Think about the best night’s sleep you’ve ever had. I bet it wasn’t on board an aeroplane, was it?
Book a night in any of these genuine ‘airbnbs’ and that could soon change.
From jets grounded in Wales to helicopters in the Lancashire hills and passenger planes suspended above the Costa Rican jungle, a whole host of first-class former aircraft have been converted into holiday homes.
LIBBY GALVIN flicks through the in-flight brochures.
JOIN HOLLYWOOD HIGH-FLYERS
The Lockheed JetStar was the private jet of choice for all of Hollywood. Frank Sinatra flew on one, and villain Goldfinger flew out the window of another in the 1964 Bond movie. Elvis Presley had one
What is it? A 1970s nine-seater Lockheed Jetstar
Where is it? Pembrokeshire, Wales
Fly by night for: From £159, applecamping.co.uk
The Lockheed JetStar was the private jet of choice for all of Hollywood. Frank Sinatra flew on one, and villain Goldfinger flew out the window of another in the 1964 Bond movie. Elvis Presley had one.
This model, now permanently grounded in Wales, has walnut inlays on the in-flight bar and padded leather seating.
Toby Rhys Davies, 49, who owns the plane as well as the glamping site where it is situated, says: ‘A caravan holiday is a family argument waiting to happen. Whereas planes inspire . . . there’s still a romance to air travel.’
It has sleeping space for up to four adults and Xbox flying games in the cockpit. It is said to have been used by gun-runners in the past
He bought it at an aviation reclamation yard in 2015 for a mystery price — although a cockpit with nothing in will set you back £30-40k.
He adds: ‘It took nine months to convert at a cost of £35,000. Its annual service costs are about £5,500.’
It has sleeping space for up to four adults and Xbox flying games in the cockpit. It is said to have been used by gun-runners in the past.
KNIGHT OF THE SKIES ON THE ISLE OF WIGHT
Affectionately named Galahad, this former rescue helicopter was named as a mark of respect to the RFA Sir Galahad, sunk during the Falklands War, where this beast last saw active duty
What is it? A converted 1965 Westland Wessex XT469
Where is it? Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight
Fly by night for: £325 for four nights midweek, hostunusual.com
Affectionately named Galahad, this former rescue helicopter was named as a mark of respect to the RFA Sir Galahad, sunk during the Falklands War, where this beast last saw active duty.
Owner Stewart Dungey says: ‘When we first had it delivered, it was without its rotors and looked very sad — but it still made it to Facebook, where someone said, ‘We tracked it down, it’s on the Isle of Wight!’ It’s incredibly popular.’
Stewart says: ‘We had to get it down from Blackpool and then had to strip it all out to convert it. But we’ve retained virtually all of the original character. You can watch the sun set from the cockpit. We usually have couples for anniversaries, or families with children.’
Stewart was looking for something quirky to add to their campsite, which also features a Bollywood campervan and a laundrette converted from a Robin Reliant, when he found Galahad on eBay.
He adds: ‘It cost about £14,000. We had to get it down from Blackpool and then had to strip it all out to convert it. But we’ve retained virtually all of the original character. You can watch the sun set from the cockpit. We usually have couples for anniversaries, or families with children.’
WINGING IT IN THE JUNGLE CANOPY
Suspended 50 ft above the ground in the canopy of the jungle, this fusion of treehouse and plane wreck is filled with magnificent teak panelling and includes a bird’s-eye view of the ocean
You’ll be sharing the high life with monkeys and sloths as you dine on the terrace built out over the wings, so watch out they don’t nab your aeroplane dinner.
What is it? A 1965 Boeing 727
Where is it? Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Fly by night for: From £218 for up to six people, hostunusual.com
Suspended 50 ft above the ground in the canopy of the jungle, this fusion of treehouse and plane wreck is filled with magnificent teak panelling and includes a bird’s-eye view of the ocean.
You’ll be sharing the high life with monkeys and sloths as you dine on the terrace built out over the wings, so watch out they don’t nab your aeroplane dinner.
A LYNX TO MAKE YOU PURR WITH DELIGHT
‘It’s our pride and joy,’ says holiday park owner Chris Threlfall, who describes the look on children’s faces when they realise where Mum and Dad have brought them to stay as ‘a Christmas morning moment’
What is it? Westland Lynx XZ676
Where is it? Ream Hills near Blackpool, Lancashire
Fly by night for: From £110, reamhills.co.uk
‘It’s our pride and joy,’ says holiday park owner Chris Threlfall, who describes the look on children’s faces when they realise where Mum and Dad have brought them to stay as ‘a Christmas morning moment’.
