Buses, small houses, and shipping containers have all seen a surge in appeal as potential building materials for one-of-a-kind dwellings.
These alternatives to standard lodgings offer the same level of comfort at a fraction of the price and with a wide range of personalization options.
But Jo Ann Ussery made her own unique house long before it was cool.
She bought a decommissioned Boeing 727 and transformed it into a lavish mansion.
(video of the plane can be found below)
One-of-a-kind housing
In 1993, Ussery’s home in Benoit, Mississippi was destroyed, marking the beginning of her journey.
Her husband had recently passed away, so she and her two kids needed a place to live but had very little money.
She had hoped that getting a trailer would solve all of her issues, but she soon discovered that she couldn’t afford a house that was big enough to accommodate her family of three.
Ussery’s brother-in-law, Bob, is an air traffic controller and proposed that they try living on an airplane.
Ussery was receptive to the concept, so he went to examine a Boeing 727 that was about to be broken up for parts.
She fell in love at first sight, and the price, including shipping, was only $2,000.
Ussery gave her Boeing 727 the moniker “Little Trump” after learning that Donald Trump also had a private Boeing 727.
She jumped right into her expensive and time-consuming home improvements.
Major refurbishment
She put in less than $30,000 (around $60,000 in today’s money) on the makeover.
She needed to make sure it stayed put in its current location while she worked on the inside.
Ussery made use of the lake that was already present on her property by parking the plane such that the nose pointed out over the water. Because of this particular reason, a substantial amount of concrete was used to secure the tail. She then started demolishing the nearly 1,500 square foot interior.
The plane measures 138 feet in length and has 76 windows.
The windows did not open, as is standard on commercial planes, but that was not a problem on the Ussery because the plane was equipped with air conditioning.
She upgraded the insulation and laid new flooring as well. What exactly from the original 727 has been preserved?
Having only one airplane lavatory and the overhead bins to store your belongings is a brilliant answer to the problem of limited space.
Interior features
Ussery was able to move on to the finer touches and extra comforts after the major renovations were finished.
There were three bedrooms, a living area, a kitchen, and even a laundry room in the updated plane.
It also had an oven and a phone in addition to the washer and dryer.
What Ussery did with the cockpit looking out over the lake was unquestionably the best improvement.
She renovated it into a master bathroom fit for a king, complete with a soaking tub.
She planned the room’s layout so that its occupants would feel as though they were floating in midair.
Most notably, Ussery did all the remodeling work by herself.
Between 1995 until 1999, she called her converted jet home before deciding to open it to the world as a museum.
It was being transported a short distance when it tragically fell off the carriage and was destroyed.
It’s a good thing we have these breathtaking snapshots below:
You won’t believe what’s in this man’s house, it’s made from an old airplane!
The interior of this plane is truly breathtaking! 64-year-old Bruce Campell, a retired electrical engineer, has always had a remarkable flair for creativity. In his twenties, he took a leap of faith and invested $23,000 in a 10-acre plot of land near Hillsboro, Oregon, with a vision in mind.
He decided to build an extraordinary mansion out of an old airplane on this sprawling property. Stay tuned for the upcoming reveal of the interior! Scroll down to find out more.
Campbell has always enjoyed taking things apart and putting them back together into something new. He envisioned his property as a canvas for building a unique home, using a collection of decommissioned cargo planes. Although he thought he was developing a completely original concept, he later discovered that a similar creation already existed.
About two decades after he came up with his plan, Campbell learned of Joanne Ussery, a Mississippi hairdresser who had converted a Boeing 727 into her home. After a fire destroyed her previous residence, Ussery decided to rebuild it in the shape of an airplane and move it to a quiet riverfront. After some thought, Campbell decided to change his original plans.
He made significant changes in several aspects. Read on to learn more about Campbell’s plane whereabouts and see more photos. In 1999, Campbell invested a staggering $100,000 to purchase a Boeing 727 from Olympic Airways. Transporting the massive plane from Athens, Greece to his property in Oregon was a major challenge. Including transportation costs, the total expense for the plane was about $220,000.
However, Campbell felt that every penny spent on the jet was worth it. The aircraft is equipped with the bare necessities of life. Campbell kept the original toilet and some seats and also added a washing machine and sink.
Despite the spaciousness of the Boeing 727, Campbell doesn’t spend much time in his unconventional abode. His kitchen is equipped only with a microwave and a toaster, and he usually subsists on cereal and canned goods.
While living in an aircraft like Campbell may not be for everyone, we can’t help but admire his incredible achievement! Just take a look at this remarkable aircraft. Accomplishing such a feat must be immensely rewarding. Watch the video below to explore the entire interior of this extraordinary aircraft home:
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