John Travolta rang in his 72nd birthday this Wednesday in style by announcing he had added yet another pilot’s license to his already impressive collection.
The Hollywood icon, whose love of aviation is almost as legendary as his starring roles, shared footage of himself piloting a Bombardier Global Express, proudly declaring, “I just accomplished my license in the Global Express SIC.”
The video, posted to Instagram, cuts between the cockpit and Travolta on the tarmac, gesturing at the sleek jet as the camera pans its full length. “Congratulations to me,” he said, writing in the caption “It’s my birthday today! And I’m very proud to say I got my license in the Global Express! Thank you for all my birthday wishes!”
© John Travolta/IGJohn Travolta’s passion for flying:
Travolta’s passion for flying began early. He enrolled in an aviation class at just 15 and credits it with launching what he calls his “second career.” By 22, he earned his first jet license, and since then, he has accumulated multiple advanced FAA certifications. Over the decades, he’s flown everything from a Boeing 707 to the massive Airbus A380.
© ROSLAN RAHMANHis dedication to aviation hasn’t gone unnoticed. Travolta holds a place on the Wall of Honor at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, has served as a worldwide ambassador for Qantas Airways since 2002, and has been honored by the American Institute of Aeronautical Engineers.
© John Travolta/IG“He’s had his license for almost 30 years,” his late wife, Kelly Preston, told The Telegraph in 2018. “At our house in Ocala, northern Florida, we have the planes parked out front because we have a runway attached. I never get nervous when John’s piloting because he’s calm in any situation and can handle the pressure. He’s flown us all over the world – Russia, South Africa, Australia, Tahiti, the UK, the U.S. and the Far East.”
A life-changing moment:
Travolta is no stranger to emergencies in the cockpit. Reflecting on a 1992 flight in which his plane suffered a total electrical failure, he admitted to Fox News in 2023. “I knew what it felt like to absolutely think you’re going to die. I had two good jet engines but I had no instruments, no electric, nothing. And I thought it was over.”
© PIERRE VERDYBy a stroke of luck, he spotted the Washington Monument and identified Washington National Airport nearby, managing to land safely. Less than two years ago, Travolta posted a video of himself in a flight simulator, practicing emergency procedures for losing both engines. “It’s always exciting to get back in the air again,” he said, before adding a cheerful, “Yeehaw!” while showing fans the view from his cockpit.
He owns at least seven airplanes:
Travolta’s aviation life is as glamorous as it is high-flying. He owns a mansion at Florida’s Jumbolair Aviation Estates, a 550-acre gated community boasting the largest licensed private runway in the United States.
His home, purchased in 2001, even has its own private stretch of tarmac. He reportedly owns at least seven airplanes and has earned licenses for several high-profile jets, including the Boeing 747, 707, 737, and now the Bombardier Global Express, a long-range business jet capable of traveling 7,900 nautical miles in comfort and style.
© Emma McIntyreIn 2002, he spearheaded a grand celebration in Washington, D.C., marking a century of manned flight, and the following year, he piloted his Boeing 707 with John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, as his passenger at the Dayton Airshow.
For Travolta, aviation is more than a hobby, it’s a source of joy and solace. In a 2008 interview with CBS News, he explained, “Aviation has always bailed me out of anything in my mind that is blue. I can look through an airline schedule and brochure and cheer up.” As he celebrates his 72nd birthday, Travolta’s love of the skies shows no signs of slowing.
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