Coffee War 331 in Sattahip
(AtomLineAran / Shutterstock.com)
To escape the many staying at home during this corona period, it is quite nice to go out by car every now and then for some entertainment. Around Pattaya, for example, there are many places to visit, such as lying on the beach, visiting a temple, tasting wine in Silverlake or viewing the gardens of Nong Nooch.
An acquaintance of mine told me that he had made such a tour the previous weekend and also ended up at Coffee War 331 in Sattahip. That is a large parking lot on road 331, where 2 large discarded aircraft are parked. A coffee shop on the plane, where you can drink delicious coffee with a tasty slice of cake in Business Class or Economy Class. You will feel like you are traveling in higher spheres again.
But that's not all, around the planes it is a true open-air museum with countless "vintage" vehicles, planes and an old helicopter. Many of them once had a military function. Of course, the shops with all kinds of souvenirs, (military) clothing and food are not missing.
There are several videos on YouTube, most of them with Thai text, but the images give a good impression of what to expect. On the Facebook page of Coffee War 331 you will find the exact location and nice pictures. All in all a nice tip to spend a few hours there.
In Pattaya there is now also a location called Runway 88, located between Beachroad and Secondroad near Pattaya Discovery Beach Hotel.
Airplane (Boeing 747-217B) has a rich history; first delivered to CP Air (now part of Air Canada) in late 1974, then bought by PIA in 1985 and then (I think, from what I can piece together) by Grandmax Group and leased by Orange Air (Sierra Leone) in 2005, but then stored at Ben Gurion Airport in Israel in 2006 to be scraped until leased by Orient Thai Airlines. (source: airfleets.net)
You know a lot about the history of this aircraft since 1974, the name CP air fell, you are familiar with Canadian Pacific?
No not that, here's another picture of his last stop/dismantling at U-Tapao.
https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/8025163
It is now fully assembled without engines.
Entrance: https://www.google.nl/maps/@12.9428484,100.8882516,3a,75y,277.77h,63.49t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sLDinG5QDXOMbV23B47VfQg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
There is quite a lot of planes parked in Pattaya?
There are already 21 large bins at Pattaya Terminal 2. To stand? No, one hangs from the ground on a column.
Been there, but thought it was just a mess. And quite expensive coffee and snacks that are not even really tasty. There is a queue to board the plane. First and last time for me.
I once found this during one of the moped trips:
https://www.google.be/maps/@12.9516611,100.9463118,3a,75y,16.57h,77.08t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szL973zjo9YP4_InloZymHQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192
Does anyone know anything more about this?
Along highway 2 between Nakhon Ratchasima and Khon Kaen they also put down a scrapped plane a few years ago. It's called Airways Land, in Sida District.
At Khorat there is also a 747 near Suranaree university: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g469414-d12832249-Reviews-Takeoff_Cafe-Nakhon_Ratchasima_Nakhon_Ratchasima_Province.html
Unfortunately you can't get on the plane at the moment, but it's still nice to hang around for an hour and be surprised how many photos are taken.
No complaints about the coffee and pastries by the way, both better than expected.
Yes, another namesake here,
But I am indirectly familiar with CP, namely my late brother-in-law worked for that company in the Netherlands in the 60s and 70s, he was responsible for freight transport.
At the time, the office was located on the Blaak in R'dam.
Can still remember that they had reached a certain quota that offered them a world trip from the company.