![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/2-1.jpg\")
Out of curiosity, you may have spent a few hours looking at satellite images of your hometown or neighboring cities. If you live anywhere near Portland, Oregon, then you may have spotted a seemingly lost airplane wedged in a tight forest. That, dear readers, is no lost plane. It belongs to a retiree and has been turned into a… wait for it… home. That’s right. Somebody is actually living inside of a grounded jetliner!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
2. $100,000 for Scrap Metal<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/3-1.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nA Boeing 727-200 stands a little over 10-1\/2 meters high and measures in at almost 47 meters in length. Inside is a spacious 1,066 square feet of cramped seating, irate passengers, grumpy flight attendants, and sleep-deprived pilots. At least that\u2019s what an active Boeing would have, but this one \u2013 the one that was purchased by this mystery man \u2013 was scheduled for the shredder. He spent nearly 100 grand on the grounded jet and placed it on a patch of land he purchased in the 1970s. So who is this mystery man and \u2013 more importantly \u2013 what on Earth were his intentions?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
3. Masterful Works for Potential Residence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/4-1.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen he purchased the 747, Bruce was a 65-year-old retired electrical engineer. With no plans on remaining active in his trade, Bruce did what anyone would do: he purchased a grounded jet with the sole purpose of\u2026 living in it. He called the jet a magnificent piece of technology created by superlative engineering grace which, if executed properly, could become the perfect place to live in. He also claims that the jet could withstand storms or earthquakes. No argument here \u2013 no plane, as far as we know, has ever been swallowed up by the Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
4. Boarding the Plane<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/5-2.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHe wasn\u2019t content with the plane as it was. After the plane was shipped to his piece of land in the middle of nowhere, he began working. Thankfully, apart from the dead engine, the plane was in tip-top shape and, to Bruce, the perfect canvas. He began using his skills to work on the interior lighting and electrical wiring, and it wasn\u2019t long before the 747 became a fully functioning home, or in his eloquent words, \u201can aerospace class castle. What did it look like inside?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
5. Spacious<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/6-1.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen you think of passenger jets, you think of how difficult it is to navigate yourself from the window seat to the aisle and back. The natural stuffiness and limited legroom are more than enough to put people off flying for life. But when you remove the seats, the carpeting, and the \u201cNo Smoking\u201d signs, what you get is a tremendous hall. With everything out of the way, Bruce was left with a spacious tube of metal on all sides ready for furnishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
6. Flashy Wings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/7-1.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nTo Bruce, his Boeing 747 is much more than just a home. Sure, he lives in it, but he also noticed the potential it had to house his creativity, and Bruce is nothing if not creative. He opened the plane to the public for the creative community of Portland to hold events in, on, and around the plane. He even hosts annual music events called Turbulence Live and Concert on a Wing. Audiences are invited from around the world to experience the local culture proudly displayed on the Boeing\u2019s wing\/stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
7. Come One, Come All!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/8-1.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce lives inside of his 1,066-square-foot jet alone, he\u2019s far from lonely. The square footage of his home\/plane is large enough to house numerous people \u2013 something that Bruce is always willing to do. If you happen to find yourself on Bruce\u2019s doorstep, don\u2019t be afraid to knock. If you email him beforehand, he\u2019ll even spruce up the place to accept overnight guests. Free of charge! Hospitality, baby!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
8. Nonstop Tinkering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/9.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though Bruce has stated ecological reasons for living in a grounded 747, the 65-year-old retiree enjoys the challenge of keeping up with maintenance. To him, the jet is nothing but a large toy that he can live in. With trick doors and hatches here and there, combined with a series of customizable interior lights, Bruce is always looking for new ways to entertain himself by upgrading various parts of his metal home. As he put it, nirvana is tinkering with an infinite number of tiny toys housed within a humungous toy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
9. Almost Functional<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/10.png\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen he first purchased the would-be piece of scrap metal, it came almost fully functional. The only thing missing was an engine, but to Bruce, this was perfect as he had no intention of moving the aircraft at all. The biggest challenge was actually towing it to his patch of land, but after that, it was smooth sailing. Despite coming without an engine, his defunct airplane was a dream come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Nooks and Crannies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/11.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe 747 provides Bruce with more hidden spaces, ladders, and rooms than he initially imagined. Exploring the grounded jet was almost as fun as redesigning it and making it livable. Of course, he had to remove the rotting seats, folding trays, moldy carpeting, and musky overhead compartments, but after that, his now-empty plane was a wonderland waiting to be explored. If you find yourself wandering through his patch of land, you may not be able to spot him right away, probably because he himself is wandering in, on, or around the jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. Cleanliness Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/12.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though living inside a jet plane was a literal dream come true, it wasn\u2019t without its fair share of challenges. It\u2019s not so much as keeping the interior spotless \u2013 a pressurized cabin is easy to clean and naturally free of insects \u2013 but maintaining a beautiful exterior was the problem. Being lodged between two very healthy trees means having leaves scattered on and around the jet. Dust and grime also tend to latch themselves onto the jet\u2019s body, so Bruce spends a couple of days every other year dedicated to hose down the jet and remove clumps of dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Buying the Boeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/13.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOlympic Airlines of Greece decided to retire is last remaining 727-200 in 1999. Bruce had been scouring the market for a retired plane for several years, and when news of the 727 hit his ears, he fell head over heels for the jet. With assistance from a salvage company, the plane was flown from Athens straight to Portland. That was the easy part \u2013 next, he had to dismantle the aircraft and move it, piece by piece, to his new backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Total Cost: $220,000 (Give or Take)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/14.gif\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce had to spend a sweet 100 Gs to purchase the plane, but that was his first expense. Next, he had to pay to have it moved, dismantled, and moved again. After that, there were rewiring and refurbishing expenses. He was able to recuperate some of his expenses after the salvage company took whatever they deemed valuable (except for the plane, of course). Overall, Bruce spend more than $220,000 of his savings as an electrician to obtain the 747. A hefty investment for sure, but Bruce couldn\u2019t be happier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Doing Things Differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/15.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen asked whether he had regrets, Bruce said he probably would have done things a bit differently. Of course, not<\/em> getting the plane was out of the question, but he said he regretted letting the salvage company take the seats, electronic systems, and food and beverage trolleys before relocating the plane onto his property. Looking back, he says he probably missed a lot of the feel of owning a plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Buck Naked<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/16.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter the company had taken many of the possessions he now wishes he could keep, there wasn\u2019t very much left over for him to tinker with. Almost everything inside of the plane was taken away, leaving the plexiglass exposed, requiring new flooring. Many of the paneling inside the plane were taken as well, and all Bruce was left with was a completely naked interior. Of course, his creativity was yearning to renovate, but he would have to dedicate many years on either looking for spare parts of making his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. More Dismantling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/17.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBefore Bruce could envision what he wanted to do with the plane, he had to dismantle quite a few things beforehand. First, he removed the unsightly overhead compartments to make the huge interior even more spacious. He also removed some of the lights, AC, and a PA system that would bump into his head when passing by. He was ultimately left with exposed wiring which \u2013 for the average person \u2013 could pose a safety hazard. Bruce, however, was a retired electrician and knew just what to do and how to manage the problem. Plus, this was actually a large reason why he underwent the project in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. More to Offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/18.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe more time spent wandering through his new home, the more he knew how he wanted to repurpose his jetliner-home. At first, his creative juices weren\u2019t flowing, but with nearly a quarter-million spent on the jet, there was no turning back. What he did know what that he wanted to create something jaw-droppingly awesome (as if the owning a plane wasn\u2019t enough!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. International Bruce<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/19.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce is a retired man living inside of a retired airplane in Oregon, but he also leads a double life in Japan of all places. He spends half the year on his grounded jet and the other half in the Land of the Rising Sun. His love for both of his homes was a seemingly unsolvable dilemma, but recently he began brainstorming on how he could live in both Japan and Oregon while maintaining his comfortable life on an airplane. Then it hit him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Airplane Home: The Sequel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/20.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce\u2019s current place of residence is a grounded jetliner, meaning that it\u2019ll never see the skies ever again without a functioning engine (the cost of which is astronomical). He probably would have loved to fly his plane to and from Japan, but seeing the cards he was dealt with, it seemed utterly impossible to imagine. Then it came to him: instead of wishing to fly a plane back and forth, why not just own a plane-home in Japan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Bruce the (Almost) Pilot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/21.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though the 747-200 he purchased in 1999 will never fly among the birds ever again, Bruce enjoys spending a lot of his time sitting in the cockpit (the pilot seats weren\u2019t taken away, thank goodness). Rewiring the cockpit\u2019s controls and electrical system was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor as it allowed him to indulge his nerdiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Thinking Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/22.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis plan to have an airplane-home in Japan is simple: buy an airplane and place it on Japanese soil. This time, however, he was going to maintain as much of the plane\u2019s original interior design as possible after learning from his mistakes with his US jet. He\u2019s keeping his eyes open for an older 747 jetliner that will soon enter the market. This time, he\u2019s skipping salvaging the inside entirely and keeping things as true-to-form as possible \u2013 minus a functional engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Keeping It All While Saving as Much as Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/23.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis time, he wants to keep everything he gets from his jet, moldy or not. If there are defunct napkins and doilies inside of the plan, even better! Of course, without going through a salvaging process, this means he won\u2019t get a few thousand bucks back for refurbishing his new home. However, to save as much as possible, he decided that buying a retired jetliner from Japan would save a fortune on shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Chilly Winters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/24.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being his ideal home, the 747-200 isn\u2019t always the coziest place to live in. When it snows, it snows hard in Portland, and his jetliner isn\u2019t made to deal with extreme climates. Bruce rewired his home to provide adequate heating in the rear, but the front of the plane is an entirely different story. This isn\u2019t actually a problem for Bruce but rather for any wintertime guests looking for a jet to stay in for a couple of nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Controlling the Climate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/25.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRight now, Bruce\u2019s biggest project \u2013 apart from scouring the Japanese market for a soon-to-be-retired aircraft \u2013 is providing heating to his entire craft. To the average man without electrician skills, this would seem like a job for the pros. Bruce, however, is a pro and is working hard at finding a solution to the problem. Go, Bruce, go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. A Home is a Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/26.