Azerbaijan hopes this unusual restaurant in a plane will become its hottest tourist attraction

It may look like it has just crash landed awkwardly, but this plane is actually Azerbaijan's hottest new restaurant.

Perched on the side of a mountain on stilts, the somewhat dilapidated plane has opened as an eatery, aiming to give tourists spectacular views across the mountainous Quba district.

While the plane looks like it has seem better days, it is the final realisation of a dream by businessman Natig Berkmirzoyev who said he had always wanted to own a restaurant with a great view.

Locals are hoping the type Tu-134B plane will attract tourists to the area, which is famed for its winter sports.

Mr Berkmirzoyev said: 'I was looking around for a while for the right plane and eventually bought this decommissioned Russian made aircraft, the Russian-built type Tu-134B.

'As far as I'm concerned it's a great idea because it's completely weatherproof and although turning a plane into a restaurant is not a new idea, I don't know anybody that has put a plane on the side of a mountain before.'

The 43-year-old businessman said that he hoped that the unusual plane might even inspire people to book a flight to Azerbaijan.

He said: 'It is located above the ground on two supporting columns on the slope of the mountains in Quba District.

'I decided to build a 17.5 metres section onto the pillars, and the cabin crew or waiters if you prefer will be located in a building at the end of the plane together with the kitchens. The plane section itself is about eight tonnes.'

Customers will even be able to access the restaurant via a proper plane stairway.

The businessman explained: 'I want to make it a really authentic experience for visitors.'

He added that with five-star cuisine and a first-class view he was hoping it would soon become one of the main tourist destinations.

Bakudaily.az