This Boeing 307 Stratoliner served as a commercial aircraft before it was purchased for personal use by American billionaire Howard Hughes in 1939 for around $315,000 (around $6.5 million today). Just 10 years later, Hughes sold the Boeing, but not before giving it a remodel that included a bar, lounge, bunk beds and a bathroom worthy of a mansion. Dubbed The Flying Penthouse, it was severely damaged during Hurricane Cleo in 1964 in Florida, and was deemed no longer flight-worthy.
With her tail and wings cut off, the Boeing’s transformation to a motor yacht began. Under the new name Londonaire, the Stratoliner became seaworthy. She was purchased by Ken London, who oversaw her metamorphosis. To be capable of actually cruising, the bottom fuselage was removed and a custom-built, fiberglass boat hull was attached. London also added twin inboard V8 engines that were linked to the original aircraft controls. The interior was maintained. Eventually, London had to part ways with his aircraft-turned-yacht. She was listed as a 56-foot houseboat in Fort Lauderdale for $8,500 in 1981.
Dave Drimmer was looking to buy a houseboat when he came across Londonaire. He did a double take at her price, purchased the vessel and began a major refit. Singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffet became enamored with the vessel when he noticed it on the water in Fort Lauderdale, leading him to draw major inspiration from the craft for his novel Where Is Joe Merchant? Drimmer then named the houseboat Cosmic Muffin, after Buffet’s imagined creation.
Drimmer used the boat as his personal residence and continued to invest in Cosmic Muffin. New teak floors and a queen-sized berth in place of the bunk beds were just a few of the upgrades. Drimmer also replaced the hull and fitted her with a pair of 9.9-hp Yamahas, which were later replaced with 50-hp outboards. Drimmer lived aboard for almost 20 years, until her maintenance and repair costs became too high. In 2016 he donated the vessel to the Florida Air Museum. Last year, she was purchased by aircraft collector Kermit Weeks to undergo restoration.
This article was originally published in the May 2024 issue.
