I suppose this signals an official end to the recession. An unnamed head of state in the Middle East just committed to a $300 million "flying palace." It's a wide body Airbus A380 that will have a hot tub and anti-aircraft missiles. And the funny thing? Demand for this type of aircraft is on the rise.

The Wall Street Journal has an article discussing the recent surge in orders for wide-body jumbo jets configured for "VIP" use. In the last 24 months alone Boeing has taken orders for eleven 747's to be used as private aircraft. They have also taken VIP orders on the Dreamliner - which goes for $150 million (base price).

The $300 million Airbus dwarfs the cost of just about anything a human being can acquire. The most expensive estates top out around $150 million, the most expensive yachts in the $200 million range...but flying castles surpassing $300 million are a new frontier.

The rationale for such an expense makes at least a little bit of sense if you're a wealthy head of state, especially one dealing with developing nations. Airbus says: "jumbo-jet buyers want self-contained worlds where they can eat, sleep and hold meetings even when they've landed...You can host an elegant dinner party on the ground in a third-world country, after you bid your guests a fond farewell, you close the door and head home."

Because who wouldn't want to hold a dinner party on the tarmac of Lagos International? Read the full article on WSJ.