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce\u2019s choice of residence may raise some eyebrows, it is no different than the average house. Bruce has even admitted that the novelty of owning his own jetliner wore off when he found himself performing traditional household chores like vacuuming and dusting. The idea of dusting your own aircraft seems like a stretch, but that\u2019s everyday life for Mr. Campbell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. Shower Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/27.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost aircrafts aren\u2019t equipped with a shower or bathtub, so Bruce had to take matters into his own hands. Located at the rear of the plane is a bathroom with running water, both hot and cold, which is supplied by a nearby well. Although the bathroom may seem pretty rough at best (hey, he\u2019s an electrician, not a plumber\/interior designer), it has served him and his guests faithfully for many, many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Outgoing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/28.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis choice of lifestyle \u2013 living in the middle of a forest in Portland in an aircraft \u2013 might seem to reflect a hermit-esque personality, but nothing could be further away from the truth. Bruce is by no means reserved at all! He\u2019s been known to be as relaxed as can be around strangers and even willing to shower in his makeshift, non-compartmentalized shower (THAT is strange) in front of others. Genius and strange go hand and hand, so this is nothing too out of the ordinary. However, if you happen to visit his plane one day, he will happily exit his craft if you wish to use his shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Simple Homestyle Cooking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/29.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne glimpse into his kitchen and you\u2019ll see he didn\u2019t dedicate nearly as much time and effort on his kitchen compared to other parts of his home. This is normal since most men \u2013 especially single, retired men \u2013 don\u2019t need much to live. A microwave and a toaster is all Bruce needs to eat. His plane could do with a panty to keep things organized, but that\u2019s way at the bottom of his list of priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Nonperishables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/30.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite having a working refrigerator on board, most of Bruce\u2019s food is available in dry form in boxes or preserved in cans. You might be wondering why Bruce doesn\u2019t just drive to the supermarket and pick up fresh fruits, veggies, and meat like the rest of us, and his answer is simple: he doesn\u2019t feel the need to do so. Plus, many of his overnight guests bring delicious, homemade food to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. Original Restroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/31.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne room Bruce managed to keep as authentic as possible was the restroom (separate from the shower). Inside the cramped area is the original toilet and sink, but he did have to do a bit of rough plumbing to keep the restroom working properly. The bathroom has seen some better days, but it works perfectly and has space heaters for the cold Portland months. What more could you ask for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
31. Doing the Laundry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/32.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother part of Bruce\u2019s home that he\u2019s proud of is the laundry room. Equipped with the latest (at the time) washer and dryer, there\u2019s absolutely no need for Bruce to rely on professional services to keep his clothes as fresh and crisp as possible. He\u2019s been willing to give up many comforts, but skimping over a laundry room was not something he considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
32. His Way<\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/33.jpg\")
airplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people dream of living in Florida or other beachside\ncountry or state after retirement, but not Bruce Campbell. His choice of home\nhas surprised many, but he has remained active in retirement by tinkering with\nhis aircraft and making it as livable as possible. If you\u2019re wondering what Bruce\nhad to do to make his plane a real home, you can check out his site at\nAirplaneHome.com. Regardless of what you may think, one thing is for certain: he\u2019s\nhappier doing this his way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the last things you\u2019d expect to see in the middle of the forest is an abandoned jet plane. After all, it\u2019s not every day that we find aviation technology left to corrode in the wilderness or for raccoons to turn it into a makeshift residence. But that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019d find if you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":8998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97331,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions\/97331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nA Boeing 727-200 stands a little over 10-1\/2 meters high and measures in at almost 47 meters in length. Inside is a spacious 1,066 square feet of cramped seating, irate passengers, grumpy flight attendants, and sleep-deprived pilots. At least that\u2019s what an active Boeing would have, but this one \u2013 the one that was purchased by this mystery man \u2013 was scheduled for the shredder. He spent nearly 100 grand on the grounded jet and placed it on a patch of land he purchased in the 1970s. So who is this mystery man and \u2013 more importantly \u2013 what on Earth were his intentions?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
3. Masterful Works for Potential Residence<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen he purchased the 747, Bruce was a 65-year-old retired electrical engineer. With no plans on remaining active in his trade, Bruce did what anyone would do: he purchased a grounded jet with the sole purpose of\u2026 living in it. He called the jet a magnificent piece of technology created by superlative engineering grace which, if executed properly, could become the perfect place to live in. He also claims that the jet could withstand storms or earthquakes. No argument here \u2013 no plane, as far as we know, has ever been swallowed up by the Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
4. Boarding the Plane<\/h3>\n\n\n\n airplanehome.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHe wasn\u2019t content with the plane as it was. After the plane was shipped to his piece of land in the middle of nowhere, he began working. Thankfully, apart from the dead engine, the plane was in tip-top shape and, to Bruce, the perfect canvas. He began using his skills to work on the interior lighting and electrical wiring, and it wasn\u2019t long before the 747 became a fully functioning home, or in his eloquent words, \u201can aerospace class castle. What did it look like inside?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
5. Spacious<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen you think of passenger jets, you think of how difficult it is to navigate yourself from the window seat to the aisle and back. The natural stuffiness and limited legroom are more than enough to put people off flying for life. But when you remove the seats, the carpeting, and the \u201cNo Smoking\u201d signs, what you get is a tremendous hall. With everything out of the way, Bruce was left with a spacious tube of metal on all sides ready for furnishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
6. Flashy Wings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n airplanehome.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nTo Bruce, his Boeing 747 is much more than just a home. Sure, he lives in it, but he also noticed the potential it had to house his creativity, and Bruce is nothing if not creative. He opened the plane to the public for the creative community of Portland to hold events in, on, and around the plane. He even hosts annual music events called Turbulence Live and Concert on a Wing. Audiences are invited from around the world to experience the local culture proudly displayed on the Boeing\u2019s wing\/stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
7. Come One, Come All!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n airplanehome.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce lives inside of his 1,066-square-foot jet alone, he\u2019s far from lonely. The square footage of his home\/plane is large enough to house numerous people \u2013 something that Bruce is always willing to do. If you happen to find yourself on Bruce\u2019s doorstep, don\u2019t be afraid to knock. If you email him beforehand, he\u2019ll even spruce up the place to accept overnight guests. Free of charge! Hospitality, baby!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
8. Nonstop Tinkering<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though Bruce has stated ecological reasons for living in a grounded 747, the 65-year-old retiree enjoys the challenge of keeping up with maintenance. To him, the jet is nothing but a large toy that he can live in. With trick doors and hatches here and there, combined with a series of customizable interior lights, Bruce is always looking for new ways to entertain himself by upgrading various parts of his metal home. As he put it, nirvana is tinkering with an infinite number of tiny toys housed within a humungous toy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
9. Almost Functional<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen he first purchased the would-be piece of scrap metal, it came almost fully functional. The only thing missing was an engine, but to Bruce, this was perfect as he had no intention of moving the aircraft at all. The biggest challenge was actually towing it to his patch of land, but after that, it was smooth sailing. Despite coming without an engine, his defunct airplane was a dream come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Nooks and Crannies<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe 747 provides Bruce with more hidden spaces, ladders, and rooms than he initially imagined. Exploring the grounded jet was almost as fun as redesigning it and making it livable. Of course, he had to remove the rotting seats, folding trays, moldy carpeting, and musky overhead compartments, but after that, his now-empty plane was a wonderland waiting to be explored. If you find yourself wandering through his patch of land, you may not be able to spot him right away, probably because he himself is wandering in, on, or around the jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. Cleanliness Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though living inside a jet plane was a literal dream come true, it wasn\u2019t without its fair share of challenges. It\u2019s not so much as keeping the interior spotless \u2013 a pressurized cabin is easy to clean and naturally free of insects \u2013 but maintaining a beautiful exterior was the problem. Being lodged between two very healthy trees means having leaves scattered on and around the jet. Dust and grime also tend to latch themselves onto the jet\u2019s body, so Bruce spends a couple of days every other year dedicated to hose down the jet and remove clumps of dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Buying the Boeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOlympic Airlines of Greece decided to retire is last remaining 727-200 in 1999. Bruce had been scouring the market for a retired plane for several years, and when news of the 727 hit his ears, he fell head over heels for the jet. With assistance from a salvage company, the plane was flown from Athens straight to Portland. That was the easy part \u2013 next, he had to dismantle the aircraft and move it, piece by piece, to his new backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Total Cost: $220,000 (Give or Take)<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce had to spend a sweet 100 Gs to purchase the plane, but that was his first expense. Next, he had to pay to have it moved, dismantled, and moved again. After that, there were rewiring and refurbishing expenses. He was able to recuperate some of his expenses after the salvage company took whatever they deemed valuable (except for the plane, of course). Overall, Bruce spend more than $220,000 of his savings as an electrician to obtain the 747. A hefty investment for sure, but Bruce couldn\u2019t be happier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Doing Things Differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen asked whether he had regrets, Bruce said he probably would have done things a bit differently. Of course, not<\/em> getting the plane was out of the question, but he said he regretted letting the salvage company take the seats, electronic systems, and food and beverage trolleys before relocating the plane onto his property. Looking back, he says he probably missed a lot of the feel of owning a plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Buck Naked<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter the company had taken many of the possessions he now wishes he could keep, there wasn\u2019t very much left over for him to tinker with. Almost everything inside of the plane was taken away, leaving the plexiglass exposed, requiring new flooring. Many of the paneling inside the plane were taken as well, and all Bruce was left with was a completely naked interior. Of course, his creativity was yearning to renovate, but he would have to dedicate many years on either looking for spare parts of making his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. More Dismantling<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBefore Bruce could envision what he wanted to do with the plane, he had to dismantle quite a few things beforehand. First, he removed the unsightly overhead compartments to make the huge interior even more spacious. He also removed some of the lights, AC, and a PA system that would bump into his head when passing by. He was ultimately left with exposed wiring which \u2013 for the average person \u2013 could pose a safety hazard. Bruce, however, was a retired electrician and knew just what to do and how to manage the problem. Plus, this was actually a large reason why he underwent the project in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. More to Offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe more time spent wandering through his new home, the more he knew how he wanted to repurpose his jetliner-home. At first, his creative juices weren\u2019t flowing, but with nearly a quarter-million spent on the jet, there was no turning back. What he did know what that he wanted to create something jaw-droppingly awesome (as if the owning a plane wasn\u2019t enough!