Aircraft fanatic spends £5k on vintage cockpit – and keeps it in girlfriend’s garden

AN aircraft fanatic has renovated a vintage cockpit — and keeps it in his girlfriend’s garden.

Dean Smith, 45, bought the front of a Hawker Siddeley 125 jet for £5,000 — then got busy in lockdown.

Hawker Siddeley 125 jet cockpit that Dean Smith keeps in his girlfriend’s gardenCaters

CatersInside the jet’s cockpit – recreated it to look — and smell — exactly how it was on its first flight in 1956[/caption]

He has recreated it to look — and smell — exactly how it was on its first flight in 1956.

And he said: “There is a white noise soundtrack playing which makes you feel like you’re on an aircraft.”

The aircraft was used to ferry celebs including actress Elizabeth Taylor, and terror chief Osama bin Laden’s father.

Dean, of Port Talbot, said: “We found a Winnie the Pooh teddy when pulling up the flooring which we believe belonged to a child in the bin Laden family.”

The care assistant plans to turn it into a mini-museum with other jets he is eyeing.

Although girlfriend Rhiannon Reynolds — and her neighbours — are happy for the time being, he says he needs a bigger house with a garden where he can display them.