Spearmint Rhino Companies, the group of gentlemen’s clubs, has recently purchased a Cessna 421C. Scott Brown, vice president of logistical services, told EBAN: “There were a combination of factors which prompted us to buy the aircraft. It was a good purchase price because of the depression in the market at

the time we bought it and it’s a reasonably good looking aircraft.

“But time is the main reason, what can be a twelve hour round trip by car to Leeds takes only

three quarters of an hour in the Cessna.”

The used aircraft will generally travel short distances around the UK and within Europe. “The most frequent trips will be to Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin and occasionally to Madrid. We’re in the middle of developing a couple of units on mainland Europe where we don’t currently have any. So if there’s four of us we’ll jump into the 421, but with just one person it will make more economic sense to fly commercially,” said Brown.

The company operates aircraft itself privately, with Brown and another colleague flying. “Two of us have licenses to fly the 421 and we’re the only people I’d trust to fly it. It’s the most complex piston aircraft there is; it’s harder to fly than a jet and temperamental so you have to be on top of it all the time. I wouldn’t let just anyone fly it,” explained Brown.

The aircraft has not been reconfigured since purchase. It still has seven seats, four of which are set round two tables. However, the exterior has had graphics put on with the Spearmint Rhino logo. “The Cessna 421 is a practical and usable aircraft, however in my mind it doesn’t set the correct image we need to portray. I’ve already looked at several options for longer range aircraft, but we’re not at the stage where we can justify that kind of money ourselves on a jet.

“We’re opening four locations in Australia within the next year, another ten in Europe and four or five in the UK. We’re always adding locations in the US and the company will maintain its base in LA, with regional hubs in places like London, Melbourne, and Europe. So in two years time it may even be that we’re looking at buying something like a Global Express,” said Brown.

In the future Brown didn’t disregard the possibility of offering the aircraft out to charter. “We have other ideas for the aircraft, and it may end up flying clients around as well as company executives,” he added.