Man who turned Boeing 727-200 into his home gives a tour of his creation

  • Bruce Campbell is living out a childhood dream, building his dream home out of an airplane
  • It’s a retired Boeing 727, parked in a forest
  • He’s only spent $15,000 on upgrades, and it’s easy to see where from a video of his recent house tour

Published on May 30, 2024 at 2:21 PM (UTC+4)
by Andie Reeves

Last updated on May 30, 2024 at 2:36 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Kate Bain

This man’s dream house is a little bit different – a Boeing 727.

At 73 years old, many of his peers are sitting comfortably in a normal home that they’ve been in for years.

But Bruce Campbell is not your average 73-year-old.

He just opened his home’s exit doors to a tour, showing the still-intact cockpit, his plane wing patio, and surprising kitchen setup.

READ MORE: Ford once considered creating the most bizarre sports RV that was also an office

Upcycling retired planes is unusual but not a new concept.

Some choose to convert them into vehicles, like the man who is converting Elvis’ private jet into an RV, or the luxury camper van made from a 1940s plane.

But others choose to convert their planes into homes, such as the man who rescued a Boeing 727 from an aircraft graveyard and transformed it into an Airbnb.

The Boeing 727 is clearly a suitable model for living in, as Bruce Campbell has stayed in his for over 20 years.

His plane home is simple, unlike the Boeing that was converted into a luxury villa on a cliff in Bali.

He recently gave a video tour of his plane, showing how he’s renovated it for living in.

He bought the plane for $100,000 around 1999 and has spent just $15,000 fixing it up.

This is unsurprising, as the plane looks pretty much the same as when it was in service.

He stripped the seats, leaving a large open-plan space as his living area.

His bed is a simple futon and his bathroom uses the same fittings that came with the plane.

After trying an outdoor shower for a few years, he gave in and installed one indoors.

It’s rudimentary, though, essentially just a hose and a big tub to stand in.

Most people who own a private jet are known to eat Michelin-star-level meals in them.

Campbell, however, keeps it simple, using mainly a microwave to prepare his food.

He uses the plane’s original food service cart as his pantry.

Up front, the cockpit remains completely unchanged, and Campbell enjoys tinkering around with the computers during the day.

Having dreamed of living on a plane since he was 10 years old, he is living out a real-life fantasy.

@cnbcmakeit

Bruce Campbell pays $370 a month to live in a #plane he bought from a salvage yard for $100,000. ✈️ Take a look inside, and tap the #linkinbio to learn how he made the plane into a home. #CNBCMakeIt #tour #apartmenttour #airplane #takealook

♬ original sound – CNBC Make It

“I have no regrets about pursuing this vision,” he says.

“It’s fun – Jetliner homes are really cool.”

Because he owns the land his Boeing 727 is parked on, he only pays $370 a month to live here.

A shockingly low price to stay in your own private jet, but considering how simple it is inside, it actually makes sense.

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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.