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I’m so obsessed with budget flights I built a plane in my conservatory – it’s got everything a jet has

A FLIGHT fan has built an airline cabin from old passenger jet parts for just £400 — in his conservatory.

IT whizz Alex Shakespeare, 44, found bits for his creation at an aeroplane scrap heap and bought three TUI seats on eBay.

Alex Shakespeare, 44, has assembled an airline cabin inside his conservatory
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Alex Shakespeare, 44, has assembled an airline cabin inside his conservatoryCredit: Gary Stone
Alex has found bits for his creation at an aeroplane scrap heap and bought three TUI seats on eBay
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Alex has found bits for his creation at an aeroplane scrap heap and bought three TUI seats on eBayCredit: Gary Stone
A view from outside Alex's conservatory cabin, in Kent
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A view from outside Alex's conservatory cabin, in Kent

Globe-trotting Alex incorporated a luggage rack and working overhead panel with lights, a climate control fan and a cabin crew call button.

Final approaches footage chosen through the “on-board computer” is shown on the cabin’s window.

It includes videos Alex has made in jets as they come in to land at airports, among others, in New York, Hong Kong, Las Vegas and London.

He also plays Ryanair’s former on-time jingle when “Alex Air” hits the imagined tarmac.

It announces: “Thank you for flying with Ryanair, we look forward to welcoming you on board again soon.”

The message is connected to speakers, along with the “assistance required” tone.

Alex, of Folkestone, Kent, said: “I’ve flown around the world several times and love being in aircraft.

“Having a window seat is my favourite, so Alex Air recreates my ideal experience.

“The cabin has everything you’d get in a real plane as I wanted it to be as close to the real thing as I could get.

I’ve landed at every airport in the videos so it’s great to see those views again.

It brings back lots of happy memories.”

He added: “I’m fascinated by planes and how they work so this was a perfect project for me.

A pilot simulator has been done so many times before and I wanted to do something different, so to recreate being a passenger seemed like the best idea.”

When not relaxing in his creation, Alex uses his cabin to work from home.

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He said: “It’s a bit more exciting than sitting at a normal desk.

It’s really comfortable and the tray table is an ideal place for my computer!”

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