John Travolta's former Qantas 707 will start getting its wings back this week
Cranes will arrive Wednesday and Thursday to put the wings back, then 4800 bolts go in.
The plane's main body and wings arrived at Port Kembla by cargo ship on May 13, 2026. Bob De La Hunty, president of the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, called this week a big milestone.
Cranes will arrive on Wednesday and Thursday to put the wings back into position. After that, 4800 bolts can be put back into the wings.
The plane is possibly just weeks away from moving around Shellharbour Airport, volunteers say. The American team will work on the plane for about six weeks.
The society is hopeful the job will be finished in time for Christmas. The jet was shipped from Georgia in the US after an original plan to fly it out fell apart.
Mr De La Hunty said fixing it in America probably would have taken another five years and $5 million.
- 4800
- Bolts to refit
- About six weeks
- American team's time on the jet
- $5 million and another five years
- Estimated US repair cost
Why it mattersThe plane took nearly a decade to arrive after Travolta announced its donation in 2017.
AustraliaPlane fans in the Illawarra may see the jet move around Shellharbour Airport within weeks.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 4 h ago
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