Some individuals possess a remarkable ability to envision exceptional outcomes for items that no one else appreciates. In 1969, a man named Kenneth W. London spent $61.99 to preserve a legendary plane. He invested time and energy transforming a famous aircraft into an entirely new type of transportation.
The story began several years earlier, when Howard Hughes, an icon of the business world and the founder of Hughes Aircraft Company, decided to specially outfit a Boeing 307 Stratoliner into a unique “Flying Penthouse”.
The reclusive tycoon customized the airplane to incorporate amenities into its design. He created a luxurious plane capable of doubling as a modern business office in the sky.
Eventually, he began using the Flying Penthouse infrequently. After a 1964 hurricane damaged it irreparably, Howard Hughes’ firm transported the shell to an aviation lot for scrap aircraft.
Realtor and pilot Kenneth W. London discovered the remains there five years later and purchased the historic plane for a small sum. Mr. London realized that the damaged Flying Penthouse would never operate well enough to serve reliably as an airplane again. Yet he refurbished the interior.
Eventually, he cut off both wings and hauled the fuselage to a marina for incorporation into a yacht. In July, 1974, the renovated remains of the Flying Penthouse set sail for the first time, newly reincarnated into a boat called “The Londonaire”.
Dave Drimmer purchased the Londonaire in 1981, re-naming the craft “Cosmic Muffin”. Its classy interior eventually appeared in a music video!
