Curved couches of the autocrats

August 12, 2010 3:03 PM

Inside the private jets of African dictators and other heads of state. (Slideshow of photographs by Nick Gleis.)
posted by WPW (29 comments total)

due to the private contractual nature of his photography, he will not disclose for the exhibition which aircraft belongs to which client.

BASTARD.
posted by elizardbits at 3:07 PM on August 12, 2010

I think Matt Helm owns one of them.
posted by mazola at 3:09 PM on August 12, 2010

These reminds me of Mike Tyson's abandoned mansion.
posted by nitsuj at 3:13 PM on August 12, 2010 [3 favorites]

The curvedcouches tag looks, at a glance, appropriately obscene.
posted by xod at 3:14 PM on August 12, 2010 [2 favorites]

Photo 7, with the seven-seat table on the left of the screen, is the jet of the President for Life of Tukrmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov - check out the map on the rear wall.
posted by mdonley at 3:14 PM on August 12, 2010 [3 favorites]

These are far more luxurious than I'd have imagined, mostly because the private aircraft in films aren't nearly so elaborate most of the time.

I find it interesting that Hollywood, which usually exaggerates things so enormously, seems to have underestimated reality in this regard.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 3:16 PM on August 12, 2010 [4 favorites]

due to the private contractual nature of his photography, he will not disclose for the exhibition which aircraft belongs to which client.

Ernst Stavro Blofeld, Hugo Drax, Auric Goldfinger, Dr. Kananga, Emilio Largo, Francisco Scaramanga, Karl Stromberg.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 3:19 PM on August 12, 2010 [3 favorites]

Without the context of the owner, these images seem really neutered, albeit luxurious. I can't muster any outrage if I don't know who owns what, dammit.
posted by quadrilaterals at 3:20 PM on August 12, 2010

Oh, well spotted mdonley! For a guy who liked to rename bits of the calendar in honour of his family, that's actually one of the less ostentatious interiors.

From the shape of the cabin, I think image 3 is the upper deck of a 747. That is really serious money - I imagine oil is somehow involved.
posted by WPW at 3:22 PM on August 12, 2010

mostly because the private aircraft in films aren't nearly so elaborate most of the time.

Yeah, my first thought was "man, Tony Stark is gonna be jealous".
posted by elizardbits at 3:27 PM on August 12, 2010

So the rich don't need seat belts for planes or are they tucked under the throw pillows?
posted by NoraCharles at 3:32 PM on August 12, 2010

Very tacky. The all look like the inside of a 70's van, where price was no object.
posted by doctor_negative at 3:39 PM on August 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

Either the pictures are from a small range of aircraft or there is some strange stylistic uniformity to the interior design. I guess that maybe there are only a small number of firms that do these customizations.
posted by rongorongo at 3:46 PM on August 12, 2010

am I really the only one whos first thought was "star trek"????
posted by supermedusa at 3:53 PM on August 12, 2010 [1 favorite]

am I really the only one whos first thought was "star trek"????

Well, mine was "flying bordello"...
posted by Skeptic at 3:59 PM on August 12, 2010

am I really the only one whos first thought was "star trek"????

Ah, now I have a good visual for all that sexy fanfic.

Good evening, Deanna. I need to have a word with you in my quarters...
posted by chillmost at 4:09 PM on August 12, 2010

doctor_negative: "The all look like the inside of a 70's van, where price was no object."

You say that like it's a bad thing!
posted by brundlefly at 4:20 PM on August 12, 2010 [3 favorites]

Vladimir Putin's plane. Google it for more photos.
posted by vidur at 4:21 PM on August 12, 2010

To use an old expression: "Only a pimp from Pomona..."

although I don't think that pimps in Pomona actually make that much.

Not that I'd know.
posted by Halloween Jack at 4:26 PM on August 12, 2010

If I could have one of these I might actually learn to enjoy flying. Well that an no wait on the tarmac.
posted by dame at 4:37 PM on August 12, 2010

Big pimpin', indeed.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:05 PM on August 12, 2010

From the shape of the cabin, I think image 3 is the upper deck of a 747. That is really serious money - I imagine oil is somehow involved.

Correct plane, but it's the main deck, looking forward at the nose area. The usable upper deck width is barely 11 ft.
posted by crapmatic at 5:36 PM on August 12, 2010

Nutballs.
posted by donovan at 5:39 PM on August 12, 2010

In comparison, the interior of Air Force One looks like a flying version of Conference Room B at the Sheraton out by the airport. Hooray for Democracy!
posted by billyfleetwood at 6:04 PM on August 12, 2010 [2 favorites]

Dictators have tiny penises. Noted.
posted by klanawa at 6:42 PM on August 12, 2010

Putin's plane has its own ironing board!
posted by rongorongo at 1:54 AM on August 13, 2010

Interesting post, thanks WPW.

Whilst the photos are fascinating I am more interested to know how Mr Gleis goes about making an approach to photo the private jets of dictators. Whilst I can understand their ego driven nature, how would a photographer navigate access to the Chinese head of state for example.
posted by numberstation at 2:39 AM on August 13, 2010

mostly because the private aircraft in films aren't nearly so elaborate most of the time.

Yeah, within the world of private aircraft there is a huge cost variation. A Gulfstream costs a few mill. and maybe a few hundred k a year to maintain and operate. A 747 costs more than 200 million to buy, a totally different kind of rich, right there.
posted by atrazine at 5:38 AM on August 13, 2010

Star Trek? My first thought was Barbarella! The 60's concept of the near future
posted by Redhush at 12:23 PM on August 13, 2010 [1 favorite]