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. International Bruce<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce is a retired man living inside of a retired airplane in Oregon, but he also leads a double life in Japan of all places. He spends half the year on his grounded jet and the other half in the Land of the Rising Sun. His love for both of his homes was a seemingly unsolvable dilemma, but recently he began brainstorming on how he could live in both Japan and Oregon while maintaining his comfortable life on an airplane. Then it hit him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Airplane Home: The Sequel<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce\u2019s current place of residence is a grounded jetliner, meaning that it\u2019ll never see the skies ever again without a functioning engine (the cost of which is astronomical). He probably would have loved to fly his plane to and from Japan, but seeing the cards he was dealt with, it seemed utterly impossible to imagine. Then it came to him: instead of wishing to fly a plane back and forth, why not just own a plane-home in Japan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Bruce the (Almost) Pilot<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though the 747-200 he purchased in 1999 will never fly among the birds ever again, Bruce enjoys spending a lot of his time sitting in the cockpit (the pilot seats weren\u2019t taken away, thank goodness). Rewiring the cockpit\u2019s controls and electrical system was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor as it allowed him to indulge his nerdiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Thinking Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis plan to have an airplane-home in Japan is simple: buy an airplane and place it on Japanese soil. This time, however, he was going to maintain as much of the plane\u2019s original interior design as possible after learning from his mistakes with his US jet. He\u2019s keeping his eyes open for an older 747 jetliner that will soon enter the market. This time, he\u2019s skipping salvaging the inside entirely and keeping things as true-to-form as possible \u2013 minus a functional engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Keeping It All While Saving as Much as Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis time, he wants to keep everything he gets from his jet, moldy or not. If there are defunct napkins and doilies inside of the plan, even better! Of course, without going through a salvaging process, this means he won\u2019t get a few thousand bucks back for refurbishing his new home. However, to save as much as possible, he decided that buying a retired jetliner from Japan would save a fortune on shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Chilly Winters<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being his ideal home, the 747-200 isn\u2019t always the coziest place to live in. When it snows, it snows hard in Portland, and his jetliner isn\u2019t made to deal with extreme climates. Bruce rewired his home to provide adequate heating in the rear, but the front of the plane is an entirely different story. This isn\u2019t actually a problem for Bruce but rather for any wintertime guests looking for a jet to stay in for a couple of nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Controlling the Climate<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRight now, Bruce\u2019s biggest project \u2013 apart from scouring the Japanese market for a soon-to-be-retired aircraft \u2013 is providing heating to his entire craft. To the average man without electrician skills, this would seem like a job for the pros. Bruce, however, is a pro and is working hard at finding a solution to the problem. Go, Bruce, go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. A Home is a Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce\u2019s choice of residence may raise some eyebrows, it is no different than the average house. Bruce has even admitted that the novelty of owning his own jetliner wore off when he found himself performing traditional household chores like vacuuming and dusting. The idea of dusting your own aircraft seems like a stretch, but that\u2019s everyday life for Mr. Campbell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. Shower Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost aircrafts aren\u2019t equipped with a shower or bathtub, so Bruce had to take matters into his own hands. Located at the rear of the plane is a bathroom with running water, both hot and cold, which is supplied by a nearby well. Although the bathroom may seem pretty rough at best (hey, he\u2019s an electrician, not a plumber\/interior designer), it has served him and his guests faithfully for many, many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Outgoing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis choice of lifestyle \u2013 living in the middle of a forest in Portland in an aircraft \u2013 might seem to reflect a hermit-esque personality, but nothing could be further away from the truth. Bruce is by no means reserved at all! He\u2019s been known to be as relaxed as can be around strangers and even willing to shower in his makeshift, non-compartmentalized shower (THAT is strange) in front of others. Genius and strange go hand and hand, so this is nothing too out of the ordinary. However, if you happen to visit his plane one day, he will happily exit his craft if you wish to use his shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Simple Homestyle Cooking<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne glimpse into his kitchen and you\u2019ll see he didn\u2019t dedicate nearly as much time and effort on his kitchen compared to other parts of his home. This is normal since most men \u2013 especially single, retired men \u2013 don\u2019t need much to live. A microwave and a toaster is all Bruce needs to eat. His plane could do with a panty to keep things organized, but that\u2019s way at the bottom of his list of priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Nonperishables<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite having a working refrigerator on board, most of Bruce\u2019s food is available in dry form in boxes or preserved in cans. You might be wondering why Bruce doesn\u2019t just drive to the supermarket and pick up fresh fruits, veggies, and meat like the rest of us, and his answer is simple: he doesn\u2019t feel the need to do so. Plus, many of his overnight guests bring delicious, homemade food to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. Original Restroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne room Bruce managed to keep as authentic as possible was the restroom (separate from the shower). Inside the cramped area is the original toilet and sink, but he did have to do a bit of rough plumbing to keep the restroom working properly. The bathroom has seen some better days, but it works perfectly and has space heaters for the cold Portland months. What more could you ask for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
31. Doing the Laundry<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother part of Bruce\u2019s home that he\u2019s proud of is the laundry room. Equipped with the latest (at the time) washer and dryer, there\u2019s absolutely no need for Bruce to rely on professional services to keep his clothes as fresh and crisp as possible. He\u2019s been willing to give up many comforts, but skimping over a laundry room was not something he considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
32. His Way<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people dream of living in Florida or other beachside\ncountry or state after retirement, but not Bruce Campbell. His choice of home\nhas surprised many, but he has remained active in retirement by tinkering with\nhis aircraft and making it as livable as possible. If you\u2019re wondering what Bruce\nhad to do to make his plane a real home, you can check out his site at\nAirplaneHome.com. Regardless of what you may think, one thing is for certain: he\u2019s\nhappier doing this his way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the last things you\u2019d expect to see in the middle of the forest is an abandoned jet plane. After all, it\u2019s not every day that we find aviation technology left to corrode in the wilderness or for raccoons to turn it into a makeshift residence. But that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019d find if you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":8998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97331,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions\/97331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen he purchased the 747, Bruce was a 65-year-old retired electrical engineer. With no plans on remaining active in his trade, Bruce did what anyone would do: he purchased a grounded jet with the sole purpose of\u2026 living in it. He called the jet a magnificent piece of technology created by superlative engineering grace which, if executed properly, could become the perfect place to live in. He also claims that the jet could withstand storms or earthquakes. No argument here \u2013 no plane, as far as we know, has ever been swallowed up by the Earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
4. Boarding the Plane<\/h3>\n\n\n\n airplanehome.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHe wasn\u2019t content with the plane as it was. After the plane was shipped to his piece of land in the middle of nowhere, he began working. Thankfully, apart from the dead engine, the plane was in tip-top shape and, to Bruce, the perfect canvas. He began using his skills to work on the interior lighting and electrical wiring, and it wasn\u2019t long before the 747 became a fully functioning home, or in his eloquent words, \u201can aerospace class castle. What did it look like inside?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
5. Spacious<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen you think of passenger jets, you think of how difficult it is to navigate yourself from the window seat to the aisle and back. The natural stuffiness and limited legroom are more than enough to put people off flying for life. But when you remove the seats, the carpeting, and the \u201cNo Smoking\u201d signs, what you get is a tremendous hall. With everything out of the way, Bruce was left with a spacious tube of metal on all sides ready for furnishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
6. Flashy Wings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n airplanehome.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nTo Bruce, his Boeing 747 is much more than just a home. Sure, he lives in it, but he also noticed the potential it had to house his creativity, and Bruce is nothing if not creative. He opened the plane to the public for the creative community of Portland to hold events in, on, and around the plane. He even hosts annual music events called Turbulence Live and Concert on a Wing. Audiences are invited from around the world to experience the local culture proudly displayed on the Boeing\u2019s wing\/stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
7. Come One, Come All!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n airplanehome.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce lives inside of his 1,066-square-foot jet alone, he\u2019s far from lonely. The square footage of his home\/plane is large enough to house numerous people \u2013 something that Bruce is always willing to do. If you happen to find yourself on Bruce\u2019s doorstep, don\u2019t be afraid to knock. If you email him beforehand, he\u2019ll even spruce up the place to accept overnight guests. Free of charge! Hospitality, baby!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
8. Nonstop Tinkering<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though Bruce has stated ecological reasons for living in a grounded 747, the 65-year-old retiree enjoys the challenge of keeping up with maintenance. To him, the jet is nothing but a large toy that he can live in. With trick doors and hatches here and there, combined with a series of customizable interior lights, Bruce is always looking for new ways to entertain himself by upgrading various parts of his metal home. As he put it, nirvana is tinkering with an infinite number of tiny toys housed within a humungous toy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
9. Almost Functional<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen he first purchased the would-be piece of scrap metal, it came almost fully functional. The only thing missing was an engine, but to Bruce, this was perfect as he had no intention of moving the aircraft at all. The biggest challenge was actually towing it to his patch of land, but after that, it was smooth sailing. Despite coming without an engine, his defunct airplane was a dream come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Nooks and Crannies<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe 747 provides Bruce with more hidden spaces, ladders, and rooms than he initially imagined. Exploring the grounded jet was almost as fun as redesigning it and making it livable. Of course, he had to remove the rotting seats, folding trays, moldy carpeting, and musky overhead compartments, but after that, his now-empty plane was a wonderland waiting to be explored. If you find yourself wandering through his patch of land, you may not be able to spot him right away, probably because he himself is wandering in, on, or around the jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. Cleanliness Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though living inside a jet plane was a literal dream come true, it wasn\u2019t without its fair share of challenges. It\u2019s not so much as keeping the interior spotless \u2013 a pressurized cabin is easy to clean and naturally free of insects \u2013 but maintaining a beautiful exterior was the problem. Being lodged between two very healthy trees means having leaves scattered on and around the jet. Dust and grime also tend to latch themselves onto the jet\u2019s body, so Bruce spends a couple of days every other year dedicated to hose down the jet and remove clumps of dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Buying the Boeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOlympic Airlines of Greece decided to retire is last remaining 727-200 in 1999. Bruce had been scouring the market for a retired plane for several years, and when news of the 727 hit his ears, he fell head over heels for the jet. With assistance from a salvage company, the plane was flown from Athens straight to Portland. That was the easy part \u2013 next, he had to dismantle the aircraft and move it, piece by piece, to his new backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Total Cost: $220,000 (Give or Take)<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce had to spend a sweet 100 Gs to purchase the plane, but that was his first expense. Next, he had to pay to have it moved, dismantled, and moved again. After that, there were rewiring and refurbishing expenses. He was able to recuperate some of his expenses after the salvage company took whatever they deemed