Meet Felix Demin. At 33, this Russian entrepreneur built 150+ properties in Bali. But in 2020, he took on a project that had locals calling him crazy... He bought an abandoned Boeing 737, hauled it onto a cliff edge, and turned it into a luxury villa. Here’s the full story:🧵
Felix had already created the Bubble Hotel–a transparent dome hotel that became one of Airbnb's Top 10 most unique stays. He thrived on creating “non-standard” hospitality experiences, believing they attract more demand. But his vision was about to get much more ambitious.
In 2020, while others were retreating from risk, Felix had an idea: 1. Find an abandoned airplane. 2. Perch it on a cliff edge. 3. Transform it into the most viral luxury villa in the world. A project so challenging it would test the limits of engineering and his sanity.
The search began for the perfect plane. Felix discovered a Boeing 737-200 that had been sitting abandoned for a decade. Once part of Indonesia's Mandala Airlines fleet, it was about to be sold as scrap metal to China when Felix stepped in.
Next challenge: finding the perfect cliff. Felix secured a narrow plot 150 meters above Nyang Nyang Beach in Uluwatu, with breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean. The stage was set for what he called "a nightmare... more difficult than all my other 150 projects combined."
The logistical challenge was staggering: - 50,000 bolts to remove for disassembly - 600 meters of new road built just for transport - A week-long journey by truck through Bali's narrow roads
And that was just the beginning: - Two massive cranes tested fate to lift it onto the cliff - A 20-person crew worked for two months to reassemble the plane
When locals saw a Boeing 737 being hauled through their villages, they thought Felix was crazy. They weren't wrong. At one point, strong coastal winds nearly toppled the fuselage during installation. The team had to anchor it deep into the cliff bedrock to prevent disaster.
Inside, the transformation was equally ambitious. - Wings transformed into sundecks - The cockpit became a jacuzzi bathroom with ocean views - Custom furniture was built to fit the curved walls of the fuselage
When the Private Jet Villa finally opened in December 2023, it exploded online. The property has generated: - 183,000 followers - 210+ million total views on Instagram - Top posts reaching 116M+, 44.5M+, 16.9M+ views
Today, the villa rents for $2k - $4k/ night. Guests can arrive by helicopter on a private helipad. They enjoy: - Two luxury suites - A personal chef & butler - Infinity pool over the cliff - Sunset views from the wing terraces It's exactly the viral villa Felix envisioned.
Felix took a massive risk–and it paid off tenfold. Building unique stays is a gamble with countless headaches. Onera was no exception. We dealt with everything from skeptical banks to multi-million dollar engineering challenges. But the ROI when it works out? 100% worth it.
The lesson is clear: in today's hospitality market, the extraordinary wins. Whether it's a jet on a cliff or a treehouse resort, guests are seeking experiences they can't find anywhere else. And they're willing to pay premium prices for them.
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