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Kings of Pop Use The King Of Rock n Roll's Pilot for 100 Hour World Trip
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Date: Nov 20, 2000 US singing sensation the Backstreet Boys are currently being chartered around the world on their 4 day promotional tour by captain Danny Burke - the pilot who used to fly Elvis Presley by private jet on trans-global business and social engagements. The plane used by the band on their ambitious Black& Blue album promotional tour is run by Kalair the company owned by a mystery multi-millionaire Royal Highness and the Backstreet Boys are eager to reveal the luxurious nature of their chosen mode of transport. When you're travelling 26,000 miles in just four days and spending 55 hours out of 100 on board a plane the question of comfort becomes a top priority. But you can forget about a mere 1st class cabin and reclining seats - Backstreet Boys have gone one step further. Nick Carter, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Kevin Richardson and Brian Littrell have hired the private chartered 767 - a purpose built true rock 'n' roll aircraft. Containing a spacious bedroom complete with vibrating double bed, decadent bathroom, leather-clad toilets, vast lounge and fully stocked kitchen on board, it's the equivalent of a coolManhattan apartment with wings. Add to that gold plated fittings on everything from taps to seat belt fastenings and you have the No. 1 chart topping mode of transport of the airway's top 100! "It's immaculate, beautiful, a dream come true," says 22 year old AJ McLean (full name Alexander James) on the band's maiden flight from Stockholm to Tokyo. "I mean it has a whole dining room table with silver service and the most delicious food served up by a personal chef," he elaborates. "We've never travelled in this kind of luxury before," adds AJ's 27 year old bandmate Howie Dorough. "It's a shame we can only afford this for 4 days." "When I first saw it, with Backstreet Boys written down the side, I was blown away," says 25-year-old Brian Littrell. "It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, apart from my wife of course," he adds referring to his wife of just a few weeks, Leighanne Wallace who he met on the set of the band's video for their hit single As Long As You Love Me. Kevin Richardson, the eldest Backstreet Boy at 28 years old, proudly shows off the plane's full credentials from nose to tail. Situated behind the cockpit is the kitchen. Staffed by a private chef the guys are offered a top rate menu including fresh fruits, salmon, roasted vegetables, pizzas and 9 choices of desert. "It's a mixture of healthy food and junk food," Richardson explains just as a blue-haired AJ McLean reaches across for a steaming slice of pizza. A state of the art stereo in the lounge occupied by the guy's personal media party provides an impressive range of dvd movies from "A Bug's Life" to "Matrix", a favourite of Richardson's. It's worth mentioning at this point that the walls of the jet are furnished in polished western maple wood and the complimentary silk beige carpets are 1 inch thick underfoot. The 40-foot lounge has a tardis-like effect, opening up into a very comfortable social area with sumptuous couches lining the walls. "We sometimes play football in here," Richardson explains, without a hint of irony. At the back of the room is the 16-seater dining room table where and a display of all the current glossy magazines nestles next to a basket of chocolates and candy. A door leads to the band's private lounge and offers the guys an area to lay their heads down - indeed an exhausted Littrell spends the best part of the 9 1/2 hour Tokyo to Sydney flight here, sound asleep under a blanket. But it's the double bedroom, wardrobe area and bathroom at the rear of the plane which add that finishing touch fit for princes. "This is so comfy," sighs Richardson stretching out on the bed which has a perfect view of the 44-inch tv screen on the end wall. The wardrobe is piled high with an array of black and blue clothes, worn by the record-breaking band to celebrate the launch of their new album Black & Blue. The shower room, with its elaborate glistening gold plated shower just says it all. "Oh and there's even a water fountain over there in the corner," jokes Richardson gesturing at the sparkling bidet. Normally it's only used by a maximum of 12 exclusive passengers but a party of 27 are accompanying the world's biggest band who incidentally have achieved global status with gold and platinum sales in over 45 countries. Black & Blue World Trip private jet statistics: Age of aircraft: 7 years Cost of plane: originally $65 million but the refurbishment totalled an undisclosed amount although we can reveal that the on-board TV screens alone cost $6000 each. Fuel required for trip: Engine size: CF6-80. Each engine has 62,000 lbs of thrust. No of phones on board: 22 including 2 faxes and 10 satellite links. No of crew members: 8 No of flights: Over 6000. Gallons of water required for showers and toilets: 190 gallons.
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