The StarShip

		(Taken from Hammer Of The Gods by Richard Cole and Led Zeppelin-The Concert File by Dave Lewis and Simon Pallet) Thanks to Led-Zeppelin.Org for this information! Travelling was always considered a major chore by Zeppelin. Neither Jimmy Page nor Peter Grant were particularly fond of flying, and Bonham was often known to require a drink or two to calm his nerves before taking off. In a country the size of America, air travel was a necessity, and so some sort of accomodations had to be made. Beginning with the 1972 U.S. tour, the band traveled in a small private Falcon Jet hired by Grant. Unfortunately, these aircraft are comparatively light and susceptible to air turbulence. After performing a show at San Francisco's Kezar Stadium on June 2, 1973, Zeppelin encountered bad turbulence on a flight back to Los Angeles. This unnerving incident persuaded Grant that if they were going to have to fly, they would do it in as much style, comfort and safety as possible-regardless of cost. The Starship-a Boeing 720B forty-seater, owned by singer Bobby Sherman and one of the creators of The Monkees, was leased at a cost of $30,000 for the remaining three weeks of the tour. Inside, the main cabin contained seats and tables, revolving arm chairs, a 30-foot long couch running along the right hand side of the plane opposite the bar, a television set and video cassette player; an electronic organ was built into the bar. At the rear of the plane were two back rooms, one a den with a low couch and pillows on the floor, the other a bedroom, complete with a white fur bedspread and shower room. The Starship was even staffed by two stewardesses, Susie, and attractive eighteen-year old blonde, and Bianca, a twenty-two year old with a dark complexion and a sense of humor. The Starship was again used throughout the entire 1975 U.S. tour, by which time Bonzo liked to occupy the co-pilot's seat. "He flew us all the way froom New York to L.A. once," Peter Grant told a startled fellow traveler on one tour, "He ain't got a license, mind..." Starship's usefulness to Zeppelin ended when, in 1977, it was grounded at Long Beach Airport due to engine problems. Cole eventually chartered a successor, "Caesar's Chariot," a Boeing 707 owned by the Caesar's Palace Hotel in Las Vegas.

(Taken from Hammer Of The Gods by Richard Cole and
Led Zeppelin-The Concert File by Dave Lewis and Simon Pallet)

Thanks to Led-Zeppelin.Org for this information!

Travelling was always considered a major chore by Zeppelin. Neither Jimmy Page nor Peter Grant were particularly fond of flying, and Bonham was often known to require a drink or two to calm his nerves before taking off. In a country the size of America, air travel was a necessity, and so some sort of accomodations had to be made.

Beginning with the 1972 U.S. tour, the band traveled in a small private Falcon Jet hired by Grant. Unfortunately, these aircraft are comparatively light and susceptible to air turbulence. After performing a show at San Francisco's Kezar Stadium on June 2, 1973, Zeppelin encountered bad turbulence on a flight back to Los Angeles. This unnerving incident persuaded Grant that if they were going to have to fly, they would do it in as much style, comfort and safety as possible-regardless of cost.

The Starship-a Boeing 720B forty-seater, owned by singer Bobby Sherman and one of the creators of The Monkees, was leased at a cost of $30,000 for the remaining three weeks of the tour.

Inside, the main cabin contained seats and tables, revolving arm chairs, a 30-foot long couch running along the right hand side of the plane opposite the bar, a television set and video cassette player; an electronic organ was built into the bar. At the rear of the plane were two back rooms, one a den with a low couch and pillows on the floor, the other a bedroom, complete with a white fur bedspread and shower room.

The Starship was even staffed by two stewardesses, Susie, and attractive eighteen-year old blonde, and Bianca, a twenty-two year old with a dark complexion and a sense of humor.

The Starship was again used throughout the entire 1975 U.S. tour, by which time Bonzo liked to occupy the co-pilot's seat. "He flew us all the way froom New York to L.A. once," Peter Grant told a startled fellow traveler on one tour, "He ain't got a license, mind..."

Starship's usefulness to Zeppelin ended when, in 1977, it was grounded at Long Beach Airport due to engine problems. Cole eventually chartered a successor, "Caesar's Chariot," a Boeing 707 owned by the Caesar's Palace Hotel in Las Vegas.