valuable (except for the plane, of course). Overall, Bruce spend more than $220,000 of his savings as an electrician to obtain the 747. A hefty investment for sure, but Bruce couldn\u2019t be happier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Doing Things Differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen asked whether he had regrets, Bruce said he probably would have done things a bit differently. Of course, not<\/em> getting the plane was out of the question, but he said he regretted letting the salvage company take the seats, electronic systems, and food and beverage trolleys before relocating the plane onto his property. Looking back, he says he probably missed a lot of the feel of owning a plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Buck Naked<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter the company had taken many of the possessions he now wishes he could keep, there wasn\u2019t very much left over for him to tinker with. Almost everything inside of the plane was taken away, leaving the plexiglass exposed, requiring new flooring. Many of the paneling inside the plane were taken as well, and all Bruce was left with was a completely naked interior. Of course, his creativity was yearning to renovate, but he would have to dedicate many years on either looking for spare parts of making his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. More Dismantling<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBefore Bruce could envision what he wanted to do with the plane, he had to dismantle quite a few things beforehand. First, he removed the unsightly overhead compartments to make the huge interior even more spacious. He also removed some of the lights, AC, and a PA system that would bump into his head when passing by. He was ultimately left with exposed wiring which \u2013 for the average person \u2013 could pose a safety hazard. Bruce, however, was a retired electrician and knew just what to do and how to manage the problem. Plus, this was actually a large reason why he underwent the project in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. More to Offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe more time spent wandering through his new home, the more he knew how he wanted to repurpose his jetliner-home. At first, his creative juices weren\u2019t flowing, but with nearly a quarter-million spent on the jet, there was no turning back. What he did know what that he wanted to create something jaw-droppingly awesome (as if the owning a plane wasn\u2019t enough!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. International Bruce<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce is a retired man living inside of a retired airplane in Oregon, but he also leads a double life in Japan of all places. He spends half the year on his grounded jet and the other half in the Land of the Rising Sun. His love for both of his homes was a seemingly unsolvable dilemma, but recently he began brainstorming on how he could live in both Japan and Oregon while maintaining his comfortable life on an airplane. Then it hit him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Airplane Home: The Sequel<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce\u2019s current place of residence is a grounded jetliner, meaning that it\u2019ll never see the skies ever again without a functioning engine (the cost of which is astronomical). He probably would have loved to fly his plane to and from Japan, but seeing the cards he was dealt with, it seemed utterly impossible to imagine. Then it came to him: instead of wishing to fly a plane back and forth, why not just own a plane-home in Japan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Bruce the (Almost) Pilot<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though the 747-200 he purchased in 1999 will never fly among the birds ever again, Bruce enjoys spending a lot of his time sitting in the cockpit (the pilot seats weren\u2019t taken away, thank goodness). Rewiring the cockpit\u2019s controls and electrical system was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor as it allowed him to indulge his nerdiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Thinking Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis plan to have an airplane-home in Japan is simple: buy an airplane and place it on Japanese soil. This time, however, he was going to maintain as much of the plane\u2019s original interior design as possible after learning from his mistakes with his US jet. He\u2019s keeping his eyes open for an older 747 jetliner that will soon enter the market. This time, he\u2019s skipping salvaging the inside entirely and keeping things as true-to-form as possible \u2013 minus a functional engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Keeping It All While Saving as Much as Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis time, he wants to keep everything he gets from his jet, moldy or not. If there are defunct napkins and doilies inside of the plan, even better! Of course, without going through a salvaging process, this means he won\u2019t get a few thousand bucks back for refurbishing his new home. However, to save as much as possible, he decided that buying a retired jetliner from Japan would save a fortune on shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Chilly Winters<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being his ideal home, the 747-200 isn\u2019t always the coziest place to live in. When it snows, it snows hard in Portland, and his jetliner isn\u2019t made to deal with extreme climates. Bruce rewired his home to provide adequate heating in the rear, but the front of the plane is an entirely different story. This isn\u2019t actually a problem for Bruce but rather for any wintertime guests looking for a jet to stay in for a couple of nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Controlling the Climate<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRight now, Bruce\u2019s biggest project \u2013 apart from scouring the Japanese market for a soon-to-be-retired aircraft \u2013 is providing heating to his entire craft. To the average man without electrician skills, this would seem like a job for the pros. Bruce, however, is a pro and is working hard at finding a solution to the problem. Go, Bruce, go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. A Home is a Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce\u2019s choice of residence may raise some eyebrows, it is no different than the average house. Bruce has even admitted that the novelty of owning his own jetliner wore off when he found himself performing traditional household chores like vacuuming and dusting. The idea of dusting your own aircraft seems like a stretch, but that\u2019s everyday life for Mr. Campbell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. Shower Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost aircrafts aren\u2019t equipped with a shower or bathtub, so Bruce had to take matters into his own hands. Located at the rear of the plane is a bathroom with running water, both hot and cold, which is supplied by a nearby well. Although the bathroom may seem pretty rough at best (hey, he\u2019s an electrician, not a plumber\/interior designer), it has served him and his guests faithfully for many, many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Outgoing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis choice of lifestyle \u2013 living in the middle of a forest in Portland in an aircraft \u2013 might seem to reflect a hermit-esque personality, but nothing could be further away from the truth. Bruce is by no means reserved at all! He\u2019s been known to be as relaxed as can be around strangers and even willing to shower in his makeshift, non-compartmentalized shower (THAT is strange) in front of others. Genius and strange go hand and hand, so this is nothing too out of the ordinary. However, if you happen to visit his plane one day, he will happily exit his craft if you wish to use his shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Simple Homestyle Cooking<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne glimpse into his kitchen and you\u2019ll see he didn\u2019t dedicate nearly as much time and effort on his kitchen compared to other parts of his home. This is normal since most men \u2013 especially single, retired men \u2013 don\u2019t need much to live. A microwave and a toaster is all Bruce needs to eat. His plane could do with a panty to keep things organized, but that\u2019s way at the bottom of his list of priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Nonperishables<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite having a working refrigerator on board, most of Bruce\u2019s food is available in dry form in boxes or preserved in cans. You might be wondering why Bruce doesn\u2019t just drive to the supermarket and pick up fresh fruits, veggies, and meat like the rest of us, and his answer is simple: he doesn\u2019t feel the need to do so. Plus, many of his overnight guests bring delicious, homemade food to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. Original Restroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne room Bruce managed to keep as authentic as possible was the restroom (separate from the shower). Inside the cramped area is the original toilet and sink, but he did have to do a bit of rough plumbing to keep the restroom working properly. The bathroom has seen some better days, but it works perfectly and has space heaters for the cold Portland months. What more could you ask for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
31. Doing the Laundry<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother part of Bruce\u2019s home that he\u2019s proud of is the laundry room. Equipped with the latest (at the time) washer and dryer, there\u2019s absolutely no need for Bruce to rely on professional services to keep his clothes as fresh and crisp as possible. He\u2019s been willing to give up many comforts, but skimping over a laundry room was not something he considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
32. His Way<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people dream of living in Florida or other beachside\ncountry or state after retirement, but not Bruce Campbell. His choice of home\nhas surprised many, but he has remained active in retirement by tinkering with\nhis aircraft and making it as livable as possible. If you\u2019re wondering what Bruce\nhad to do to make his plane a real home, you can check out his site at\nAirplaneHome.com. Regardless of what you may think, one thing is for certain: he\u2019s\nhappier doing this his way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the last things you\u2019d expect to see in the middle of the forest is an abandoned jet plane. After all, it\u2019s not every day that we find aviation technology left to corrode in the wilderness or for raccoons to turn it into a makeshift residence. But that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019d find if you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":8998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97331,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions\/97331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
He wasn\u2019t content with the plane as it was. After the plane was shipped to his piece of land in the middle of nowhere, he began working. Thankfully, apart from the dead engine, the plane was in tip-top shape and, to Bruce, the perfect canvas. He began using his skills to work on the interior lighting and electrical wiring, and it wasn\u2019t long before the 747 became a fully functioning home, or in his eloquent words, \u201can aerospace class castle. What did it look like inside?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
5. Spacious<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhen you think of passenger jets, you think of how difficult it is to navigate yourself from the window seat to the aisle and back. The natural stuffiness and limited legroom are more than enough to put people off flying for life. But when you remove the seats, the carpeting, and the \u201cNo Smoking\u201d signs, what you get is a tremendous hall. With everything out of the way, Bruce was left with a spacious tube of metal on all sides ready for furnishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
6. Flashy Wings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n airplanehome.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nTo Bruce, his Boeing 747 is much more than just a home. Sure, he lives in it, but he also noticed the potential it had to house his creativity, and Bruce is nothing if not creative. He opened the plane to the public for the creative community of Portland to hold events in, on, and around the plane. He even hosts annual music events called Turbulence Live and Concert on a Wing. Audiences are invited from around the world to experience the local culture proudly displayed on the Boeing\u2019s wing\/stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
7. Come One, Come All!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n airplanehome.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce lives inside of his 1,066-square-foot jet alone, he\u2019s far from lonely. The square footage of his home\/plane is large enough to house numerous people \u2013 something that Bruce is always willing to do. If you happen to find yourself on Bruce\u2019s doorstep, don\u2019t be afraid to knock. If you email him beforehand, he\u2019ll even spruce up the place to accept overnight guests. Free of charge! Hospitality, baby!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
8. Nonstop Tinkering<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though Bruce has stated ecological reasons for living in a grounded 747, the 65-year-old retiree enjoys the challenge of keeping up with maintenance. To him, the jet is nothing but a large toy that he can live in. With trick doors and hatches here and there, combined with a series of customizable interior lights, Bruce is always looking for new ways to entertain himself by upgrading various parts of his metal home. As he put it, nirvana is tinkering with an infinite number of tiny toys housed within a humungous toy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
