Here's a name that doesn't get brought up enough when it comes to talking about who can slang the rock the best, Fran Tarkenton. Yes, Francis Asbury Tarkenton. What he was doing throughout the '70s is reminiscent of what a lot of quarterbacks are achieving today. Tarkenton was ahead of his time in regards to his style of play, accuracy, and willingness to make daring passes that always appeared to be right on target. After going to high school in Athens, Georgia and growing up a Bulldogs fan, Tarkenton got to live out a childhood dream of playing quarterback for the institution helping the Bulldogs secure a Southeastern Conference Championship while picking up two First-Team All-SEC honors.
After an impressive showing at the University of Georgia, Fran Tarkenton was selected 29th overall in the third round of the NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings and 34th overall in the fifth round of the AFL Draft by the Boston Patriots. Tarkenton decided to sign with the Vikings rather than the Patriots and became an instant impact player coming off the bench in his first game for a come-from-behind 37-13 victory over the Bears throwing 250 yards for four touchdowns. While Tarkenton became notorious for his insane stat lines, his team struggled as a brand new franchise only winning a total of ten games in his first three seasons with the Vikings. Tarkenton spent a brief tenure with the New York Giants from 1967-1972 before being traded back to the Vikings to finish out his career in 1979. While he was unable to win a championship, Tarkenton owned every major quarterback record by the time he retired, was a 9x Pro Bowler and took home, the NFL MVP Award in 1975.
When you fly by private jet charter, you experience travel comfort known only to those who know private jets. And nothing illustrates this luxury better than celebrity private jets. Stars with their own private aircraft fly fancy.
John Travolta, the star of 70s cult movies like “Grease” and “Saturday Night Fever”, is not only one of the most famous Hollywood actors, but also one of the best celebrity pilots. John Travolta is a bonafide aviation enthusiast with five private planes total, which he parks on his front lawn. His most impressive aircraft is a customized Boeing 707-138 (as pictured above), a beast of a plane that he acquired in 1998 upon his promotion to an honorary pilot of Qantas, the Australian airline.
Oprah Winfrey’s production company HARPO bought her custom-built Global Express XRS VIP business jet to provide the media mogul and her associates with maximum aviation comfort. Oprah’s private jet features designer fixtures in the bathroom and galley, along with an exquisite all-leather interior. The aircraft was designed by Bombardier Aerospace to perform as a premier long-range business jet. Custom design allowed for an enhanced cabin layout with nine cushy leather seats, aesthetically-placed lighting, and additional luxury amenities. The jet cruises through the air at high speeds, made possible by two Rolls-Royce BR710 turbofan engines, which produce enough power to send HARPO clear across the map with only one refuel stop
Tom Cruise played an elite naval fighter jet pilot in the blockbuster movie “Top Gun”, and he now indulges his real love for flying in his own Gulfstream IV, one of the finest celebrity private jets around. Cruise’s beautiful business jet accommodates up to 19 passengers, providing comfort and class with state-of-the-art furnishings and aircraft technology. The jet even automatically refreshes the air inside the cabin every two minutes. Designed by Gulfstream Aerospace, Cruise’s jet is powered by two Rolls-Royce Tay 611-8 engines, propelling the aircraft to a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet over a maximum range of 7,820 km, zipping through the air at speeds up to Mach 0.80.
Mark Cuban, business mogul and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, landed himself in the Guinness Book of World Records for purchasing his Boeing 767-277 online in 1999, making “the largest single e-commerce transaction”. Cuban modified the jet with large, custom seats to give his team’s lengthy players plenty of room while flying.