Flying can make most travelers pretty cranky, myself included. The crowded seating and inconsiderate fellow passengers crawl under our skin — and then we have to deal with the headache-inducing ear-popping issues as the cabin pressure feels like its right inside our skulls. But what we're really doing with all our complaining is taking for granted the fact that we're lucky enough to be able to travel somewhere at all.
Bahadur Chand Gupta, a retired aircraft engineer, may have left his flying days behind him, but that doesn't stop him from climbing into the cockpit of his very own airbus on a daily basis. Even though he never leaves the ground, he still gives the local school children and other community members an experience they'll never forget.
Based outside of New Delhi, India, Gupta offers a tour and learning opportunity for those who would otherwise never be able to see the inside of an airplane. He knows how underprivileged the residents of his small nearby village of Haryana are, so he allows them on board for just one dollar. Sometimes, he waives the fee completely if the guests are particularly low on funds. Basically, Gupta's cabin doors are always open for anyone who wants to see what air travel is like.
He purchased the aircraft for about $9,000 after his retirement in 2003. It's now known as "the Flight to Nowhere," and it continues to put smiles on countless faces.
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Staycation: The $1 Flight to Nowhere by BarcroftTV
