Bank of America is selling three corporate jets from its fleet, as well as a helicopter it acquired through its purchase of Merrill Lynch, the company said yesterday.

In addition, the bank is believed to be trying to sell one of its corporate apartments in New York, according to a source familiar with the matter.

The dramatic downsizing came on a day when the bank’s share price dipped below $5 for the first time since 1990. The news follows the fact that both Citigroup and Starbucks have put planes on the market recently.

Starbucks is trying to sell the $45 million corporate jet it bought last month.

Starbucks’ new jet - a Gulfstream 550 - has made only 15 flights, according to Avpro’s online sales pitch.

Several of those landings were in Honolulu and Kona, Hawaii, during a two-week trip apparently taken by CEO Howard Schultz.

A Starbucks spokeswoman said the company ordered the 19-seat plane three years ago and determined that canceling delivery would be too expensive.

The New York Post’s Jennifer Keil and Chuck Bennett reported in Monday’s paper that Citigroup is about to upgrade to a new $50 million, twelve-seat corporate jet.

The New York Post, citing “a source familiar with the deal,” reported today that Citigroup executives authorized the purchase of a new Dassault Falcon 7X, which seats 12 in leather seats and sofas and includes a custom entertainment center.

Citigroup received $45 billion from the government last year, including a $20 billion emergency infusion in November.

When it comes to winter luxury, one ski destination continues to rank top of the list - Courchevel in the French Alps, according to leading private air charter broker Oxygen 4, is the ski resort at which to see and be seen.

And even this year, with the credit crunch biting, some of the resort’s most sumptuous hotels were already fully booked six months ago for the peak January fortnight 2-14th with some guests paying upwards of €50,000 to ensure the best accommodation.

The Embraer Lineage 1000 is largely based on the highly successful Embraer passenger jet, the E-190. Manufactured by the Brazilian aerospace firm Embraer, the Lineage is an “ultra-large” business jet with comfortable seating for 19 passengers but many more in a less comfortable configuration.

The Lineage 1000 is the largest designated jet except for the Boeing Business Jet and Airbus Corporate Jet. The jet also boasts a lavish interior, divided into up to 5 sections including an optional bedroom, washroom with running water, and a walk in cargo area at the rear.

The range of the Lineage 1000 in comparison to the E-190 is nearly double due to its added fuel tanks in the cargo hold. Due to this added range the plane can fly from New York to Brasilia with out stopping. Price : $41 million

Europe plans to enter the fledgling space tourism market by offering a chance to experience weightlessness to help pay for scientific research.

Novespace, a unit of France’s CNES space agency claims to be leading the field in scientific deployment with a converted Airbus A300 jetliner. With Europe’s space ambitions facing a budget squeeze due to the weak economy, the plan to mix science with adventure was unveiled in a “zero G” flight for European space agency chiefs on a converted Airbus jet.

Passengers feel twice their normal weight during the steep climb and descent but experience 22 seconds of weightlessness along the crest of the arc when engine power is sharply reduced.

The Novespace ticket sales would not aim to make a profit but would help sponsor research carried on board. The price tag would be 3,000 euros ($3,900) for 30 parabolas or 22-second bursts of weightlessness - 11 minutes in all.

Trips like these are pretty affordable and cost a fraction of the $30-35 million paid by wealthy individuals for the ultimate ride into orbit. But the only difference with weightlessness as felt in space is the time spent afloat !