9. Almost Functional<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen he first purchased the would-be piece of scrap metal, it came almost fully functional. The only thing missing was an engine, but to Bruce, this was perfect as he had no intention of moving the aircraft at all. The biggest challenge was actually towing it to his patch of land, but after that, it was smooth sailing. Despite coming without an engine, his defunct airplane was a dream come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Nooks and Crannies<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe 747 provides Bruce with more hidden spaces, ladders, and rooms than he initially imagined. Exploring the grounded jet was almost as fun as redesigning it and making it livable. Of course, he had to remove the rotting seats, folding trays, moldy carpeting, and musky overhead compartments, but after that, his now-empty plane was a wonderland waiting to be explored. If you find yourself wandering through his patch of land, you may not be able to spot him right away, probably because he himself is wandering in, on, or around the jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. Cleanliness Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though living inside a jet plane was a literal dream come true, it wasn\u2019t without its fair share of challenges. It\u2019s not so much as keeping the interior spotless \u2013 a pressurized cabin is easy to clean and naturally free of insects \u2013 but maintaining a beautiful exterior was the problem. Being lodged between two very healthy trees means having leaves scattered on and around the jet. Dust and grime also tend to latch themselves onto the jet\u2019s body, so Bruce spends a couple of days every other year dedicated to hose down the jet and remove clumps of dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Buying the Boeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOlympic Airlines of Greece decided to retire is last remaining 727-200 in 1999. Bruce had been scouring the market for a retired plane for several years, and when news of the 727 hit his ears, he fell head over heels for the jet. With assistance from a salvage company, the plane was flown from Athens straight to Portland. That was the easy part \u2013 next, he had to dismantle the aircraft and move it, piece by piece, to his new backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Total Cost: $220,000 (Give or Take)<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce had to spend a sweet 100 Gs to purchase the plane, but that was his first expense. Next, he had to pay to have it moved, dismantled, and moved again. After that, there were rewiring and refurbishing expenses. He was able to recuperate some of his expenses after the salvage company took whatever they deemed valuable (except for the plane, of course). Overall, Bruce spend more than $220,000 of his savings as an electrician to obtain the 747. A hefty investment for sure, but Bruce couldn\u2019t be happier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Doing Things Differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen asked whether he had regrets, Bruce said he probably would have done things a bit differently. Of course, not<\/em> getting the plane was out of the question, but he said he regretted letting the salvage company take the seats, electronic systems, and food and beverage trolleys before relocating the plane onto his property. Looking back, he says he probably missed a lot of the feel of owning a plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Buck Naked<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter the company had taken many of the possessions he now wishes he could keep, there wasn\u2019t very much left over for him to tinker with. Almost everything inside of the plane was taken away, leaving the plexiglass exposed, requiring new flooring. Many of the paneling inside the plane were taken as well, and all Bruce was left with was a completely naked interior. Of course, his creativity was yearning to renovate, but he would have to dedicate many years on either looking for spare parts of making his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. More Dismantling<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBefore Bruce could envision what he wanted to do with the plane, he had to dismantle quite a few things beforehand. First, he removed the unsightly overhead compartments to make the huge interior even more spacious. He also removed some of the lights, AC, and a PA system that would bump into his head when passing by. He was ultimately left with exposed wiring which \u2013 for the average person \u2013 could pose a safety hazard. Bruce, however, was a retired electrician and knew just what to do and how to manage the problem. Plus, this was actually a large reason why he underwent the project in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. More to Offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe more time spent wandering through his new home, the more he knew how he wanted to repurpose his jetliner-home. At first, his creative juices weren\u2019t flowing, but with nearly a quarter-million spent on the jet, there was no turning back. What he did know what that he wanted to create something jaw-droppingly awesome (as if the owning a plane wasn\u2019t enough!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. International Bruce<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce is a retired man living inside of a retired airplane in Oregon, but he also leads a double life in Japan of all places. He spends half the year on his grounded jet and the other half in the Land of the Rising Sun. His love for both of his homes was a seemingly unsolvable dilemma, but recently he began brainstorming on how he could live in both Japan and Oregon while maintaining his comfortable life on an airplane. Then it hit him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Airplane Home: The Sequel<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce\u2019s current place of residence is a grounded jetliner, meaning that it\u2019ll never see the skies ever again without a functioning engine (the cost of which is astronomical). He probably would have loved to fly his plane to and from Japan, but seeing the cards he was dealt with, it seemed utterly impossible to imagine. Then it came to him: instead of wishing to fly a plane back and forth, why not just own a plane-home in Japan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Bruce the (Almost) Pilot<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though the 747-200 he purchased in 1999 will never fly among the birds ever again, Bruce enjoys spending a lot of his time sitting in the cockpit (the pilot seats weren\u2019t taken away, thank goodness). Rewiring the cockpit\u2019s controls and electrical system was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor as it allowed him to indulge his nerdiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Thinking Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis plan to have an airplane-home in Japan is simple: buy an airplane and place it on Japanese soil. This time, however, he was going to maintain as much of the plane\u2019s original interior design as possible after learning from his mistakes with his US jet. He\u2019s keeping his eyes open for an older 747 jetliner that will soon enter the market. This time, he\u2019s skipping salvaging the inside entirely and keeping things as true-to-form as possible \u2013 minus a functional engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Keeping It All While Saving as Much as Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis time, he wants to keep everything he gets from his jet, moldy or not. If there are defunct napkins and doilies inside of the plan, even better! Of course, without going through a salvaging process, this means he won\u2019t get a few thousand bucks back for refurbishing his new home. However, to save as much as possible, he decided that buying a retired jetliner from Japan would save a fortune on shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Chilly Winters<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being his ideal home, the 747-200 isn\u2019t always the coziest place to live in. When it snows, it snows hard in Portland, and his jetliner isn\u2019t made to deal with extreme climates. Bruce rewired his home to provide adequate heating in the rear, but the front of the plane is an entirely different story. This isn\u2019t actually a problem for Bruce but rather for any wintertime guests looking for a jet to stay in for a couple of nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Controlling the Climate<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRight now, Bruce\u2019s biggest project \u2013 apart from scouring the Japanese market for a soon-to-be-retired aircraft \u2013 is providing heating to his entire craft. To the average man without electrician skills, this would seem like a job for the pros. Bruce, however, is a pro and is working hard at finding a solution to the problem. Go, Bruce, go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. A Home is a Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce\u2019s choice of residence may raise some eyebrows, it is no different than the average house. Bruce has even admitted that the novelty of owning his own jetliner wore off when he found himself performing traditional household chores like vacuuming and dusting. The idea of dusting your own aircraft seems like a stretch, but that\u2019s everyday life for Mr. Campbell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. Shower Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost aircrafts aren\u2019t equipped with a shower or bathtub, so Bruce had to take matters into his own hands. Located at the rear of the plane is a bathroom with running water, both hot and cold, which is supplied by a nearby well. Although the bathroom may seem pretty rough at best (hey, he\u2019s an electrician, not a plumber\/interior designer), it has served him and his guests faithfully for many, many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Outgoing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis choice of lifestyle \u2013 living in the middle of a forest in Portland in an aircraft \u2013 might seem to reflect a hermit-esque personality, but nothing could be further away from the truth. Bruce is by no means reserved at all! He\u2019s been known to be as relaxed as can be around strangers and even willing to shower in his makeshift, non-compartmentalized shower (THAT is strange) in front of others. Genius and strange go hand and hand, so this is nothing too out of the ordinary. However, if you happen to visit his plane one day, he will happily exit his craft if you wish to use his shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Simple Homestyle Cooking<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne glimpse into his kitchen and you\u2019ll see he didn\u2019t dedicate nearly as much time and effort on his kitchen compared to other parts of his home. This is normal since most men \u2013 especially single, retired men \u2013 don\u2019t need much to live. A microwave and a toaster is all Bruce needs to eat. His plane could do with a panty to keep things organized, but that\u2019s way at the bottom of his list of priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Nonperishables<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite having a working refrigerator on board, most of Bruce\u2019s food is available in dry form in boxes or preserved in cans. You might be wondering why Bruce doesn\u2019t just drive to the supermarket and pick up fresh fruits, veggies, and meat like the rest of us, and his answer is simple: he doesn\u2019t feel the need to do so. Plus, many of his overnight guests bring delicious, homemade food to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. Original Restroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne room Bruce managed to keep as authentic as possible was the restroom (separate from the shower). Inside the cramped area is the original toilet and sink, but he did have to do a bit of rough plumbing to keep the restroom working properly. The bathroom has seen some better days, but it works perfectly and has space heaters for the cold Portland months. What more could you ask for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
31. Doing the Laundry<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother part of Bruce\u2019s home that he\u2019s proud of is the laundry room. Equipped with the latest (at the time) washer and dryer, there\u2019s absolutely no need for Bruce to rely on professional services to keep his clothes as fresh and crisp as possible. He\u2019s been willing to give up many comforts, but skimping over a laundry room was not something he considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
32. His Way<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people dream of living in Florida or other beachside\ncountry or state after retirement, but not Bruce Campbell. His choice of home\nhas surprised many, but he has remained active in retirement by tinkering with\nhis aircraft and making it as livable as possible. If you\u2019re wondering what Bruce\nhad to do to make his plane a real home, you can check out his site at\nAirplaneHome.com. Regardless of what you may think, one thing is for certain: he\u2019s\nhappier doing this his way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the last things you\u2019d expect to see in the middle of the forest is an abandoned jet plane. After all, it\u2019s not every day that we find aviation technology left to corrode in the wilderness or for raccoons to turn it into a makeshift residence. But that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019d find if you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":8998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97331,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions\/97331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
When you think of passenger jets, you think of how difficult it is to navigate yourself from the window seat to the aisle and back. The natural stuffiness and limited legroom are more than enough to put people off flying for life. But when you remove the seats, the carpeting, and the \u201cNo Smoking\u201d signs, what you get is a tremendous hall. With everything out of the way, Bruce was left with a spacious tube of metal on all sides ready for furnishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
6. Flashy Wings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n airplanehome.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nTo Bruce, his Boeing 747 is much more than just a home. Sure, he lives in it, but he also noticed the potential it had to house his creativity, and Bruce is nothing if not creative. He opened the plane to the public for the creative community of Portland to hold events in, on, and around the plane. He even hosts annual music events called Turbulence Live and Concert on a Wing. Audiences are invited from around the world to experience the local culture proudly displayed on the Boeing\u2019s wing\/stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
7. Come One, Come All!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n airplanehome.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce lives inside of his 1,066-square-foot jet alone, he\u2019s far from lonely. The square footage of his home\/plane is large enough to house numerous people \u2013 something that Bruce is always willing to do. If you happen to find yourself on Bruce\u2019s doorstep, don\u2019t be afraid to knock. If you email him beforehand, he\u2019ll even spruce up the place to accept overnight guests. Free of charge! Hospitality, baby!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
8. Nonstop Tinkering<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though Bruce has stated ecological reasons for living in a grounded 747, the 65-year-old retiree enjoys the challenge of keeping up with maintenance. To him, the jet is nothing but a large toy that he can live in. With trick doors and hatches here and there, combined with a series of customizable interior lights, Bruce is always looking for new ways to entertain himself by upgrading various parts of his metal home. As he put it, nirvana is tinkering with an infinite number of tiny toys housed within a humungous toy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