But even he admits it’s snug in this 1982 Westland Lynx, which he bought after it was decommissioned from use on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire less than ten years ago.
But even he admits it’s snug in this 1982 Westland Lynx, which he bought after it was decommissioned from use on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire less than ten years ago
The sleeping area is towards the tail, and a kitchen area with microwave, mini fridge, running water, seating and a TV is in the cockpit.
‘For one or two nights it’s wonderful,’ adds Chris. The only worry is other holiday park guests gawping in at you, envious of your unusual digs. Thank goodness for curtains.
AN AIRPORT CHECK-IN
This jumbo originally had 450 seats and flew with Singapore Airlines, Pan Am and Transjet
Now it is a 33-room hotel with a restaurant based at Stockholm Arlanda Airport in Sweden, so you can visit even if you don’t bed down for the night
What is it? A 1976 Boeing 747
Where is it? Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Sweden
Fly by night for: From £40 per person, hostunusual.com
This jumbo originally had 450 seats and flew with Singapore Airlines, Pan Am and Transjet.
Now it is a 33-room hotel with a restaurant based at Stockholm Arlanda Airport in Sweden, so you can visit even if you don’t bed down for the night.
At first, it looks almost as it did on the runway — until you clock the observation deck along the wing. There is even a conference suite on board with eight first-class seats.
TAKE-OFF TO FRANCE IS A THRILLING TRIP
Host Guillaume promises an exhilarating stay upon this ‘true plane’, cleverly converted to sleep a family of four — with the toilet in the cockpit (sacré bleu!)
It’s grounded on a dedicated campsite open from May to September with all the essential facilities, including a waterpark
What is it? A small plane converted to sleep four
Where is it? St-Michel-Chef-Chef, Pays de la Loire, France
Fly by night for: From £78, airbnb.co.uk
Host Guillaume promises an exhilarating stay upon this ‘true plane’, cleverly converted to sleep a family of four — with the toilet in the cockpit (sacré bleu!)
It’s grounded on a dedicated campsite open from May to September with all the essential facilities, including a waterpark.
SPEND A NIGHT WITH A SPECIAL MOVIE STAR
Not only has this army helicopter seen active service all over the world, including Afghanistan, but it was also a movie star. Its last job before becoming a boutique glamping pod was in the 2019 Fast & Furious film
What is it? Lynx AH9A helicopter glamping pod
Where is it? Kessingland, Suffolk
Fly by night for: From £69, airbnb.co.uk
Not only has this army helicopter seen active service all over the world, including Afghanistan, but it was also a movie star. Its last job before becoming a boutique glamping pod was in the 2019 Fast & Furious film.
Owner John Powell, 51, bought it for £10,000 plus delivery from the film studio the day the movie came out. He says: ‘All I wanted to know was can you fit a double bed in the back?’
Owner John Powell, 51, bought it for £10,000 plus delivery from the film studio the day the movie came out. He says: ‘All I wanted to know was can you fit a double bed in the back?’
Now, it sits in his garden and plays host to a stream of excited visitors. He adds: ‘I had expected lots of aviation enthusiasts but, actually, we get lots of single mums and dads coming with their children for a special trip.’
John is often a helicopter passenger, working on a wind farm and helping to check the turbines. A friend jokingly suggested the purchase — not imagining he would buy it.
He says: ‘A tour bus we’d bought for family trips had done really well on Airbnb, so this seemed the perfect next step.’
WONDER AT AN OLD WAR HORSE
Hotelier Barry Woods built the Woodlyn Park estate from scratch two decades ago, before selling the award-winning site in 2018. It is home to four highly unusual place to stay — a Hobbit hotel, a ship, a train and this, a 1950s Bristol Freighter plane believed to be one of the last Allied planes flown in Vietnam
What is it? A 1950s Bristol Freighter plane
Where is it? Otorohanga, New Zealand
Fly by night for: From £100, woodlynpark.co.nz
Hotelier Barry Woods built the Woodlyn Park estate from scratch two decades ago, before selling the award-winning site in 2018.
It is home to four highly unusual place to stay — a Hobbit hotel, a ship, a train and this, a 1950s Bristol Freighter plane believed to be one of the last Allied planes flown in Vietnam.
Now, it sleeps four people in the cockpit and tail.
Barry warns his motel rooms, which also include a 1918 railway cabin, may have ‘a slightly lingering aroma from their industrial past’ . . . but the less said about that, the better.
Barry warns his motel rooms, which also include a 1918 railway cabin, may have ‘a slightly lingering aroma from their industrial past’ . . . but the less said about that, the better