Artist plans to bury 727 jetliner in Calif. desert

[January 27, 2012]  BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (AP) -- A Swiss artist plans to bury an intact Boeing 727 jetliner in California's Mojave Desert and build a tourist tunnel to give visitors a chance to view the underground project.

Christoph Buchel has applied for a Kern County conditional-use permit that will allow him to bury the 153-foot-long decommissioned airliner west of Boron. It's not far from the desert's aircraft boneyard.

The Bakersfield Californian (http://bit.ly/yMACE6) reports the project, dubbed "Terminal," already has planning department staff approval.

The jetliner would be buried 38 feet below the surface.

Visitors will be able to experience the subterranean art project via an underground tunnel connecting the plane to a parking area. They'll be able to use the plane's restrooms, which will be connected to a septic system.

[Associated Press]

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