Image: A render of the approved construction plans for the new cafe area (Classic Architecture)
Southampton’s Solent Sky Museum is converting an aeroplane into a cafe seating area, which includes seating within the former passenger jet’s cockpit.
The body of a passenger jet is to be transformed into a visitor cafe at Southampton’s Solent Sky Museum.
A two-story extension, providing access to the aircraft-turned-cafe, has been given the green light by the Southampton City Council.
Plans see the aircraft body transformed into a building for visitors to access foot and drink. The plans show sets of tables and chairs set out in the aircraft fuselage, accommodating around 30 visitors, including two seats in the aircraft’s cockpit.
The BAC 1-11 aircraft fuselage will be located next to the museum’s main building. The two-storey extension will provide stairs and lift access from the museum building to the café for visitors and to and from its kitchen.
The aircraft fuselage had previously been bound for the scrap heap, but last year it was acquired by the museum and transported through the streets of Southampton to its new home.
Solent Sky, which opened 40 years ago, houses over 20 aircraft from across the history of aviation, including a type of spitfire manufactured in the a port city.
