Vintage aeroplane converted to a luxury hotel

A vintage aeroplane which was used to fly East Germany's Communist leader, has been converted into a luxury hotel in the Netherlands. The Aeroplane hotel suite began life as a four engine propeller plane during the Cold War and was used to transport Erich Honecker, the East German politician who oversaw the building of the Berlin Wall and eventually went on to lead the Democratic Republic of Germany. On Friday, the aeroplane will start operating as a five-star hotel which can sleep two guests in the queensize bed. And with its own sauna, plasma TV and whirlpool bath, the 40 metre long suite promises to be considerably more comfortable than your average economy class seat. The hotel is the inspiration of Dutch businessman Ben Thijssen who found the plane in the village of Harbke, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It had enjoyed an earlier life as a restaurant but was quickly turning to scrap. Spotting a business opportunity he bought it for 25,000 Euros and has since invested 450,000EU in renovating it. Thijssen said Honecker would be envious to see his plane turned into a five-star hotel. For 350 euros a night two guests can enjoy all the Honecker's authentic features, including the cockpit with Russian instruments, four propeller engines and a runway-side seat at Teuge Airport near Apeldoorn in central Netherlands.