Archie Manning, the son of Buddy Manning, and the father of, Peyton and Eli Manning the best brother quarterback duo in NFL history, is next up on the list. While he might not be as revered for his professional football career as his sons are, Archie did have a promising career in baseball after being drafted a total of four times. The first time Manning was drafted it was by the Atlanta Braves in 1967, he would then go on to be drafted twice by the Chicago White Sox, and lastly by the Kansas City Royals in 1971, the same year he was drafted into the NFL. Manning attended the University of Mississippi where he started at the quarterback for three consecutive seasons. Manning was named SEC Player of the Year and First-Team All-American for the 1969 NCAA Football season.
After a successful career with the Ole Miss Rebels, Archie Manning would go on to be selected 2nd overall in the 1971 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints where he would play the first ten seasons of his NFL career. Unfortunately, Manning and the Saints would suffer nine losing seasons out of those ten, but become one of the most respected pass throwers in the league amongst his peers. In 1978 and 1979, Manning was selected for the Pro Bowl and ended his career playing seasons with the Houston Oilers and the Minnesota Vikings. With a win-loss record of 35-101-3 and a career passer rating of 67.1, Manning as an individual was a better football player than any team he was a part of.
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.