Upgrading the GII

Last June the flight department upgraded its GII with 65-inch-tall Aviation Partners Blended Winglets installed by Jet Aviation at WPB. The winglets have boosted range 32 min – to a 7:55 time-to-dry-tanks endurance, giving Travolta the ability to fly reliably nonstop from Maine to LA and from LA to Hawaii against headwinds.

“With winglets we fly farther, faster and higher – it lets you run the wing more efficiently,” says Kadovitz of the $457,000 aerodynamic enhancement. “On many of our long-haul flights we really need those extra 30 minutes – it saves fuel stops.”

Damm is looking at upgrading the GIIs Flitefone 6 to a digital phone system and would like to have a Stage III hush kit fitted as soon as one becomes available.

“Technology is coming a long way in extending the economic life of older airplanes,” says Damm. “The GII is still a very practical aircraft – we don't anticipate new RVSM rules being a problem for us.”

The only other aircraft acquisition Travolta is considering at this point is a spacious, four-engine Boeing 707.

“I test-flew a 707 three times recently and really liked it,” says Travolta. “Having two bedrooms and a nine-hour range would be practical for international travel and managing a back-to-back filming schedule. But that's another realm of operation. My GII is set up now to be fully berthable and comfortable on long-haul flights – that may eliminate the need for a 707.”