Man wanted to buy set of stairs but instead bought Boeing 727 that’s now his home
- A farmer set out to build a treehouse but ended up creating a home out of a Boeing instead
- The retired plane was once used to transport the Queen
- The fuselage only cost him $230, but the rest of the build was pretty pricey
Published on Jun 18, 2024 at 2:58 PM (UTC+4)
by Andie Reeves
Last updated on Jun 18, 2024 at 2:59 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
A farmer set out to make a treehouse but somehow ended up with a Boeing 727 instead.
Now he and his wife live in the converted aircraft in the countryside.
This particular model was actually used to transport dignitaries like the Queen while it was in service.
When retired, the plane was cut in two: one quarter is in a museum, and the other three quarters is this incredible home.
READ MORE: Man who converted Elvis’ private jet into RV has police check if it’s road legal
Neil Mugford was looking for the perfect set of stairs to finish off a treehouse he was building for his grandchildren.
While searching online, he stumbled across a listing for a retired Boeing 727.
It used to be an Air Force plane, so when it was decommissioned a portion of it was cut off and displayed at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand.
The rest has been converted into a simple but stylish one-bedroom one-bathroom home for Mugford and his wife.
Inside the decommissioned Boeing 727
When Mugford bought his decommissioned plane it didn’t have a front section.
It was a pity, seeing as many who convert planes into homes like to keep the cockpit in its original condition.
But the farmer saw it as an opportunity to create more space, building a second-storey extension to house their kitchen.
Significantly more impressive than the man who only has a microwave and uses his Boeing’s original food service cart as a pantry.
The interior is modern and clean, while tastefully keeping certain plane elements intact.
The toilets remain unchanged, complete with a functioning ‘engaged’ light.
While the seats have been gutted, the couple have kept the overhead bins which they use as cupboards.
Their walk-in wardrobe is illuminated by the overhead reading lights, and the original window shades keep out the light.
The process of transforming a plane into a home
A lot of planning permission was needed to turn this Boeing into a functioning house.
After buying the plane in 2019, they had to wait more than 12 months to get their building plans approved.
Mugford had originally wanted to convert the plane’s wing into a deck, much like the private villa Boeing 737 in Bali, but the council said no.
While he did much of the handiwork himself, Mugford called in experts to take on the harder tasks, like making the plane level.
He also made a replica tail and engines to give his home an authentic look.
All in all, the building costs were on par with what it would cost to build a home.
But his home is considerably cooler.
Plus, he only spent $230 on the fuselage itself.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Andie is a content writer from South Africa with a background in broadcasting and journalism. Starting her career in the glossy pages of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, Andie has a broad portfolio, covering everything from sustainability solutions to celebrity car collections. When not at her laptop Andie can be found sewing, recording her podcast, taking board games too seriously or road-tripping in her bright green Kia.