Travolta's 707 makes emergency landing

If you want to be really specific: the KC-135 is derived from the original Boeing jet transport “proof of concept” demonstrator, the Boeing 367-80 (commonly called the “Dash-80”). As such, it has a narrower fuselage and is shorter than the Boeing 707 jetliner.

For purposes of your argument the specific configuration differences regarding wing/ground clearances are not significant enough to preclude the use of high-bypass turbofans. Besides engines are so much more efficient a modern engine of almost the same diameter could develop quite a bit more thrust. So it’s not so much whether it could be done — more whether it would make economic sense, given the costs of recertification, etc.

Strut compression is one of many considerations. Thrust of the high-bypass turbofans used in the KC-135 is so much greater, the certification weights go up with no added control surface area or wing area, and the 2-engine and 3-engine min control speeds go up.

I know that the KC-135/R and /Q have reduced pod clearances, but their gross weights are much higher too; they could have used even smaller engines had there been no operational requirement to improve the aircraft range and payload.

Its also odd to see Qantas livery in Florida since I don’t think they fly there but I could be wrong.

Unless Qantas flies into Miami or Orlando, that may be true; however, I believe Qantas does fly into LAX - Travolta's main home.

I think he and Qantas have this odd connection, because he wanted to buy a larger jet and they happened to have one for sale. I think it's as simple as that.

Since Travolta is recognized world-wide, Qantas may have seen the advantage in using his image to garner more sales in the US - to compete with United, Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines, and American, etc - on direct flights from LAX to Sydney.

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