.)

N108BN. Braniff International - in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1969.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4605-244.)

N108BN. Braniff International - in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1969.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4605-245.)

N108BN. Braniff International - in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, May 1969.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4605-246.)

N108BN. Braniff International - in the original livery at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport, June 1969.

(Qantas Heritage Collection Copyright Image 4604-272.)

N108BN. Braniff International - in the original livery at an unknown airport, November 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-273.)

N108BN. Braniff International - in the original livery at an unknown airport, November 1969.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-317.)

N108BN. TIC Tracy Investments Corporation - in the standard livery at Geneva Airport, June 1977.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-441.)

N108BN. TIC Tracy Investments Corporation - in the standard livery at London Luton Airport, July 1977.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-440.)

N108BN. TAG Aviation - in the original livery at Paris Le Bourget Airport, August 1980.

(C. Laugier Copyright Image 4604-276.)

N108BN. TAG Aviation - in the original livery at an unknown airport, September 1982.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-275.)

N707XX. TAG Aviation - in the revised livery at Hamburg Airport, December 1991.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-277.)

N707XX. TAG Aviation - in the revised livery at Hamburg Airport, May 1992.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-380.)

N707XX. TAG Aviation - in the revised livery at Geneva Airport, May 1992.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-319.)

N707XX. TAG Aviation - in the revised livery at Geneva Airport, February 1993.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-763.)

N707XX. TAG Aviation - in the revised livery at an unknown airport, March 1995.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-278.)

N707JT. Jet Clipper Johnny LLC - in the revised 'TAG Aviation' livery at Christchurch Airport, April 14, 1999.

(Z. Rae Copyright Image 4605-505.)

N707JT. Jet Clipper Johnny - in a hybrid Pan Am / TWA livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, July 2001.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-279.)

N707JT. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - in the original 'V-Jet' livery at Vancouver Airport, July 2002.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-192.)

N707JT. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - in the original 'V-Jet' livery at Vancouver Airport, July 2002.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-191.)

N707JT. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - in the original 'V-Jet' livery at Paris Le Bourget Airport, July 2002.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-175.)

N707JT. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'Jett Clipper Ella' in the original 'V-Jet' livery at Paris Le Bourget Airport, July 2002.

(C. Laugier Copyright Image 4605-369.)

N707JT. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'Jett Clipper Ella' in the original 'V-Jet' livery at Paris Le Bourget Airport, July 2002.

(C. Laugier Copyright Image 4605-370.)

N707JT. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'Jett Clipper Ella' in the original 'V-Jet' livery at Paris Le Bourget Airport, July 2002.

(C. Laugier Copyright Image 4605-371.)

N707JT. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'Jett Clipper Ella' in the original 'V-Jet' livery at Paris Le Bourget Airport, July 2002.

(C. Laugier Copyright Image 4604-174.)

N707JT. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'Jett Clipper Ella' in the original 'V-Jet' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, July 2002.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-538.)

N707JT. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'Jett Clipper Ella' in the original 'V-Jet' livery at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport, July 2002.

(G. Bennett Copyright Image 4604-190.)

N707JT. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'Jett Clipper Ella' in the original 'V-Jet' livery at an unknown airport, August 2002.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-539.)

N707JT. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'Jett Clipper Ella' in the original 'V-Jet' livery at an unknown airport, August 2002.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4605-376.)

N707JT. Qantas Australia's Overseas Airline - 'Jett Clipper Ella' in the original 'V-Jet' livery at New York JFK Airport, date unknown.

(R. N. Smith Collection Copyright Image 4604-764.)