9. Almost Functional<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen he first purchased the would-be piece of scrap metal, it came almost fully functional. The only thing missing was an engine, but to Bruce, this was perfect as he had no intention of moving the aircraft at all. The biggest challenge was actually towing it to his patch of land, but after that, it was smooth sailing. Despite coming without an engine, his defunct airplane was a dream come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Nooks and Crannies<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe 747 provides Bruce with more hidden spaces, ladders, and rooms than he initially imagined. Exploring the grounded jet was almost as fun as redesigning it and making it livable. Of course, he had to remove the rotting seats, folding trays, moldy carpeting, and musky overhead compartments, but after that, his now-empty plane was a wonderland waiting to be explored. If you find yourself wandering through his patch of land, you may not be able to spot him right away, probably because he himself is wandering in, on, or around the jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. Cleanliness Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though living inside a jet plane was a literal dream come true, it wasn\u2019t without its fair share of challenges. It\u2019s not so much as keeping the interior spotless \u2013 a pressurized cabin is easy to clean and naturally free of insects \u2013 but maintaining a beautiful exterior was the problem. Being lodged between two very healthy trees means having leaves scattered on and around the jet. Dust and grime also tend to latch themselves onto the jet\u2019s body, so Bruce spends a couple of days every other year dedicated to hose down the jet and remove clumps of dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Buying the Boeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOlympic Airlines of Greece decided to retire is last remaining 727-200 in 1999. Bruce had been scouring the market for a retired plane for several years, and when news of the 727 hit his ears, he fell head over heels for the jet. With assistance from a salvage company, the plane was flown from Athens straight to Portland. That was the easy part \u2013 next, he had to dismantle the aircraft and move it, piece by piece, to his new backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Total Cost: $220,000 (Give or Take)<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce had to spend a sweet 100 Gs to purchase the plane, but that was his first expense. Next, he had to pay to have it moved, dismantled, and moved again. After that, there were rewiring and refurbishing expenses. He was able to recuperate some of his expenses after the salvage company took whatever they deemed valuable (except for the plane, of course). Overall, Bruce spend more than $220,000 of his savings as an electrician to obtain the 747. A hefty investment for sure, but Bruce couldn\u2019t be happier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Doing Things Differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen asked whether he had regrets, Bruce said he probably would have done things a bit differently. Of course, not<\/em> getting the plane was out of the question, but he said he regretted letting the salvage company take the seats, electronic systems, and food and beverage trolleys before relocating the plane onto his property. Looking back, he says he probably missed a lot of the feel of owning a plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Buck Naked<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter the company had taken many of the possessions he now wishes he could keep, there wasn\u2019t very much left over for him to tinker with. Almost everything inside of the plane was taken away, leaving the plexiglass exposed, requiring new flooring. Many of the paneling inside the plane were taken as well, and all Bruce was left with was a completely naked interior. Of course, his creativity was yearning to renovate, but he would have to dedicate many years on either looking for spare parts of making his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. More Dismantling<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBefore Bruce could envision what he wanted to do with the plane, he had to dismantle quite a few things beforehand. First, he removed the unsightly overhead compartments to make the huge interior even more spacious. He also removed some of the lights, AC, and a PA system that would bump into his head when passing by. He was ultimately left with exposed wiring which \u2013 for the average person \u2013 could pose a safety hazard. Bruce, however, was a retired electrician and knew just what to do and how to manage the problem. Plus, this was actually a large reason why he underwent the project in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. More to Offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe more time spent wandering through his new home, the more he knew how he wanted to repurpose his jetliner-home. At first, his creative juices weren\u2019t flowing, but with nearly a quarter-million spent on the jet, there was no turning back. What he did know what that he wanted to create something jaw-droppingly awesome (as if the owning a plane wasn\u2019t enough!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. International Bruce<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce is a retired man living inside of a retired airplane in Oregon, but he also leads a double life in Japan of all places. He spends half the year on his grounded jet and the other half in the Land of the Rising Sun. His love for both of his homes was a seemingly unsolvable dilemma, but recently he began brainstorming on how he could live in both Japan and Oregon while maintaining his comfortable life on an airplane. Then it hit him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Airplane Home: The Sequel<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce\u2019s current place of residence is a grounded jetliner, meaning that it\u2019ll never see the skies ever again without a functioning engine (the cost of which is astronomical). He probably would have loved to fly his plane to and from Japan, but seeing the cards he was dealt with, it seemed utterly impossible to imagine. Then it came to him: instead of wishing to fly a plane back and forth, why not just own a plane-home in Japan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Bruce the (Almost) Pilot<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though the 747-200 he purchased in 1999 will never fly among the birds ever again, Bruce enjoys spending a lot of his time sitting in the cockpit (the pilot seats weren\u2019t taken away, thank goodness). Rewiring the cockpit\u2019s controls and electrical system was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor as it allowed him to indulge his nerdiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Thinking Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis plan to have an airplane-home in Japan is simple: buy an airplane and place it on Japanese soil. This time, however, he was going to maintain as much of the plane\u2019s original interior design as possible after learning from his mistakes with his US jet. He\u2019s keeping his eyes open for an older 747 jetliner that will soon enter the market. This time, he\u2019s skipping salvaging the inside entirely and keeping things as true-to-form as possible \u2013 minus a functional engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Keeping It All While Saving as Much as Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis time, he wants to keep everything he gets from his jet, moldy or not. If there are defunct napkins and doilies inside of the plan, even better! Of course, without going through a salvaging process, this means he won\u2019t get a few thousand bucks back for refurbishing his new home. However, to save as much as possible, he decided that buying a retired jetliner from Japan would save a fortune on shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Chilly Winters<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being his ideal home, the 747-200 isn\u2019t always the coziest place to live in. When it snows, it snows hard in Portland, and his jetliner isn\u2019t made to deal with extreme climates. Bruce rewired his home to provide adequate heating in the rear, but the front of the plane is an entirely different story. This isn\u2019t actually a problem for Bruce but rather for any wintertime guests looking for a jet to stay in for a couple of nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Controlling the Climate<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRight now, Bruce\u2019s biggest project \u2013 apart from scouring the Japanese market for a soon-to-be-retired aircraft \u2013 is providing heating to his entire craft. To the average man without electrician skills, this would seem like a job for the pros. Bruce, however, is a pro and is working hard at finding a solution to the problem. Go, Bruce, go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. A Home is a Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce\u2019s choice of residence may raise some eyebrows, it is no different than the average house. Bruce has even admitted that the novelty of owning his own jetliner wore off when he found himself performing traditional household chores like vacuuming and dusting. The idea of dusting your own aircraft seems like a stretch, but that\u2019s everyday life for Mr. Campbell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. Shower Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost aircrafts aren\u2019t equipped with a shower or bathtub, so Bruce had to take matters into his own hands. Located at the rear of the plane is a bathroom with running water, both hot and cold, which is supplied by a nearby well. Although the bathroom may seem pretty rough at best (hey, he\u2019s an electrician, not a plumber\/interior designer), it has served him and his guests faithfully for many, many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Outgoing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis choice of lifestyle \u2013 living in the middle of a forest in Portland in an aircraft \u2013 might seem to reflect a hermit-esque personality, but nothing could be further away from the truth. Bruce is by no means reserved at all! He\u2019s been known to be as relaxed as can be around strangers and even willing to shower in his makeshift, non-compartmentalized shower (THAT is strange) in front of others. Genius and strange go hand and hand, so this is nothing too out of the ordinary. However, if you happen to visit his plane one day, he will happily exit his craft if you wish to use his shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Simple Homestyle Cooking<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne glimpse into his kitchen and you\u2019ll see he didn\u2019t dedicate nearly as much time and effort on his kitchen compared to other parts of his home. This is normal since most men \u2013 especially single, retired men \u2013 don\u2019t need much to live. A microwave and a toaster is all Bruce needs to eat. His plane could do with a panty to keep things organized, but that\u2019s way at the bottom of his list of priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Nonperishables<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite having a working refrigerator on board, most of Bruce\u2019s food is available in dry form in boxes or preserved in cans. You might be wondering why Bruce doesn\u2019t just drive to the supermarket and pick up fresh fruits, veggies, and meat like the rest of us, and his answer is simple: he doesn\u2019t feel the need to do so. Plus, many of his overnight guests bring delicious, homemade food to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. Original Restroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne room Bruce managed to keep as authentic as possible was the restroom (separate from the shower). Inside the cramped area is the original toilet and sink, but he did have to do a bit of rough plumbing to keep the restroom working properly. The bathroom has seen some better days, but it works perfectly and has space heaters for the cold Portland months. What more could you ask for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
31. Doing the Laundry<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother part of Bruce\u2019s home that he\u2019s proud of is the laundry room. Equipped with the latest (at the time) washer and dryer, there\u2019s absolutely no need for Bruce to rely on professional services to keep his clothes as fresh and crisp as possible. He\u2019s been willing to give up many comforts, but skimping over a laundry room was not something he considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
32. His Way<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people dream of living in Florida or other beachside\ncountry or state after retirement, but not Bruce Campbell. His choice of home\nhas surprised many, but he has remained active in retirement by tinkering with\nhis aircraft and making it as livable as possible. If you\u2019re wondering what Bruce\nhad to do to make his plane a real home, you can check out his site at\nAirplaneHome.com. Regardless of what you may think, one thing is for certain: he\u2019s\nhappier doing this his way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the last things you\u2019d expect to see in the middle of the forest is an abandoned jet plane. After all, it\u2019s not every day that we find aviation technology left to corrode in the wilderness or for raccoons to turn it into a makeshift residence. But that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019d find if you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":8998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97331,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions\/97331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
To Bruce, his Boeing 747 is much more than just a home. Sure, he lives in it, but he also noticed the potential it had to house his creativity, and Bruce is nothing if not creative. He opened the plane to the public for the creative community of Portland to hold events in, on, and around the plane. He even hosts annual music events called Turbulence Live and Concert on a Wing. Audiences are invited from around the world to experience the local culture proudly displayed on the Boeing\u2019s wing\/stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
7. Come One, Come All!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n airplanehome.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce lives inside of his 1,066-square-foot jet alone, he\u2019s far from lonely. The square footage of his home\/plane is large enough to house numerous people \u2013 something that Bruce is always willing to do. If you happen to find yourself on Bruce\u2019s doorstep, don\u2019t be afraid to knock. If you email him beforehand, he\u2019ll even spruce up the place to accept overnight guests. Free of charge! Hospitality, baby!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
