Flying his own Boeing 707 "Jett Clipper Ella", named for his two children, and accompanied by his wife, actress Kelly Preston, and a team of doctors and ministers from the Church of Scientology, movie star, aviator, and humanitarian John Travolta piloted his jetliner with six tons of ready-to-eat military rations and medical supplies from Florida to Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
"We have the ability to actually help make a difference in the situation in Haiti and I just can't see not using this plane to help," Travolta told the Associated Press.
CAPTIONS: (ABOVE LEFT) Actor John Travolta stands next to one of the engines of his Boeing 707-138B (AP Photo/Rob Griffith, File); (BELOW RIGHT TOP & LOWER) Actor John Travolta and wife actress Kelly Preston attend the premiere of 'From Paris With Love' at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini); (BELOW LEFT TOP) John Travolta (Photo Credit - Wikipedia - Caroline Bonarde Ucci - Public Domain); (BELOW LEFT LOWER) John Travola in the cockpit of his Boeing 707 (Photo Credit - Wikipedia - Public Domain)
Recent articles: Be sure to read expanded coverage on recent news events below.
Ethiopian Airlines black boxes found
Fast turn by Ethiopian 737 pilot
Boeing and NTSB probe 737 crash
Exit door incident on UA flight
Storms ground Southwest flights
TSA prank and prayers aloft
AA bag embargo hurts Haitian relief
Baggage fees by airlines compared
Flu shots at San Diego Airport
Passengers from hell are chosen
Airport scanners and child porn
Noise matters at San Diego Airport
From Gilligan to bomb threats
Slovak airline bomb foul up
Newark intruder caught on video
Free parking near San Diego Airport
EWR incident + Obama address
TSA delays enforcing REAL ID Act
More full body scanners on the way
2009 aviation year in review
NWA 253 is a reminder of Lockerbie
NWA 253 stormed over toilet scare
Robot taxis are on their way
Terrorist attack on NWA flight 253
AA flight 331 crash lands in Jamaica
Balloon Boy's parents get jail time
Gag holiday catalog from JetBlue
JetBlue Tailfin contest needs votes
The angelic mission of mercy was directed at helping survivors of the devastating magnitude 7.0 earthquake, that destroyed much of Haiti's capital, and has so far claimed the lives of over 130,000 people.
Travolta, who will be 56 years old on February 18, is no stranger to angels. He played a rather disagreeable one with a tough exterior but a heart of gold in the 1996 movie "Michael", one of 59 films in which he has appeared. Upon returning from Haiti three days ago, he attended the premiere of his latest film, "From Paris With Love" yesterday at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York on Thursday, January 28. His wife of 19 years, Kelly Preston, was with him at the screening.
Stardom for Travolta took off when in landed the role of Vinnie Barbarino in the late 70's TV sitcom "Welcome Back Cotter". He went on to have memorable roles in "Saturday Night Fever" (1977), "Grease" (1978), "Urban Cowboy" (1980), and great success as Vincent Vega in Quentin Tarantino's hit "Pulp Fiction" (1994).
The couple's son Jett died from seizures almost exactly one year ago while they were vacationing in the Bahamas. In a bizarre extortion plot, three men were arrested and tried in connection with a multi-million dollar plot against the Travolta family around the circumstances of Jett's death.
Travolta's life reads like a movie script, and flying has always played a leading role. He first fell in love
with aviation as a child. Instead of playing "Cowboys and Indians", he persuaded the girls in his middle class Englewood, New Jersey neighborhood to don their Brownie uniforms to play flight attendants as he “captained” his backyard airliner.
Since earning his wings in 1974, he has logged close to 5,000 flying hours. He achieved qualification as a captain in the Gulfstream II, Learjet 24, Hawker 1A, Citation I and II, Tebuan and DH 100 Vampire Jet. He owns the type rating for the Boeing 707 and is certified for SIC privileges (Second In Command). Besides the Boeing 707, he owns 4 other aircraft, and flies them out of his own private airport at his 4.3 million dollar home in Ocala, Florida, where is able to literally park at his front door.
The actor is the only current private citizen in the U.S. to own and operate a Boeing 707. He employs a cockpit crew of six, who along with Travolta wear navy-blue uniforms and jaunty white caps. The Boeing 707-138B which he flew on a relief mission to Haiti was first delivered to Qantas Airways in 1964. Travolta was 10 years old at the time.
