Billionaire unveils underwater 'plane'

LONDON, Jan. 29 (UPI) -- A British billionaire has unveiled a submarine created with fighter jet technology to allow for underwater "flying."

Richard Branson, 59, the billionaire head of Virgin Atlantic, said U.S. company Hawkes built the $664,000 Necker Nymph prototype to reach depths of 130 feet and he is in the process of building a stronger model to travel up to 35,000 feet below the surface of the ocean, The Sun reported Friday.

"It is very similar to an airplane flying in the sea. You can literally do loop-the-loops," Branson said.

He said the carbon fiber plane will be based at his private Necker Island and he will offer underwater tours to vacationers.