bristol, england —
Jumping aboard a private jet typically requires a multi-million dollar net worth, a charter membership, and a tolerance for heavy aircraft emissions. But on an industrial estate on the outskirts of the British city of Bristol, a 1960s Boeing 727 offers the same retro luxury without ever leaving the ground.
A retired airliner known as the Pitch Air has been converted into 1,000 square feet of fully microgrid-powered accommodation by local entrepreneur Johnny Palmer.
Sitting atop a stack of shipping containers and generating more solar and wind energy than it actually uses, the facility gives aviation enthusiasts full access to a 1980s time capsule, complete with two lounges, a master bedroom, and an open flight deck where guests can press every button in sight.
But getting there feels like a long way from executive travel.
“Oh, you’re going to the international airport!” my Uber driver said sarcastically as he picked me up at the station and looked at my destination on his app. “Is there a party there?”
“I hope not,” I said, worried that my planned deep sleep would be in jeopardy.
“There’s always a party going on there,” the driver says. “Every weekend.”
Arriving at the venue on a quiet Sunday night, any concerns about a wild party quickly dissipated. The only sound was the low hum of a nearby wind turbine. In stark contrast to the environmental footprint of a jet in flight, it is a quiet reminder of the zero-emissions settings that power the aircraft.
parties and sleepovers
This Boeing 727 first flew in 1967 and joined Japan Airlines in 1968. It was converted into a private jet for the ultra-wealthy in 1981 and flew for 30 years before being retired in 2012. Despite the opulence of its 1980s interior, it is unlikely that it belonged to Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, as rumor has it.
Ten years after his last flight, Mr. Palmer, an activist and entrepreneur, encountered a 727 at an aircraft maintenance yard in the west of England.
“I always wanted an airplane,” Palmer says. “I just think airplanes are so cool. But what fascinates me more than that is the engineering and construction of airplane engines. So my focus was all about having a plane that was mine, but not necessarily flying it.”
After the wings and engines were removed, the 727’s fuselage was transported by road to Bristol. Palmer originally bought the plane as a play area for children’s parties and sleepovers. But after a few years, as the novelty wore off, he decided to put it on a short-term rental platform.
It wasn’t an immediate hit. Palmer believes the sheer novelty of the accommodation initially deterred bookings.
“The pictures are a little strange,” he says. “I think the first guests were a little nervous overall.”
It is natural for them to be hesitant when they first arrive in an industrial area. But getting up close to a 727 and climbing down the pneumatic stairs to board is a real thrill. It’s okay if your carpet is frayed. Ascending the private staircase and boarding the plane sets the tone for your jet set experience.
The plane feels big inside. The over 1,000 square foot layout features two lounges, a master bedroom with a king size bed, a private bathroom with shower, a sofa, a fully equipped kitchen and an original cockpit. True to the spirit of first-class hospitality, the cabinet is fully stocked with liquor. The decor from its heyday in the 1980s has been preserved, making you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
Palmer operates a system based on trust, asking only that guests not steal things or stain the carpet. Surprisingly, there is little alcohol or theft, and that hands-off approach works best on the flight deck, where guests are free to explore.
The cockpit is where the lack of rules shows real magic. Where else can you board a real airplane, even one that has lost its wings, and press as many buttons as you want? No wonder this place attracts many aviation enthusiasts.
Patricia Chuzicka, who prepares the plane before each check-in, said one of her recent guests was a pilot who brought her son along to show her how the controls work. This is impossible on an active flight deck.
Great for a group stay, but can feel a little spooky if you’re alone for the night. When I stayed on a Sunday night, this part of town was deserted and quiet except for the groaning of the wind against the metal fuselage. We took a soak in the outdoor hot tub and visited the sauna to relieve our anxiety, before relaxing in the lounge and watching TV.
For those worried about isolation, Palmer later assured me that between the floodlights, surveillance cameras and high fence fences surrounding the grounds, the plane was “as safe as riding in Bristol.” However, the strangeness of the place is one of the things noted in reviews.
“To make it clear what this place is, we intentionally placed a profile picture of a plane with shipping containers, and we also placed a trash can in the foreground,” says Palmer.
Critics also often mention the age of the aircraft’s interiors, he notes. “We maintain it, we do repairs all the time, but it’s kind of old. The reason we’re renting this is because this is a 1981 interior. If it wasn’t old, it wouldn’t be what it is today.”
As Chuzicka said the next day, it feels like being in a museum. All of its light fixtures are true to the original 1980s design, so finding the right light switch can feel like being in an escape room. I finally gave up on turning off the bathroom light, comforted by the thought that at least renewable energy was being wasted when one button came undone when I pressed it.
The bed was very comfortable and I had a good night’s sleep. When asked where the mattress came from, Mr. Palmer said the mattress was so comfortable that he kept the original. “For all I know, they could be 40 years old,” he added. All bedding is new, so you can rest assured.
Although the weather was perfect during my stay, other guests complained about the summer heat and lack of air conditioning. That’s why we have two large portable fans facing the bed. Palmer said a solution is in the works. It’s a hidden system that pumps cool air through the original vents without changing the retro interior.
Complaints have not slowed private jet bookings, but seats can be hard to come by, especially when demand exploded after multiple media outlets reported that the plane had previously belonged to Escobar.
“The Pablo Escobar story cannot be untrue,” Palmer said. “Someone sent me a message saying they saw a post on Reddit saying it was owned by Pablo Escobar. I think they ended up saying on Wikipedia that this is Pablo Escobar’s plane. This just shows how something that has no basis in truth can become completely true on the internet.”
This flight can be booked on Airbnb and Booking.com. Prices typically range from £250 (about $340) on weekdays to £500 ($680) at weekends. Mr Palmer said prices were deliberately lower than luxury hotels in Bristol, with the aim of making it more accessible to families with children interested in aviation. Prices can exceed £1,000 at Christmas.
This still exceeds the cost of operating a private jet. There’s no turbulence, no jet lag, zero emissions, and there’s a good chance you’re not actually sleeping in a ruthless drug lord’s old bed, so it’s the perfect way to cross a private jet off your bucket list. Not to mention traveling back in time 40 years to make up for lost air miles.
