Before tiny houses and converted buses filled social media feeds, one woman had already taken unconventional living to a whole new level.
Long before alternative homes became trendy, Jo Ann Ussery turned a retired Boeing 727 into a fully functioning house.
Her bold idea later sparked a movement and inspired others to look at old aircraft not as machines from the past, but as possibilities for the future.
See More: Lion Cub Bond With Photographer Wins the Internet
Rebuilding Life After Loss
Jo Ann’s journey began with heartbreak. After her home in Benoit, Mississippi, was destroyed in a fire, she needed to find a new place to live.
Instead of choosing something ordinary, she wanted a home that felt meaningful and unforgettable. Her brother-in-law, an air traffic controller, planted the idea that changed everything.
He suggested turning an old airplane into a home. The thought sounded wild at first, but it quickly grew on her.
See More: Mother Finds Heartwarming Grave Secret
Not long after, Jo Ann purchased a retired Boeing 727 that was on its way to be scrapped.
She had it delivered to a piece of property she already owned and began the challenging process of turning the aircraft into a livable space.
Working mostly on her own, she spent six months renovating the jet for under thirty thousand dollars.
When she finished, the plane had three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and even a hot tub placed in the cockpit. It was cozy, creative, and completely unique.
Jo Ann lived in her airplane home from 1995 until 1999. Sadly, the jet was destroyed while being moved for public display, ending its short but unforgettable life.
Even so, the project left a powerful legacy and showed the world what imagination and determination can achieve.
A New Dream Takes Flight
Among the many people inspired by Jo Ann was Bruce Campbell, an electrical engineer from Hillsboro, Oregon.
One day in the late 1990s, he heard her story on the radio while driving home. He became so fascinated that he could barely keep his attention on the road. The very next morning, he began making calls to learn how he could start his own airplane home project.
See More: Disabled Goldfish Gets Wheelchair and Swims Again
Bruce eventually purchased a Boeing 727 that had once belonged to Olympic Airways.
The plane carried a bit of history of its own, since it had transported the remains of the airline’s founder, Aristotle Onassis.
With patience and technical skill, Bruce turned the aircraft into his personal residence. He has lived in it for more than twenty years, treating it not just as a home but as a lifelong passion.
His project cost about two hundred twenty thousand dollars at the time, a much larger investment than Jo Ann’s, yet one he believes was completely worth it.
Bruce often says he could never go back to living in a regular house. For him, airplane homes are the perfect blend of engineering, beauty, and comfort.
The sleek space, the sound of rain on the metal, and the sense of living inside a piece of aviation history all feel irreplaceable to him.
See More: Peregrine Falcon Caught Diving Like a B2 Bomber
A Legacy of Creativity and Courage
Both Jo Ann Ussery and Bruce Campbell proved that home can be anything you dare to imagine.
Their projects were not just creative experiments but bold statements that unconventional living is possible and even remarkable.
Their courage continues to inspire architects, designers, and dreamers around the world who want homes that reflect their spirit, not just their needs.
Their story shows that sometimes the most extraordinary ideas take flight in the most unexpected ways.