This Is PYTCHAir, a Boeing 727 Airliner That Makes '80s Billionaire Kitsch Accessible

This is the premise of PYTCHAir, arguably one of the most unexpected glamping units in the UK and maybe even the world.

If the name rings a bell, it's probably because it made headlines before, back when a chopped up Boeing 727 airliner blocked traffic and caused a massive commotion on the M5 motorway, as it made its way from Cotswold Airport in Glouchestershire to Bristol, where businessman and owner Johnny Palmer planned to use it as a headquarters for his business.

PYTCHAir also stands out as a brilliant example of upcycling, with a charm of its own because of Palmer's decision to keep the old styling of the cabin, which he describes as '80s billionaire kitsch. It goes perfectly with the current use of the aircraft, as a glamping unit with billionaire flair.

PYTCHAir started out as Boeing 727 airliner that served with Japan Airlines as a passenger airliner, starting with 1968 and until the '70s, when it was converted into a private aircraft. As a private jet, it apparently led a "colorful life" that saw it "conduct secret trips for military purposes, as well as [being] a private jet for Middle-eastern royalty," according to the company.

Details are not offered, but that last part becomes apparent when you have a single look inside the cabin, which retains the private jet layout with a master bedroom, several lounge and conference areas, and three bathrooms. Technically, it's one bathroom and two half-baths, but the result is the same: it has three restrooms spread out evenly throughout the cabin allowing guests to use with maximum convenience – and minimal stress in case of an emergency.

In 2012, the 727 took its last flight to Cotswold, where it would remain until 2018 when Palmer bought it. Like every other world-famous story of aircraft upcycling, this one, too, has the same ingredients: the aircraft had been stripped of its wings, tail, and engines and was about to be sold as scrap. Palmer got word of it, and, thinking that buying a £50+ million aircraft at a huge discount was too good a deal to pass, he bought it.

It would be another three years before he could decide what exactly he wanted to do with it and then arrange for the transport that would make headlines around the world. The reason why there aren't more examples of upcycled aircraft in civilian use is that transport is often too complicated and too expensive – and that's even before the actual build starts. That is to say, buying a decommissioned aircraft at a fraction of the price is less uncommon and less of a bargain than you'd think.

Once it arrived in Bristol, PYTCHAir became the highlight of Skyline Park BS4. The initial plan was to turn it into an office space for Palmer's business, which was abandoned when he realized that he wanted to keep the lavish, if decidedly dated, interior. So, it became occasional HQ and everything else you could think of for such an interior, like a filming location and a tourist hotspot.

Everything else was styled to match and complement the outrageous interior.

The fuselage was painted by local artists and plopped on several shipping containers to create the impression that it's flying. The containers serve as the runway, and there's even a landing pad to which the rear stairs open. It was no easy feat securing the aircraft to the containers, but Palmer says that the entire system is over-engineered to ensure nothing goes wrong, thanks to custom dollies, spreaders, struts, and ties that keep it in place.

Palmer might have initially planned something different for the interior, but it's great that he decided to restore the original instead. Sure enough, it's tacky and shiny and gaudy in a way in which only a Russian or Middle-eastern billionaire would appreciate, but it's not ugly. You get intricate, rich upholstery, leather finishes, and the shiniest mahogany and veneers throughout.

Palmer also restored a big chunk of the cockpit, which now has functional lights and a part of the avionics. He assumed – correctly so – that an upcycled aircraft would have double the appeal of similar projects if the cockpit was brought back to its former glory or, at least, the closest thing to it possible.

The cabin features a bedroom with a king-size bed and an ensuite bathroom, with additional sleeping on a bunk bed, a pull-out couch, and several sofas. There's a dining room, a lounge, a full kitchen complete with everything from dishwasher to two ovens and a refrigerator, two other baths without a shower, and enough space to move around or just Netflix & chill. Palmer made sure to add several large-screen TVs that are disguised as mirrors when not in use.

PYTCHAir is now being offered for rent for a minimal two-night stay to anyone interested in experiencing a taste of the high-flying billionaire life – you know, without being high in the air. Or a billionaire.