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A woman says she’s been in a five year relationship with the love of her life - a passenger jet she calls 'darling'.

Michele Köbke, 30, from Berlin, Germany considers herself in a relationship with the Boeing 737-800.

Michele says she’s been in love with the aircraft for five years and their relationship is very much physical.

She said: “The 737-800 is very attractive and sexy to me. He’s the most beautifully built, and he’s a very attractive and elegant aircraft.”

She even nicknamed the 737-800 “Schatz” which translates into “Darling”.

(Image: Kseniia Posadskova / Barcroft Media) (Image: Kseniia Posadskova / Barcroft Media)

But unlike regular relationships, Michele is unable to spend quality time with her boyfriend, adding: “A relationship with a plane is not easy and at times difficult.

“I can only get close to him when I fly with him or when I can get to him in the hangar, which has only happened once in my life.”

However, she has found different ways to indulge in her affection.

She said: “I have a big model of him made of fibreglass as well as real components from him so I can act out my love to some degree.”

(Image: Marcus Hessenberg / Barcroft Media)

She showed BTV various pictures of her kissing the 737-800 and cuddling with components such as doors and panels.

Michele’s affection for the aeroplane is known as objectophilia – when sexual or romantic attraction is focused on a particular inanimate object.

But Michele doesn’t see the physical side of her relationship with the Boeing as any different to with humans.

She explained: “It’s like a normal relationship, we have relaxing evenings together and when we go to bed, we cuddle and fall asleep together”.

(Image: Kseniia Posadskova / Barcroft Media) (Image: LightRocket via Getty Images)

Michele realised she had a weakness for aeroplanes when she took her first flight in November 2013.

In March 2014 she boarded her first 737-800 and it was love at first flight.

She said: “I got so excited with boarding the plane, I realised I am in love with the 737-800.”

Years later Michele finally got to spend some quality time alone with her lover, in an airport hangar.

“The first time we really met was the May 1, 2019, I enjoyed every millisecond with him,” she recalled.

(Image: Kseniia Posadskova / Barcroft Media)

(Image: Barcroft Media)

“My cheeks hurt from smiling, I’m the happiest woman in the world – when I’m with him I have everything I need."

What Michele finds particularly irresistible about the 737-800 is the winglets.

“When I touch his wings, I get immediately sweaty palms and get excited,” she revealed.

Michele’s ultimate dream is to be able to marry her darling.

(Image: Barcroft Media)

She said: “I want to marry my sweetheart and live with him in a hangar – it’s just a special kind of love that doesn’t hurt anybody.”

After an overwhelming day for Michele, she admits her frustrations:

She said: “I wish it was more accepted in society, there are always people who don’t accept it.

“I’m simply different and I stand for my love to my 737.”