AN AEROPLANE is to be given a new lease of life at a leisure venue near Glasgow after being salvaged from a scrapyard.

The fuselage of a Boeing 737 is to be installed at the front of the former Rolls Royce aero engine factory near Glasgow, which is now a go-karting and leisure centre called The Experience.

After a 24 year career flying under the flags of Air France and Siberian Airways, the aircraft will now be turned into a dining area at the venue which is operated as a social enterprise.

Bosses at The Experience hope the plane will become a landmark in the area and attract visitors.

Based in Hillington Park, the venue operates as a social enterprise providing job opportunities for young people.

The Boeing 737-500 has a wing span of 94ft and length of 101ft.

This particular aircraft has had a long and varied career, flying to destinations including Paris, Hamburg, Kiev and Moscow. The front 37ft from the nose cone back will protrude from the wall facing Montrose Avenue and required special planning permission from Renfrewshire Council.

The plane will be transferred up the motorway next week from Cotswold Airport under escort.

A spokesman said: “The plane has been salvaged by a professional team based at Cotswold Airport. The parts of the plane that will not be transported such as the wings and engines are to be recycled in an environmentally friendly way.

“Before being loaded for its final destination, the fuselage will be specially cut so that the 40ft long section can fit onto the lorry.

“The plane will then leave from the South of England under escort vehicles on the Wednesday evening. It is anticipated to arrive in Glasgow by Thursday afternoon where it will be unloaded and put into position ready for installation.”

General Manager Mike Edwin said he hoped it would attract more people to the social enterprise.

It includes Scotland’s only electric Go-karting Arena, The Academy restaurant and training kitchens, flexible events and party spaces.

Mr Edwin said: “This is an exciting way of recycling a disused jet and creating a fun and imaginative space for our visitors.

“We are aiming to have kids parties, fine dining, and meeting and training facilities inside the plane itself. And as a landmark, people interested in just getting up close to a plane of this size are more than welcome to come take a look.

“There is a great tradition of engineering and technology on this site. We are currently creating a history tunnel that tells the story of aircraft building on this site.

“I am sure that when people drive past and see the scale of the jet it will get people intrigued into the past life of The Experience, as well finding out what we offer now.”