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The half a Billion Dollar flying palace - Rolls Royce not included

by Scott Carmichael (RSS feed) on Jun 9th 2009 at 3:00PM

Holy crap. That is about the only response I have to this Airbus A380 being developed for Saudi prince al-Waleed bin Talal. Of course, the prince has not officially announced that this will indeed be his new home on the road, but enough news has been pieced together to link him to the purchase.

Not only is this the first Airbus A380 sold to a private owner, it is the most expensive private plane ever put together. For comparison - one of the most popular large private planes in the world is the Boeing Business Jet, which starts at "just" $42 Million.

Seriously, someone obviously sat down with some crayons, and decided to design the most insane, over-the-top plane they could. This thing has it all - starting with the special cylindrical elevator that comes out of the bottom of the plane. His Chauffeurs can then drive his Rolls Royce up the ramp on the rear, and park it in his on-board garage.

Relaxation comes from a steam room, Turkish bath, concert hall (with a baby grand piano) or in one of the five private quarters, complete with king size beds. Less fortunate guests will have to spend the night in one of the 20 "normal" first class sleeper suites.

When his Royal Highness needs to get some work done, he can take the elevator up to his boardroom and play with the touch screen TV's or the holographic projection system.

And finally in the lineup of ludicrous additions - get this - the well being room has a floor made from a giant screen, showing what the plane is flying over.

Total price? About $488 Million Dollars.

Gallery: Super Airbus A380

Gallery: Airbus 380 VIP Saloon

Filed under: Photos, Saudi Arabia, Middle East

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Strong Eagle Jun 11th 2009 8:05AM

This is a very fine example of VOLUNTARY wealth transfer. A guy with far too much money spends half a billion that creates jobs for many people. Let's see if we can get him to buy two.

George Jun 11th 2009 2:39PM

This is the guy for whom the phase was coined: "When the revolution comes he will be the first against the wall."

Jeff Jun 11th 2009 8:46PM

Okay, I'm envious. I was feeling real good about my portfolio going up $92.00 and then I see this. The guy really knows how to live, eh!

shell Jun 19th 2009 11:52AM

you know what would really be funny .... if this shit is too heavy to stay in the air and falls out the sky hahahah. with this much crap messing up the sky and air it must have the engine of the titantic or the space shuttle challenger??????????

bill Jun 11th 2009 9:31PM

Obama should not permit this act of extravagnce!!! Only Barack and Big Brown are allowed to use a jumbo jet "privately"; i.e AIR FORCE ONE.

KR Jun 13th 2009 2:33PM

Pardon me but how can Obama realistically stop a Saudi prince from buying a luxury plane???

CJC Jun 12th 2009 8:19AM

He will probaly want to be buried in it when his time comes.......!

Andy Jun 11th 2009 10:30PM

I gotta get me one of those.

jOHN Jun 11th 2009 10:49PM

Don't be jealous of this man and don't tell someone how to spend their money. People are saying take care of others. Well doesn't this country do too much of that already? Take a drive thru the hood. No one works. Shiny wheels on all the cars. Housing, medical, utilities, food stamps and a check. Why work? I wouldn't mind sitting on the porch all day drinking Colt 45, smoking and playing scratch-off lotto tickets.

As for this Jet. I hope he does the inside furnishings differently. Somebody went nuts with the sofas. Just because it's a plane, you don't have to make it look like the Crown Club at the airport.

Butch Whitmon Jun 13th 2009 6:24AM

Now we know why gas costs close to three dollars a gallon and rising.

Gordon Jun 13th 2009 6:28AM

YOUR BAILOUT DOLLARS AT WORK!

Hugh Jassol Jun 13th 2009 1:13PM

Gordon, you are truly a nitwit. Do you just say stupid stuff to see what reaction you'll get or do you really believe it? You are an embarrassment to Republican Conservatives everywhere, and that's pretty impressive. You've got to go a long way to embarrass a party that consists of men's-room-homos, paranoid liars, prescription drug addicts and (of course) George Bush.