Former motorcycle racing legend Mick Doohan secures Essendon hangar for private jet business

FROM jetting Johnny Depp’s dogs out of the country to flying around Brad Pitt, this former motorcycle-racing legend is the go-to guy for private jet travel in and out of Melbourne.

FROM jetting Johnny Depp’s dogs out of the country to flying around Brad Pitt, former motorcycle-racing legend Mick Doohan is the local private-jet fixer.

He has started operating a hangar at Essendon Fields to capitalise on the city’s demand for corporate jets.

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The price tag — $10,000 ­to $12,000 an hour — isn’t for everyone.

But there are wallets deep enough around the world to expand his Platinum Business Aviation Centre business into 20 countries.

Some of the rented planes are worth $70 million.

Doohan said his interest in jets started after he bought his own plane when competing around the world.

“It was just a time machine and enabled me to focus on what I was doing and free up time for training so I could win some races,” he said.

Doohan said the celebrity and sporting set provided only about 2 per cent of business, with the rest from the corporate sector.

Mick Doohan has a new hanger for his private jet business at Essendon Fields. Picture: Alex Coppel

Depp’s dogs, Pistol and Boo, became some of his most talked-about clients after they were smuggled into the country.

“The dogs … we helped remove them from the country. They flew out of the country corporately, as they do,” Doohan said.

“There is the flash side of private aviation, but really it’s all about business.”

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Originally published as Former motorcycle racing legend Mick Doohan secures Essendon hangar for private jet business