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Cabin curries could be the start of a new venture to convert old airplanes into dining destinations
It's the high-flying Indian restaurant which could really take off.
Because pilot Mustafa Azim Aolad has teamed up with Birmingham chef Mofur Miah to launch the new curry venue – in a plane.
Mustafa owns Imperial Air Salvage and has converted an old Vickers VC10 into the 110-seater restaurant, currently parked up at Bruntingthorpe Airfield in Lutterworth, Leicestershire.
The unique eatery will stage a summer charity event and, if successful, the entrepreneurs plan to launch other aeroplane restaurants across the Midlands, including in Birmingham.
As a pilot, Mustafa made a living flying planes for celebrities including TV presenter Anthea Turner, rapper Snoop Dogg and DJ Jonny Vaughan.
He also recently provided two old planes for Hollywood blockbuster Edge Of Tomorrow, starring Tom Cruise.
But now he and Mofur, who owns the Amina Indian restaurant in Sutton Coldfield, have their eyes on the skies for their new charity event, which could lead to the new business venture.
Mustafa said: “We are looking to trial the idea first and if it is successful and proves to be very popular then we will be looking to submit planning applications to a number of council’s across the Midlands including Birmingham.
“We are looking at derelict sites and have identified a number of possible locations including vacant land which was used by the former Little Chef.
“We really think there could be a lot of air miles in this idea and hope to submit plans very soon.
“We have a number of Indian restaurant owners who have expressed an interest in converting one of our salvaged planes into an Indian restaurant.’’
The two men have worked together before.
Earlier this year Mofur’s takeaway teamed up with Mustafa to deliver hundreds of curries to UN troops in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The chef said of the new plane venture: “When Mustafa came to me with the idea I thought it was brilliant. It is unique and I think we will get a lot of interest.
“If it proves to be a success then I would certainly be interested in taking the plans to the next stage.
“It will be a whole new dining experience for Indian restaurant fans.”
I think the dear old BAC 1-11 was louder than the VC10.
To be honest, everything is loud at Brunty's events due to how close the crowd is to the aircraft at the end of the runway when they pull on the power. Even the JP & the Iskra!!
Seeing the VC10 fast taxi at Brunti was great. I used to like watching them do circuits and bumps at RAF Lyneham and enjoyed flying on them when going out fixing UKMAMS equipment.
Flew to Ascension and back in the VC 10. On my return from Ascension was driven to Heathrow from Brize Norton to pick up the Shuttle to Glasgow and flew up on one of the last Trident Three's... Just wish the RAF at the time would have on-board entertainment... Need to dig out the photos...
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