John Travolta is an Aviation God!!

[Flylo]

Sorry, but I just got sick of seeing that other thread title pop back up when there are actually only 3 posters that have had anything bad to say about him in 7 pages of messages. One of those is obviously a disfanchised "Black Panther Wanna'be" with serious mental issues and the other two are so eaten up with jealousy that any sign of reason has long since left them.

Sheesh, give the guy a break. He's already admitted to the world that he's an aviation geek and he'll never be a "professional" in the sense that many here are, because he doesn't have to make a living at it. He's a RICH amateur who loves flying and, as far as I know, he didn't screw anybody out of anything to get where he is, so let him enjoy himself and more power to him. So what if he calls himself a jet pilot, how many pistons are there in that 707 anyway??

Most people think he's a pretty good guy (as evidenced by the posters on this forum) and I can't really think of anybody other than Burt Rutan that's out there promoting aviation on a world wide basis that is more highly thought of by the non-flying public who don't know a jet pilot from a pilot light. We could do a whole lot worse.

Cut him some slack and let that other thread scroll off into the land of "never to be seen again". I really think that title reflects poorly on the members of this forum.

 

[2000flyer]

I highly doubt any one of us who makes $40 mil a movie would run out and buy some wonderful flying machine to fancy our whims.

Travolta used to train at SimuFlite many years ago (he may still???). Instructors said he's show a day early and ask that a table be set up in the lobby and he'd meet and greet clients coming in for training and sign autographs for those wanting one (ps...most men, wanting to score some points after being gone on recurrent/initial knew that taking an autographed picture addressed to their wive's was a sure winner).

I've heard nothing but positive comments about Travolta. But, as you all know, anyone of "fame" can walk into a million buildings, smile and say hello and no one notices. Walk into one and bark at someone and it will be reported in the press for weeks. What a price to pay?!?!?

2000Flyer

 

[88_MALIBU]

I read a really interesting article about aviation millionaires a while back. It basically said those who are jealous of others with expensive toys should take a step back and look at the big picture. Here is a guy who loves to participate in the same hobby or career as you and I. I cannot stand jealousy. Maybe Howard Hughes was an idiot (ie: hollywood, aviation, and crashed alot...? )

 

[jimpilot]

2000 flyer - he still trains at SimuFlite. Still does the autograph thing every other year for the employees

 

[JimNtexas]

I just wish JT would stop making his movies one long Marlboro commerical.

I think he should buy all the airplanes he wants, more power to him. But geeze, he must smell bad!

 

[Diesel]

It's pretty funny because he was kicked off of RKD up here in maine. And then got into some pretty hot water because he was buzzzing isleboro in his 707.

Some pretty cool video of a 707 below the porch of this lady's house skimming the water.

The FAA wanted his ass bad but since he filed with a hou based company they couldn't prove he was flying the plane. They went after the other crew and he finally owned up to it.

 

[coolyokeluke]

Flylo you got the right idea. The other thread is annoying; most of the posts reflect positively on JT.

 

[FN FAL]

We had an affluent family on the field at CRG that owned a Bell helicopter and a hangar full of other goodies, including a P-51. These guys flew pretty regularly and were not the typical "owner flown" douche bags.

I had a chance to talk to the son quite a bit when he was dragging the 51 out...it was a sight to see. Very meticulousy kept airplane...and it made the EAA calandar and warbird of the year.

I always found it to be a blessing that someone had enough money to own something like that...it meant that I could actually see one up close and see it fly...rather than just see WWII pictures of one in a book or a museum.

The cool part was bumping into him at an EAA years later and realizing after a minute or two of conversation that he remembered chating with me.

They aren't all assholes.

However, I got a story to tell you about the "hired" help over at Confederate Airforce, or whatever the hell they call themselves. My wife will back this one up. I ask one question to the guy sitting at the table collecting money for the walking tour on the B-17 and next thing you know, I got 7 or 8 old fat fu<kers coming over acting like a freaking lynch mob. My money stayed in my pocket and them dumbasses can eat their airplanes as far as I'm concerened...red necks.

 

[FN FAL]

I'm taking a big guess here, but I thing the P-51 at CRG was "sizzlin liz" (sp?)? Could be wrong...but I think that's the one.

