UK plane 'graveyard' that's home to one of Saddam Hussein's private jets

What do Saddam Hussein, Tom Cruise and Doctor Who have in common? The answer is Cotswolds Airport. The infamous dictator, the Hollywood superstar, and the iconic BBC sci-fi series have all featured, in their unique ways, at one of the most intriguing aspects of the aviation industry: the aeroplane graveyard.

For three decades, Mark Gregory's Air Salvage International (ASI) has been evaluating, dismantling, and recycling aircraft at this private airfield, located a mere two miles from Kemble in Gloucestershire. Armed with redundancy pay in the early '90s, Mark purchased his first plane and spent half a year breaking it down into marketable parts. Fast forward to over 1,400 aircrafts later, the business is flourishing and employs a sizeable team to handle the increasing demand from the ever-growing aviation sector.

And there's serious money involved. The equivalent of a commercial jet's MOT runs around £1 million, which is why many aircraft owners opt to send their ageing planes to Mark instead.

On occasion, as much as £12 million can be recovered from these aircrafts, either in reusable components or recyclable materials. Mark elaborated on the various facets of the business during a tour around the facility.

ASI conducts intense training scenarios for organisations, including the SAS, to prepare them for aviation-related emergencies. One such exercise saw Mark and his team simulate a plane crash into a van, creating a challenging day for the special forces who also had to contend with hijackers and "injured" passengers on board.

The airport and its aircraft have also found fame in the film industry. Numerous films have been shot at ASI, including The Fast and the Furious 6, World War Z, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Mission: Impossible, and Batman.

It has also appeared on television shows like The One Show, Horizon, Inside Out, Terror in the Skies, Engineering Giants, Casualty, and, naturally, Doctor Who.

Next time you watch a dramatic plane disaster or runway scene on screen, pay close attention. You might spot the unmistakable Gloucestershire countryside in the background - or even catch a glimpse of Mark's arms.

When he's not profiting from old planes or playing the drums in his office by the runway, the ponytail-wearing scrap tycoon can be seen partially on the big screen, "piloting" the Boeing 727 in its latest cinematic adventure.

While many companies that send their planes to ASI have specific demands - sometimes requesting up to 2,000 parts from a single jet - other aircraft meet less predictable ends.

One substantial piece of fuselage found its way into the shadows of The Swarm rollercoaster at Thorpe Park. Other components are distributed to aviation enthusiasts keen to adorn their homes with various aircraft parts.

Via ASI's sister website, planestation.aero, customers can purchase a decommissioned pilot's seat for £6,000, or smaller fuselage sections featuring windows for £150.

The proceeds go towards funding the staff Christmas celebration. Seat pockets containing wallets stuffed with cash also occasionally boost the funds, though most of these are returned to their rightful owners. Sometimes, more unexpected discoveries emerge during thorough searches, including a substantial cocaine haul.

"This was quite some time ago, at least 15 years, it was a quantity of cocaine that was found in the rear toilets behind some panelling. Needless to say, we informed the authorities, police and border and they removed.

"After their investigation, it was found that the value was fairly high and it would look like the contraband was being smuggled into Europe by a person who must have hidden this rather than getting caught taking it through customs," Mark explained.

Another branch of the operation involves crash site investigation. While downed aircraft seldom reach ASI due to extensive damage, Mark's team members are sometimes summoned to examine the wreckage of significant aviation disasters.

Their proficiency in dismantling aircraft makes them invaluable in identifying remains and assisting in determining the cause of accidents. They were involved in the investigation into the Afriqiyah Airways crash in Tripoli, Libya, in 2010, which claimed 104 lives.

While most of the company's planes are disassembled and sold off, Mark Gregory finds it hard to part with certain unique aircraft that come his way. One such plane is a VIP-equipped Boeing 727, formerly part of Saddam Hussein's fleet.

This came about after he ordered Iraqi Airways to seize all of Kuwait Airways' planes during the 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Mark is captivated by the historical significance of the aircraft and its quintessential '80s interior.

When in the possession of the Kuwaiti Royal family, the 189-seat jet was stripped of its standard uncomfortable plane seats and fitted out with an array of kitschy furniture reminiscent of a retirement home. Think plush velour seats with extendable footrests, state-of-the-art JVC TVs embedded in mahogany walls, and glass vases filled with plastic roses next to unopened bottles of champagne.

Before the Iraqi forces seized the Kuwaiti fleet, Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and other affluent royals used this luxurious plane for their travels. On a patch of carpet now overrun by mould, the Emir would sit on a specially built throne, using radio equipment to issue orders to his staff from 30,000 feet.