DeeDee Doke/LONDON
Seeking the perfect gift for the aerophile who has everything? Look no further than the 1999 Christmas catalogue from US department store Neiman Marcus: item 50a, described as "a frequent flyer fantasy come to life", is an unfinished Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) for $35,250,000. Adding an interior of choice will cost a cool $10-12 million more. "It's for everyone who's had to fly to London in a middle seat," Neiman Marcus says.
The BBJ's inclusion in the catalogue is not the first time that the store has offered an aircraft as the ultimate holiday gift. In 1960, high-rolling customers could buy his-and-her aircraft, the Beechcraft Super G18 for $149,000 and the Beech Bonanza for $27,000.
So far, the catalogue awaits a BBJ buyer "but we've had a number of people call", Neiman Marcus says. "One lady called and ordered two, but a credit check revealed that she was not a serious buyer."
Source: Flight International