 

[sqwkvfr]

I ask one question to the guy sitting at the table collecting money for the walking tour on the B-17 and next thing you know, I got 7 or 8 old fat fu<kers coming over acting like a freaking lynch mob.

.......you left out one very important detail....what was the question???

Was the "Sentimental Journey" the B-17 in question?

 

[avbug]

I'm not sure which of the two B17s you saw, or what on earth you might have asked that made everyone so angry, but that's far from a typical response.

Many of those who move the B17's from A to B are current or retired airline pilots. Most of those who travel doing the maintenance are very experienced.

It's a volunteer organization, and each person comes from a different background, but I've never seen such rudeness as you describe, nor ever had the impression of "rednecks" representing the organization.

I was asked to sign on to fly Sentimental Journey a few years ago, and would have liked to do it; an airshow here or there...but I couldn't afford the time away. I still can't. It's a beautifully maintained airplane, and a beautifully flying airplane. A big cub with four engines.

What did you do or say to those gentlemen that engendered the response you describe??

 

[sqwkvfr]

I've walked through the "Senitmental Journey" several times....my roommate is saving the $$$ for a ride in it.

Beautiful aircraft.

I saw another one today in McMinnville....also very nice.

BTW, the Evergreen Aviation Museum should be on any aviation enthusiast's "to do" list.

 

[FN FAL]

Like I said, I can get my wife to back me up on this...

It was a couple of years ago at EAA and the wife wanted to take the walk on tour of the B-17. We just had done the donation tour of the "Save a Connie" Constellation...those dudes were cool, and they especially enjoyed sharing a moment with a skydiver that had jumped from their Constellation.

We get over by the B-17...and keep in mind, World Freefall Convention is the week that follows EAA and I'm going to there...fourth year in a row. WFFC website advertised it and all the scuttlebut was that one of the B-17 airshow performers was bringing their B-17 out to WFFC for skydivers to jump.

Since I figured the B-17 community was small and close knit...all I asked those guys was, "Who's bringing the B-17 out to Quincy for the skydivers at World Freefall convention?" It was really just an off hand comment as I was bringing my wallet out to pay for the walk on tour...more like just making conversation.

Next thing you know, old pot belly in a flightsuit and red ball cap (or blue...it's been a few years) is bellering, "Who do you work for? It's against the FARs to put skydivers out of a B-17...Who do you work for?...Who do you work for?" The other old pot bellies come over and start leaning on the table and staring me down like it's the inquisition or something and I try to tell the guys about what was going on at the WFFC website for expected jump aircraft and how they are selling these tickets to jump the B-17 for hundreds of dollars and how you have to win a lottery drawing just to get the right to pay to skydive out of it.

Finally, I just packed up the wallet and moved on.

That was it. Nothing more...nothing less. But needless to say, the B-17 came to WFFC...regardless of what the pot bellies said.

 

[FN FAL]

I believe that this happened at the 1999 EAA. It was the last year I went to WFFC...and as usual the B-17 was scheduled to appear but didn't come because of an FAA snafu with certification. Which isn't unheard of, because at the 95 or 96 WFFC, "Save a Connie" or whoever, brought their Convair (or whatever the other plane is that SAC has) to the WFFC and their certification for dropping skydivers didn't get approved...so they just offered plane rides in it. Go figure?

Here is a link to some pictures of B-17 and B-24 skydives that were offered at WFFC in 2000.

http://airdoug.home.mindspring.com/wffc/b17jump.htm

It's a great way for these operators to pull in some good cash for keeping their aircraft going...and it's a great way for skydivers to ride in some of the worlds most exotic collectible aircraft.

I'll never forget my Connie jump...or my Connie plane ride to altitude! I love you SAC guys...thanks for having the balls to come out to WFFC!

 

[FN FAL]

for those who dint see the "back" hyperlink at the bottom of the page...you gotta see this, more pictures of the B-24 and B-17!

http://airdoug.home.mindspring.com/wffc/index.htm

They even had a DC-4 show up for one jump run.

for those who collect t-shirts...

http://www.collingsfoundation.org/images/pxthumb_909quincytshirt_fro.gif

 

[FN FAL]

http://www.crocuta.com/skydiving/MaddyQpics99.html

Thanks to the lady that posted those pictures above...we have a more accurate time line. It was 99 that they were going to bring the B-17 in, but didn't because of certification or other problems...but they brought the B-24 in.