8. Nonstop Tinkering<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though Bruce has stated ecological reasons for living in a grounded 747, the 65-year-old retiree enjoys the challenge of keeping up with maintenance. To him, the jet is nothing but a large toy that he can live in. With trick doors and hatches here and there, combined with a series of customizable interior lights, Bruce is always looking for new ways to entertain himself by upgrading various parts of his metal home. As he put it, nirvana is tinkering with an infinite number of tiny toys housed within a humungous toy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
9. Almost Functional<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen he first purchased the would-be piece of scrap metal, it came almost fully functional. The only thing missing was an engine, but to Bruce, this was perfect as he had no intention of moving the aircraft at all. The biggest challenge was actually towing it to his patch of land, but after that, it was smooth sailing. Despite coming without an engine, his defunct airplane was a dream come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Nooks and Crannies<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe 747 provides Bruce with more hidden spaces, ladders, and rooms than he initially imagined. Exploring the grounded jet was almost as fun as redesigning it and making it livable. Of course, he had to remove the rotting seats, folding trays, moldy carpeting, and musky overhead compartments, but after that, his now-empty plane was a wonderland waiting to be explored. If you find yourself wandering through his patch of land, you may not be able to spot him right away, probably because he himself is wandering in, on, or around the jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. Cleanliness Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though living inside a jet plane was a literal dream come true, it wasn\u2019t without its fair share of challenges. It\u2019s not so much as keeping the interior spotless \u2013 a pressurized cabin is easy to clean and naturally free of insects \u2013 but maintaining a beautiful exterior was the problem. Being lodged between two very healthy trees means having leaves scattered on and around the jet. Dust and grime also tend to latch themselves onto the jet\u2019s body, so Bruce spends a couple of days every other year dedicated to hose down the jet and remove clumps of dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Buying the Boeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOlympic Airlines of Greece decided to retire is last remaining 727-200 in 1999. Bruce had been scouring the market for a retired plane for several years, and when news of the 727 hit his ears, he fell head over heels for the jet. With assistance from a salvage company, the plane was flown from Athens straight to Portland. That was the easy part \u2013 next, he had to dismantle the aircraft and move it, piece by piece, to his new backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Total Cost: $220,000 (Give or Take)<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce had to spend a sweet 100 Gs to purchase the plane, but that was his first expense. Next, he had to pay to have it moved, dismantled, and moved again. After that, there were rewiring and refurbishing expenses. He was able to recuperate some of his expenses after the salvage company took whatever they deemed valuable (except for the plane, of course). Overall, Bruce spend more than $220,000 of his savings as an electrician to obtain the 747. A hefty investment for sure, but Bruce couldn\u2019t be happier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Doing Things Differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen asked whether he had regrets, Bruce said he probably would have done things a bit differently. Of course, not<\/em> getting the plane was out of the question, but he said he regretted letting the salvage company take the seats, electronic systems, and food and beverage trolleys before relocating the plane onto his property. Looking back, he says he probably missed a lot of the feel of owning a plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Buck Naked<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter the company had taken many of the possessions he now wishes he could keep, there wasn\u2019t very much left over for him to tinker with. Almost everything inside of the plane was taken away, leaving the plexiglass exposed, requiring new flooring. Many of the paneling inside the plane were taken as well, and all Bruce was left with was a completely naked interior. Of course, his creativity was yearning to renovate, but he would have to dedicate many years on either looking for spare parts of making his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. More Dismantling<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBefore Bruce could envision what he wanted to do with the plane, he had to dismantle quite a few things beforehand. First, he removed the unsightly overhead compartments to make the huge interior even more spacious. He also removed some of the lights, AC, and a PA system that would bump into his head when passing by. He was ultimately left with exposed wiring which \u2013 for the average person \u2013 could pose a safety hazard. Bruce, however, was a retired electrician and knew just what to do and how to manage the problem. Plus, this was actually a large reason why he underwent the project in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. More to Offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe more time spent wandering through his new home, the more he knew how he wanted to repurpose his jetliner-home. At first, his creative juices weren\u2019t flowing, but with nearly a quarter-million spent on the jet, there was no turning back. What he did know what that he wanted to create something jaw-droppingly awesome (as if the owning a plane wasn\u2019t enough!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. International Bruce<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce is a retired man living inside of a retired airplane in Oregon, but he also leads a double life in Japan of all places. He spends half the year on his grounded jet and the other half in the Land of the Rising Sun. His love for both of his homes was a seemingly unsolvable dilemma, but recently he began brainstorming on how he could live in both Japan and Oregon while maintaining his comfortable life on an airplane. Then it hit him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Airplane Home: The Sequel<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce\u2019s current place of residence is a grounded jetliner, meaning that it\u2019ll never see the skies ever again without a functioning engine (the cost of which is astronomical). He probably would have loved to fly his plane to and from Japan, but seeing the cards he was dealt with, it seemed utterly impossible to imagine. Then it came to him: instead of wishing to fly a plane back and forth, why not just own a plane-home in Japan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Bruce the (Almost) Pilot<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though the 747-200 he purchased in 1999 will never fly among the birds ever again, Bruce enjoys spending a lot of his time sitting in the cockpit (the pilot seats weren\u2019t taken away, thank goodness). Rewiring the cockpit\u2019s controls and electrical system was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor as it allowed him to indulge his nerdiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Thinking Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis plan to have an airplane-home in Japan is simple: buy an airplane and place it on Japanese soil. This time, however, he was going to maintain as much of the plane\u2019s original interior design as possible after learning from his mistakes with his US jet. He\u2019s keeping his eyes open for an older 747 jetliner that will soon enter the market. This time, he\u2019s skipping salvaging the inside entirely and keeping things as true-to-form as possible \u2013 minus a functional engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Keeping It All While Saving as Much as Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis time, he wants to keep everything he gets from his jet, moldy or not. If there are defunct napkins and doilies inside of the plan, even better! Of course, without going through a salvaging process, this means he won\u2019t get a few thousand bucks back for refurbishing his new home. However, to save as much as possible, he decided that buying a retired jetliner from Japan would save a fortune on shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Chilly Winters<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being his ideal home, the 747-200 isn\u2019t always the coziest place to live in. When it snows, it snows hard in Portland, and his jetliner isn\u2019t made to deal with extreme climates. Bruce rewired his home to provide adequate heating in the rear, but the front of the plane is an entirely different story. This isn\u2019t actually a problem for Bruce but rather for any wintertime guests looking for a jet to stay in for a couple of nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Controlling the Climate<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRight now, Bruce\u2019s biggest project \u2013 apart from scouring the Japanese market for a soon-to-be-retired aircraft \u2013 is providing heating to his entire craft. To the average man without electrician skills, this would seem like a job for the pros. Bruce, however, is a pro and is working hard at finding a solution to the problem. Go, Bruce, go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. A Home is a Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce\u2019s choice of residence may raise some eyebrows, it is no different than the average house. Bruce has even admitted that the novelty of owning his own jetliner wore off when he found himself performing traditional household chores like vacuuming and dusting. The idea of dusting your own aircraft seems like a stretch, but that\u2019s everyday life for Mr. Campbell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. Shower Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost aircrafts aren\u2019t equipped with a shower or bathtub, so Bruce had to take matters into his own hands. Located at the rear of the plane is a bathroom with running water, both hot and cold, which is supplied by a nearby well. Although the bathroom may seem pretty rough at best (hey, he\u2019s an electrician, not a plumber\/interior designer), it has served him and his guests faithfully for many, many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Outgoing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis choice of lifestyle \u2013 living in the middle of a forest in Portland in an aircraft \u2013 might seem to reflect a hermit-esque personality, but nothing could be further away from the truth. Bruce is by no means reserved at all! He\u2019s been known to be as relaxed as can be around strangers and even willing to shower in his makeshift, non-compartmentalized shower (THAT is strange) in front of others. Genius and strange go hand and hand, so this is nothing too out of the ordinary. However, if you happen to visit his plane one day, he will happily exit his craft if you wish to use his shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Simple Homestyle Cooking<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne glimpse into his kitchen and you\u2019ll see he didn\u2019t dedicate nearly as much time and effort on his kitchen compared to other parts of his home. This is normal since most men \u2013 especially single, retired men \u2013 don\u2019t need much to live. A microwave and a toaster is all Bruce needs to eat. His plane could do with a panty to keep things organized, but that\u2019s way at the bottom of his list of priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Nonperishables<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite having a working refrigerator on board, most of Bruce\u2019s food is available in dry form in boxes or preserved in cans. You might be wondering why Bruce doesn\u2019t just drive to the supermarket and pick up fresh fruits, veggies, and meat like the rest of us, and his answer is simple: he doesn\u2019t feel the need to do so. Plus, many of his overnight guests bring delicious, homemade food to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. Original Restroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne room Bruce managed to keep as authentic as possible was the restroom (separate from the shower). Inside the cramped area is the original toilet and sink, but he did have to do a bit of rough plumbing to keep the restroom working properly. The bathroom has seen some better days, but it works perfectly and has space heaters for the cold Portland months. What more could you ask for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
31. Doing the Laundry<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother part of Bruce\u2019s home that he\u2019s proud of is the laundry room. Equipped with the latest (at the time) washer and dryer, there\u2019s absolutely no need for Bruce to rely on professional services to keep his clothes as fresh and crisp as possible. He\u2019s been willing to give up many comforts, but skimping over a laundry room was not something he considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
32. His Way<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people dream of living in Florida or other beachside\ncountry or state after retirement, but not Bruce Campbell. His choice of home\nhas surprised many, but he has remained active in retirement by tinkering with\nhis aircraft and making it as livable as possible. If you\u2019re wondering what Bruce\nhad to do to make his plane a real home, you can check out his site at\nAirplaneHome.com. Regardless of what you may think, one thing is for certain: he\u2019s\nhappier doing this his way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the last things you\u2019d expect to see in the middle of the forest is an abandoned jet plane. After all, it\u2019s not every day that we find aviation technology left to corrode in the wilderness or for raccoons to turn it into a makeshift residence. But that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019d find if you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":8998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97331,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions\/97331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Although Bruce lives inside of his 1,066-square-foot jet alone, he\u2019s far from lonely. The square footage of his home\/plane is large enough to house numerous people \u2013 something that Bruce is always willing to do. If you happen to find yourself on Bruce\u2019s doorstep, don\u2019t be afraid to knock. If you email him beforehand, he\u2019ll even spruce up the place to accept overnight guests. Free of charge! Hospitality, baby!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
