Sky-high camper fails to take off

Quirky camper conversions of retired passenger jet planes are not that unusual, but this is the biggest and zaniest we've seen so far.

Based on the front end (nose and front fuselage) of a 1989 McDonnell Douglas MD-88 jet airliner, the now trailable 40ft long plane-camper sleeps up to four adults thanks to its refurbished, work 'n play interior.

"The current set-up was for a sales office but it can easily be reconfigured to accommodate sleeping," the current owner says.

Gone are the original plane's wings, tail, and engines, with the camper conversion adding a front patio complete with ramp steps and domestic-style front door.

For camping, there's a galley with fridge, flat grille, two-burner hotplate and an ice maker, along with a 'fully functional' toilet, air-conditioning, and TV and Bose stereo entertainment.

Aviation buffs will appreciate the original coach-class and steward seats, still fully instrumented front cockpit and fully operational Microsoft Flight Simulator X, along with other 'mile high' touches like the cloudy sky wallpaper.

'Fuel type' is now 'electric', rather than the energy-packed jet fuel used in its previous life, with the trailer also wired up for connection to mains power.

In its prime the McDonnell-Douglas MD-88 cruised through the skies at 30,000 feet at a speed of around 950km/h, but as a cut-down gooseneck trailer and weighing over eight tonnes it's unlikely to reach 100km/h towed behind a big American pick-up.

Listed on eBay, the unique trailer attracted 11 bids with a high bid of US$38,177 (just over $50,000 Aussie); well short of the reserve price of US$62,500 ($AUD$83,000)...