A BUSINESSMAN who bought part of a Boeing 737 for £5,000 and is set to make a fortune has revealed he was surprised by people's reaction to his new venture.
Steven Northam, 39, has used the front half of the '60s-era aircraft to open a unique AirBnB.
Steven, a university lecturer from Colden Common, Hampshire, revealed that he "wasn't expecting" the level of support he received from his friends, family and even the local council.
Discussing his application for planning permission, he said: "It was a concern that if I didn’t get it granted, what I would do with half a 737 plane.
"The council were really supportive of this innovative, different quirky idea, which I wasn’t expecting.
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"But everyone was quite supportive and helpful, and I’m glad it’s gone through."
The unusual rental has proved popular already and has racked up a 300-strong waiting list.
The cabin has been converted to house four people and retains many of its original features.
Overhead lockers, plane seats and toilets all remain in the jet, bough from a training centre at Chichester College, West Sussex.
However, Steven has included a few extras, including a flight simulator and hot tub.
He even found old flight tickets from Tunisia to France between the seats.
Steven added: "It’s a very old-school plane.
"It’s one of the very early ones - it’s retro."
And the entrepreneur is nowhere near done with his quirky conversions.
He is still working on a sewage treatment plant and planting trees around the plane, while he is about to begin converting an armoured vehicle into a caravan.
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It comes as the Government is set to make major changes to AirBnB rentals to combat anti-social behaviour.
Meanwhile, there is a Barbie dream house available on the site, with the all-pink mansion available to be hired right here in the UK.
