Retired Qantas senior check captain John Dennis, who flew the Boeing 707-138 now being reassembled at HARS, will talk about operating the aircraft and his dealings with its famous later owner, John Travolta, at HARS Aviation Museum’s November Tarmac Days.
The talk is on Saturday 14 November at 10am, upstairs beside the Australian Aviation Hall of Fame area, and is free with museum admission.
Tarmac Days run from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November and this month focus on the collection’s trainers and smaller aircraft, from the tiny Corby Starlet to the Bankstown-built Victa Airtourer.
“Our collection also includes a DH-82 Tiger Moth, Boeing Stearman trainer, a Winjeel, a 1950s Auster, two former RAAF trainer Vampires, a Cessna 310 and a 1960s Czech Morava which flew in Queensland with Ansett-ANA. All are airworthy or potentially so,” HARS President Bob De La Hunty said.
The Cessna 310 on display was the first of its type flown in Australia, in 1958.
The Stearman and L39 jet are scheduled to fly, with a possible appearance from the DC-3 and de Havilland Caribou. An engine run is planned on Sunday for the former French Navy Neptune 566.
Reassembly of the former Qantas and Travolta 707 is under way after its journey from the US by ship to Port Kembla and then by road to HARS earlier this year. Other work in progress includes an engine change and rudder work on the Super Constellation “Connie” and work on Neptunes 273 and 566.
The museum, at Shellharbour Airport in Albion Park Rail, is open for guided tours daily from 9.30am to 3.30pm, with the last tour starting at 2pm. On Saturday and Sunday, a barbecue will be served under the wing of the former Qantas Boeing 747-400.