An airplane converted into a bar next to Lisbon’s Second Circular became a point of curiosity for years, combining aeronautical nostalgia with urban nightlife. The Convair 880, a commercial jet produced between the late 1950s and early 1960s, went from a flight runway to a social space in an unexpected way.
According to Diário de Notícias, the device was transported to private land in the Portela area, where it gained a new function away from commercial aircraft.
From the runway to the auction
According to the same source, the plane had initially been used on regular flights before being abandoned at Portela airport. It was later bought at auction by a businessman linked to nightlife who decided to transform the jet into a bar.
Transporting the aircraft to its final location next to the Second Circular involved complex logistical planning, including the temporary closure of a lane of road to allow its safe movement.
The plane as a social space
The space, known as O Avião, functioned as a bar and night club, distinguishing itself for its unusual character.
The interior structures of the Convair 880 were adapted to accommodate customers, creating an environment different from what is usual in the city’s leisure areas.
According to the same source, the originality of the concept meant that the place quickly became a reference point for those looking for unusual experiences.
End of an era
The bar’s popularity remained until 2007, when the owner, José Gonçalves, died in a bomb attack outside the establishment.
After the incident, Lisbon City Council decided to intervene. In 2008, the aircraft was dismantled and recycled, ending the most unusual chapter of nightlife near the Second Circular.
The Convair 880, a rare commercial jet model, left a unique mark on the city. According to , the use of the plane as a bar represented one of the most peculiar stories of Lisbon’s nightlife, remaining in the memory of those who passed by the road every day and came across the unusual contrast between the flying machine and the urban routine.
Even dismantled, the episode continues to arouse curiosity among Lisbon residents and tourists who remember the unusual presence of the device in the city.
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