I never made it to a WFFC where they had a B-24, so I never made it to 99 WFFC.

That would mean that I talked to the B-17 crew at EAA in 98 and went to my last WFFC that year...or I talked to the B-17 crew at EAA in 99 and missed an opportunity to make my 5th World Freefall Convention for some reason or another. (probably because I was flying for my first 135 job full time that year)

Regardless...the B-17 crew jumped me for asking a legitimate question and told me it was illegal to drop jumpers from a B-17. They also attempted to play, "pin the tail on the narc" with me...and I don't like that schit. WFFC advertised the plane being there...it was the buzz from the year before and it was what was listed on their website. The B-17 didn't make it that year, but a B-24 did...and I don't know what makes it more or less "illegal" to jump out of one or the other...but the B-17 eventually made it to WFFC.

For unlimited pictures and stories about that subject...do a google search on "world freefall convention B-17".

 

[RJP]

John Travolta? Who gives a **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**?

 

[Big Duke Six]

I think it's just a matter of how some people are willing to do things to "get 'er done" and some people aren't. Don Kirlin has a great relationship with Collings, so they are willing to go the extra mile for his event.


FN, I had the opportunity to attend WFFC in 2000. Of course, I was a whuffo, but it was one of the best weeks of my life regardless. I drove my RV out from DEN and lived on one of the runways for 5 days. What a great, great group of people! I actually got a ride in the Nine-O-Nine too, as a guest of one of the Collings Foundation members. It was pure magic, standing in the sunroof (no chute mind you), sitting in the bombardiers' chair, up in the top turret etc. I stood at the forward edge of the bomb bay as the meat bombs jumped, and it was just spectacular. The Collings people are awesome, and they even gave me a T-shirt afterward even though I wasn't a jumper.

The ride in Rod Tinney's helicopter was equally stirring, but more in the "Dang, now I need a new pair of underwear" kind of way. What a guy! I feel terrible for what he has been through at WFFC over the years.

Anyway, I hope your encounter with the CAF wasn't indicative of the majority of the group, as Avbug said. I'd really like to join someday, but they don't have much around here anymore.

 

[rumpletumbler]

Next thing you know, old pot belly in a flightsuit and red ball cap (or blue...it's been a few years) is bellering, "Who do you work for? It's against the FARs to put skydivers out of a B-17...Who do you work for?...Who do you work for?"

haha...I live right next door to a private strip (Air Acres) and I walked out of the door one day and this guy is buzzing the strip. Many of them do it and my only complaint is I don't have a view. There is a treeline in the way. Anyhow....I get in the car and drive to the airport (KRYY not Air Acres) and as I'm walking up to the ramp this guy is coming in from the plane that just made the bombing run. I'm like..."Hey....you were just over Air Acres." I followed that with "I live by it etc." but he totally missed all that....he was freaking out thinking I'm a fed I'm guessing. Finally after he slowed down and heard me he turned out to be a really nice guy and even invited me over to his hanger (I forgot the number) so I never got to go hang out (bummer). Anyhow....next time I guess I'll be more careful how I approach that if it happens again. I was totally taken by suprise and never thought the guy would have thought what he did but in hindsight it is easy to see.

 

[FN FAL]

I think it's just a matter of how some people are willing to do things to "get 'er done" and some people aren't. Don Kirlin has a great relationship with Collings, so they are willing to go the extra mile for his event.


FN, I had the opportunity to attend WFFC in 2000. Of course, I was a whuffo, but it was one of the best weeks of my life regardless. I drove my RV out from DEN and lived on one of the runways for 5 days. What a great, great group of people! I actually got a ride in the Nine-O-Nine too, as a guest of one of the Collings Foundation members. It was pure magic, standing in the sunroof (no chute mind you), sitting in the bombardiers' chair, up in the top turret etc. I stood at the forward edge of the bomb bay as the meat bombs jumped, and it was just spectacular. The Collings people are awesome, and they even gave me a T-shirt afterward even though I wasn't a jumper.

The ride in Rod Tinney's helicopter was equally stirring, but more in the "Dang, now I need a new pair of underwear" kind of way. What a guy! I feel terrible for what he has been through at WFFC over the years.

