MY FINE Sunday winter break was rudely interrupted by the incessant ringing of my cell phone, prompting me enough to yell, “Hello”. Voice from the other side, “Hi, still sleeping?” The honey mixed voice of one of my dearest and closest friends, Sarina Chops (short for Chopra), soaked in my ear. Calming down, I asked her, what was the matter? Sensing some urgency; a late-birdie, she is known to laze around till two on Sundays. She asked, “Want to fly nude, dude?” Her next sentence caught me absolutely unawares. Gosh when did she buy a jet? I pinched myself.

 

She said, “You know there is this German company that is changing the aviation history, by offering folks to fly nude, come July 5, 2008. The limited seats have already been booked online by enthusiastic nudists from France to Japan,” Sarina updated me in her characteristic goofy manner; “I can arrange for two tickets though,” she added rather sheepishly.

 

My initiation into the world of nudism started in 2006, when I made a documentary on worlds’ nudist beaches, which took me right from the world’s best nudist beach, Montalivet, France to other fairly known beaches. Samurai beach in Australia to red beach in Greece, and, of course, little beach in Hawaii.

 

A nude beach or a naturist beach (more refined term to refer it) first became popular along the French coastline (where else!) in the 1950’s. While the liberated people flocked to these beaches, citing the benefits (full tan, optimal benefit from sea water as the whole body absorbed it), the conservatives frowned upon the concept as a boon for perpetuating promiscuity and sexual liberation for people who detested commitment.

 

The purists also pointed out to growing incidents of voyeurism, owing to which, on many islands separate areas were demarcated for naturist bathers and non-naturist bathers.

 

Sarina got into the picture as I needed a one-person crew to help me, and all the trained technicians quoted huge sums, which my shoe-cap budget allocated documentary couldn’t afford. Initially, Sarina was reluctant to shed her inhibitions (thank you, Indian culture), but then, she started enjoying the experience.

 

So much so that she was game for this maiden nude (naturist) flight. However, this concept of a nude air-ride almost zapped me with many questions.

 

Why is a company operating it? Will it of benefit health in any manner? Will it find the requisite number of fliers?

 

Sarina answered to each of my query. The concept for nude airline is purely based on the fun aspect of it. All the passengers, including the crew, while on board, will be naked. She further went on to quote the managing director of OssiUrlaub, Enrico Hess, “There is genuine market for nudist-related leisure activities. The first flight is already fully booked.”

 

The 50 seated, Saab 2000 aircraft will fly regularly from Erfurth to Usedom, one of the Baltic islands. More sectors will be introduced in a phased manner.

 

Sarina was all excited, if I would like to document this historic chapter in the aviation industry. Well, just wait and watch…