Why build from the ground up when you can turn a retired jet into a cozy home?
After Jo Ann Ussery’s home was destroyed, she made an unconventional choice: instead of reconstructing it or buying a trailer, she decided to live inside a decommissioned airplane.
Ussery opted for an old Boeing 727, purchasing it for just $2,000—a decision she found more economical than other housing alternatives like mobile homes. The idea came from her brother-in-law, an air traffic controller, who suggested she consider purchasing an out-of-service aircraft. Once the idea took flight, she jumped at the opportunity.
Over the next six months, Ussery worked tirelessly to retrofit the aircraft into a livable space. She insulated the interior, added plumbing, and made numerous other modifications to make it a fully functioning home.
She had the plane relocated to a plot of land in Benoit, Mississippi, and by 1994, it was fully hers. With thoughtful renovations, she created a unique and comfortable residence for herself and her children.
A standout feature of the setup is that half of the plane hovers over a pond, giving the illusion it’s soaring above the water. Entry was via the tail staircase, which she cleverly operated with a garage door remote.
Inside, she carved out three bedrooms, placed a luxurious master bathroom in the cockpit—complete with a hot tub—and included a kitchen, living room, and laundry area.
Given the aircraft’s considerable width of 12 feet through much of its body, the interior felt surprisingly spacious, not cramped.
Reflecting on the project in an interview with NBC two decades later, Ussery shared that the total cost to turn the aircraft into her home came to around $50,000.
The interior is full of creative touches: the original airplane toilet is still in use, and the overhead compartments remain largely intact, repurposed as convenient storage. Unlike in-flight use, these bins now securely hold items without the risk of them tumbling out.
Some sections of the aircraft were entirely reimagined with wooden paneling, making them nearly unrecognizable, while other parts retained their aviation-inspired look with original lighting and trim.
Thanks to the airplane’s airtight structure, the space was incredibly energy-efficient, maintaining warmth during colder months.
Ussery affectionately dubbed her aircraft home “Little Trump,” a playful nod to Donald Trump’s opulent private jet.
She enjoyed life in her one-of-a-kind residence throughout the 1990s until it sustained damage during an attempted move to a different site.