Jul 21, 2009, 14:07 GMT
Sydney - Joining the 'mile high club' can be a pretty sordid affair unless you travel by executive jet. For most, it's a quick coupling in a cramped 747 toilet.
Brisbane-based Erotic Airways, the brainchild of commercial pilot Craig Justo, was formed in 2006 to bring a bit of romance into the qualification process. Couples, even threesomes, could hire a twin-engine Beech H-18S for a joyride and a romp over Australia's east coast.
Justo describes what was on offer: 'Satin sheets, champagne, strawberries, flowers and even a certificate to show their friends.'
Over 100 couples earned their wings before the global recession forced the former bomber-trainer into the hangar to wait for the economic thaw. Justo expects Erotic Airways to be flying again in six months. 'Most couples are celebrating anniversaries or birthdays,' he said. 'That's the bulk of the business.'
Flights are either 40 minutes or an hour - with most settling for the full 60 minutes. 'They want to have plenty of time rather than be rushed,' he said.
The hum of two noisy engines brings privacy and there is a barrier between the pilot and the passengers. 'We try to please people,' Justo said. 'What most people ask for is a bit of extra turbulence.'
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