The aircraft changed hands a number of times. From 1972 till 1975 it was owned by Frank Sinatra. Other owners included investment mogul Kirk Kerkorian, and Saudi Arabian Sheikh Akram. In September 1996, with only 27,682 total flying hours, it was offered for sale.
On May 20, 1998 it was finally registered to Jet Clipper Johnny LLC (John Travolta), sold on May 25, and changed registration on December 13, 1998 to N707JT "707 Jett Clipper Ella”.
All this would make a great movie. And if Travolta stars in it, he wouldn't need a double to play the part of the pilot.
Please leave comments below or by email and subscribe to get future updates.
Comments
That's so awesome of him.
i think it is great of him to go out of the way and do this for haitian people.
I'm impressed that Travolta is an accredited pilot. I thought he was just really into planes and was getting to ride along on flights as a PR move for the airlines. Good for him!
You composed this with dignity, thankfulness and angelic proportions given to a man whom I greatly admire.You did him justice and I thank you.Blessings always to John and Kelly!
Was'nt this printed the other day? Scientology does love to regurgitate and repost it's press releases though. The Scientologists who patrol the net, anonymously and otherwise, still need to pat themselves on the back I guess.
Gotta like this guy...neat humanitarian effort here. Great read, Joel...
Cheers..
He made a movie in Santa Fe and it seems that everyone he came into contact with has nice things to say about him. Personally. I am not a fan of Scientology. If they can give aid without proselytizing, that would be great. If they have gone to promote their beliefs while giving aid, I give a thumbs down.
Thank you and your wife for everything ya do for the haitian people that need your help.God bless you.May the angles protect your coming and going.
How kind of John Travolta!
As a former "voulunteer minister" in L Ron organization, I say Travolta is cynically grandstanding and pushing scientology. In his interviews
he justifies his behavior in anticipation of criticism. In a recent NPR broadcast (among other channels) Private individuals, such as the wealthy Mr. Travolta, have already been been publicly and explicitly asked by the aid agencies to NOT do what Travolta has done, as it is disruptive to the coordination of aid efforts. Knowing that - he does it anyway and steps in front of the cameras. Mr Travolta knows the rules do not apply to him, after all, Scientologists have their own rules.
I am with Billie on her comments. I enjoy John Travolta the actor but am not a fan of Scientology. I'm glad though that he was able to provide aid to hurting Haitians at this time of need.
Glad to hear he's doing that. He has a summer home on Islesboro in Maine, and you can only get there by plane or boat....our band played their two summers ago, not far from his home.
We didn't see him, but I guarantee u the whole Island showed up for the party when they heard us. It was very cool. Anyway, I'm glad to see he's doing this...he is still grieving too I bet, and he needs to do what he has to do to work thru it.
The tragedy in Haiti has occupied the minds of many people in the U.S.- it is great when you hear of a larger than life super star using their own resources and their time to do something so wonderful for people who have so much less than they do.
This article is not only uplifting, but a great review on how John Travolta came to become a pilot and not just a passenger- really interesting!
It is great to see John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston in the news for something so positive for a change.
There are a lot of Scientologists patrolling the internet right now giving John accolades in the comments sections. This is a case of Scientology patting itself on the back to try and bury all the facts about Scientology ruining families and destroying people's lives.
People bashing scientology with this story is like bashing the aclu every time there's a liberal slant on things. The world is a complex place, but there's nothing complex about helping to save lives. Travolta is a special person for all his does and that has nothing to do with his religious views. Great article!
Not a good comparison, Marc. The ACLU is supposed to be the friend of free speech, Scientology is the enemy of it.
Scientology is using this story as filler to hide stories like this,ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. -- Among the mysteries in software firm founder William Rex Fowler's alleged killing of ex-partner Thomas Ciancio is whether Fowler's self-professed devotion to the Church of Scientology played a role in the workplace shooting.
The 58-year-old Fowler was charged last week with premeditated, first-degree murder in the Dec. 30 shooting of Ciancio, who had gone to Fowler Software Design to receive a $9,900 severance payment, according to a statement by an Adams County sheriff's detective supporting Fowler's arrest.
Where there are carrions, there are vultures.
The volunteer ministers he's bringing with him aren't going to help. It's their duty to block the legitimate, professional help of certified doctors so they can use their own Scientology "tech" to "help."
Volunteer ministers of Scientology have a long history of showing up to disaster areas, usually with no supplies of their own, with the intent to recruit new people when they're at their most vulnerable. It's for this reason they're commonly known as the Vulture Ministers.
Don't be deceived so easily.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!