Anyway, I hope your encounter with the CAF wasn't indicative of the majority of the group, as Avbug said. I'd really like to join someday, but they don't have much around here anymore.

Yea, Kerlin...he's a fellow ex-320 Skyknight owner. I met him the year he was learning to fly his L-39...in fact, his pilot instructor was sitting next to me on a jump aircraft. Kirlin comped him a tandem, so his instructor was making his first skydive at UIN. Talk about getting even with "teach"! Hehehe. Kirlin may not have a lot of time at WFFC to talk to you...but he'll make a few moments for you. His wife is a fox too!

That must have been awsome riding on the B-17, not too many people get to take that ride. I would have never gotten to ride in a Super Connie, if it wasn't for WFFC...much less enjoy the spiraling slipstream of the #2 prop on exit!!! Talk about a windmill ride!

Yea..that helicopter ride is something else. I guess the first year they were in Rantoul, someone bumped into the main rotor while taking a picture of the helicopter taking off with skydivers. He was warned...

CHI02LA232On August 2, 2002, at 1952 central daylight time, a Bell 412, N464AC, operated by Air Center Helicopters, Inc., piloted by an airline transport pilot, was taking off from the Rantoul National Aviation Center-Frank Elliot Field Airport (TIP), Rantoul Illinois, with a load of skydivers, when its main rotor struck a photographer on the ground. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and nine passengers were uninjured. The photographer was fatally injured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated in a written statement, "Aircraft was loaded with skydivers by ground crew and area was cleared for takeoff. Ground crew pointed out 4 canopies in vicinity of takeoff area on approach to maintain visual during takeoff. I initiated takeoff while monitoring canopies and began a turn onto taxiway to clear the area when I heard a blade strike. I looked immediately in the direction and saw a person falling down and aborted the takeoff and landed.

A crewmember stated in a written statement, "Earlier today this individual rode with us. After coming back from his skydive he asked me if he could lay on the ground [and] have the helicopter fly by him so he could take a picture. I told him no that was not allowed. He said OK and walked away. This was about one hour before the incident."

A second crewmember stated in a written statement, "At the time of the accident, I had arrived just prior to loading of the last load of skydivers for the day. [Two] crew members were spotting for the takeoff. No obstructions were seen and lift off was given. I was standing in the grass on the runway side of the takeoff. To the runway side of the cornfield. I watched as the 412 did it's takeoff and started its turn inward over the corn field. As the 412 turned a person appeared out of nowhere. I saw the person in a yellow shirt just drop to the knees and fall..."

The TIP automated weather observing system, recorded at 1846, wind from 070 degrees at 9 knots; 10 statue mile surface visibility; broken clouds at 4,300 feet agl, 5,500 feet agl and 6,500 feet agl; temperature of 26 degrees Celsius (C) and dew point of 21 degrees C; altimeter setting of 30.10 inches of mercury. The University of Illinois-Willard Airport, Champaign, Illinois, automated surface observing system located 16 nautical miles north of TIP recorded lightning to the south. The pilot reported that winds were from the north at 15 knots gusting to 20 knots at the time of the accident.

The helicopter was a twin engine, fifteen place helicopter with a single four-bladed main rotor and a tail rotor. The main rotor blades are 46 feet in diameter and 11 feet 5 inches above the helicopter's ground line at design gross weight (dimensions are approximate due to variations in loading and alighting gear deflection).

A witness video recording of the accident and a photo of the photographer's position are included in the docket of this report.

 

[User546]

I personally believe that John Travolta is one of the better people to have ever came along for General Aviation - in respects to Public Relations.

<--- Now I'm too lazy to remember what else I was going to put here, dangit, but my point still stands though....

 

[Jagdflieger]

What was the name on the B-17 you had crew trouble with? You sure it was a CAF airplane??

 

[avbug]

That's collings foundation airplanes not CAF. I doubt that CAF would put their B-17 out for jumpers.

So those hosting the CAF B-17 believed that the FAA might frown on an aircraft with an experimental airworthiness certificate hosting passengers for hire in a commercial airlift situation. What do you care?

CAF is very touchy about the use of their aircraft. With a recent series of fatal losses CAF is looking at being shut down completely by insurance.

Not a big deal. Just jump something else.