8. Nonstop Tinkering<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though Bruce has stated ecological reasons for living in a grounded 747, the 65-year-old retiree enjoys the challenge of keeping up with maintenance. To him, the jet is nothing but a large toy that he can live in. With trick doors and hatches here and there, combined with a series of customizable interior lights, Bruce is always looking for new ways to entertain himself by upgrading various parts of his metal home. As he put it, nirvana is tinkering with an infinite number of tiny toys housed within a humungous toy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
9. Almost Functional<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen he first purchased the would-be piece of scrap metal, it came almost fully functional. The only thing missing was an engine, but to Bruce, this was perfect as he had no intention of moving the aircraft at all. The biggest challenge was actually towing it to his patch of land, but after that, it was smooth sailing. Despite coming without an engine, his defunct airplane was a dream come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Nooks and Crannies<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe 747 provides Bruce with more hidden spaces, ladders, and rooms than he initially imagined. Exploring the grounded jet was almost as fun as redesigning it and making it livable. Of course, he had to remove the rotting seats, folding trays, moldy carpeting, and musky overhead compartments, but after that, his now-empty plane was a wonderland waiting to be explored. If you find yourself wandering through his patch of land, you may not be able to spot him right away, probably because he himself is wandering in, on, or around the jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. Cleanliness Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though living inside a jet plane was a literal dream come true, it wasn\u2019t without its fair share of challenges. It\u2019s not so much as keeping the interior spotless \u2013 a pressurized cabin is easy to clean and naturally free of insects \u2013 but maintaining a beautiful exterior was the problem. Being lodged between two very healthy trees means having leaves scattered on and around the jet. Dust and grime also tend to latch themselves onto the jet\u2019s body, so Bruce spends a couple of days every other year dedicated to hose down the jet and remove clumps of dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Buying the Boeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOlympic Airlines of Greece decided to retire is last remaining 727-200 in 1999. Bruce had been scouring the market for a retired plane for several years, and when news of the 727 hit his ears, he fell head over heels for the jet. With assistance from a salvage company, the plane was flown from Athens straight to Portland. That was the easy part \u2013 next, he had to dismantle the aircraft and move it, piece by piece, to his new backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Total Cost: $220,000 (Give or Take)<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce had to spend a sweet 100 Gs to purchase the plane, but that was his first expense. Next, he had to pay to have it moved, dismantled, and moved again. After that, there were rewiring and refurbishing expenses. He was able to recuperate some of his expenses after the salvage company took whatever they deemed valuable (except for the plane, of course). Overall, Bruce spend more than $220,000 of his savings as an electrician to obtain the 747. A hefty investment for sure, but Bruce couldn\u2019t be happier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Doing Things Differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen asked whether he had regrets, Bruce said he probably would have done things a bit differently. Of course, not<\/em> getting the plane was out of the question, but he said he regretted letting the salvage company take the seats, electronic systems, and food and beverage trolleys before relocating the plane onto his property. Looking back, he says he probably missed a lot of the feel of owning a plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Buck Naked<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter the company had taken many of the possessions he now wishes he could keep, there wasn\u2019t very much left over for him to tinker with. Almost everything inside of the plane was taken away, leaving the plexiglass exposed, requiring new flooring. Many of the paneling inside the plane were taken as well, and all Bruce was left with was a completely naked interior. Of course, his creativity was yearning to renovate, but he would have to dedicate many years on either looking for spare parts of making his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. More Dismantling<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBefore Bruce could envision what he wanted to do with the plane, he had to dismantle quite a few things beforehand. First, he removed the unsightly overhead compartments to make the huge interior even more spacious. He also removed some of the lights, AC, and a PA system that would bump into his head when passing by. He was ultimately left with exposed wiring which \u2013 for the average person \u2013 could pose a safety hazard. Bruce, however, was a retired electrician and knew just what to do and how to manage the problem. Plus, this was actually a large reason why he underwent the project in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. More to Offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe more time spent wandering through his new home, the more he knew how he wanted to repurpose his jetliner-home. At first, his creative juices weren\u2019t flowing, but with nearly a quarter-million spent on the jet, there was no turning back. What he did know what that he wanted to create something jaw-droppingly awesome (as if the owning a plane wasn\u2019t enough!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. International Bruce<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce is a retired man living inside of a retired airplane in Oregon, but he also leads a double life in Japan of all places. He spends half the year on his grounded jet and the other half in the Land of the Rising Sun. His love for both of his homes was a seemingly unsolvable dilemma, but recently he began brainstorming on how he could live in both Japan and Oregon while maintaining his comfortable life on an airplane. Then it hit him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Airplane Home: The Sequel<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce\u2019s current place of residence is a grounded jetliner, meaning that it\u2019ll never see the skies ever again without a functioning engine (the cost of which is astronomical). He probably would have loved to fly his plane to and from Japan, but seeing the cards he was dealt with, it seemed utterly impossible to imagine. Then it came to him: instead of wishing to fly a plane back and forth, why not just own a plane-home in Japan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Bruce the (Almost) Pilot<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though the 747-200 he purchased in 1999 will never fly among the birds ever again, Bruce enjoys spending a lot of his time sitting in the cockpit (the pilot seats weren\u2019t taken away, thank goodness). Rewiring the cockpit\u2019s controls and electrical system was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor as it allowed him to indulge his nerdiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Thinking Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis plan to have an airplane-home in Japan is simple: buy an airplane and place it on Japanese soil. This time, however, he was going to maintain as much of the plane\u2019s original interior design as possible after learning from his mistakes with his US jet. He\u2019s keeping his eyes open for an older 747 jetliner that will soon enter the market. This time, he\u2019s skipping salvaging the inside entirely and keeping things as true-to-form as possible \u2013 minus a functional engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Keeping It All While Saving as Much as Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis time, he wants to keep everything he gets from his jet, moldy or not. If there are defunct napkins and doilies inside of the plan, even better! Of course, without going through a salvaging process, this means he won\u2019t get a few thousand bucks back for refurbishing his new home. However, to save as much as possible, he decided that buying a retired jetliner from Japan would save a fortune on shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Chilly Winters<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being his ideal home, the 747-200 isn\u2019t always the coziest place to live in. When it snows, it snows hard in Portland, and his jetliner isn\u2019t made to deal with extreme climates. Bruce rewired his home to provide adequate heating in the rear, but the front of the plane is an entirely different story. This isn\u2019t actually a problem for Bruce but rather for any wintertime guests looking for a jet to stay in for a couple of nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Controlling the Climate<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRight now, Bruce\u2019s biggest project \u2013 apart from scouring the Japanese market for a soon-to-be-retired aircraft \u2013 is providing heating to his entire craft. To the average man without electrician skills, this would seem like a job for the pros. Bruce, however, is a pro and is working hard at finding a solution to the problem. Go, Bruce, go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. A Home is a Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce\u2019s choice of residence may raise some eyebrows, it is no different than the average house. Bruce has even admitted that the novelty of owning his own jetliner wore off when he found himself performing traditional household chores like vacuuming and dusting. The idea of dusting your own aircraft seems like a stretch, but that\u2019s everyday life for Mr. Campbell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. Shower Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost aircrafts aren\u2019t equipped with a shower or bathtub, so Bruce had to take matters into his own hands. Located at the rear of the plane is a bathroom with running water, both hot and cold, which is supplied by a nearby well. Although the bathroom may seem pretty rough at best (hey, he\u2019s an electrician, not a plumber\/interior designer), it has served him and his guests faithfully for many, many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Outgoing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis choice of lifestyle \u2013 living in the middle of a forest in Portland in an aircraft \u2013 might seem to reflect a hermit-esque personality, but nothing could be further away from the truth. Bruce is by no means reserved at all! He\u2019s been known to be as relaxed as can be around strangers and even willing to shower in his makeshift, non-compartmentalized shower (THAT is strange) in front of others. Genius and strange go hand and hand, so this is nothing too out of the ordinary. However, if you happen to visit his plane one day, he will happily exit his craft if you wish to use his shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Simple Homestyle Cooking<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne glimpse into his kitchen and you\u2019ll see he didn\u2019t dedicate nearly as much time and effort on his kitchen compared to other parts of his home. This is normal since most men \u2013 especially single, retired men \u2013 don\u2019t need much to live. A microwave and a toaster is all Bruce needs to eat. His plane could do with a panty to keep things organized, but that\u2019s way at the bottom of his list of priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Nonperishables<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite having a working refrigerator on board, most of Bruce\u2019s food is available in dry form in boxes or preserved in cans. You might be wondering why Bruce doesn\u2019t just drive to the supermarket and pick up fresh fruits, veggies, and meat like the rest of us, and his answer is simple: he doesn\u2019t feel the need to do so. Plus, many of his overnight guests bring delicious, homemade food to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. Original Restroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne room Bruce managed to keep as authentic as possible was the restroom (separate from the shower). Inside the cramped area is the original toilet and sink, but he did have to do a bit of rough plumbing to keep the restroom working properly. The bathroom has seen some better days, but it works perfectly and has space heaters for the cold Portland months. What more could you ask for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
31. Doing the Laundry<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother part of Bruce\u2019s home that he\u2019s proud of is the laundry room. Equipped with the latest (at the time) washer and dryer, there\u2019s absolutely no need for Bruce to rely on professional services to keep his clothes as fresh and crisp as possible. He\u2019s been willing to give up many comforts, but skimping over a laundry room was not something he considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
32. His Way<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people dream of living in Florida or other beachside\ncountry or state after retirement, but not Bruce Campbell. His choice of home\nhas surprised many, but he has remained active in retirement by tinkering with\nhis aircraft and making it as livable as possible. If you\u2019re wondering what Bruce\nhad to do to make his plane a real home, you can check out his site at\nAirplaneHome.com. Regardless of what you may think, one thing is for certain: he\u2019s\nhappier doing this his way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the last things you\u2019d expect to see in the middle of the forest is an abandoned jet plane. After all, it\u2019s not every day that we find aviation technology left to corrode in the wilderness or for raccoons to turn it into a makeshift residence. But that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019d find if you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":8998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97331,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions\/97331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Even though Bruce has stated ecological reasons for living in a grounded 747, the 65-year-old retiree enjoys the challenge of keeping up with maintenance. To him, the jet is nothing but a large toy that he can live in. With trick doors and hatches here and there, combined with a series of customizable interior lights, Bruce is always looking for new ways to entertain himself by upgrading various parts of his metal home. As he put it, nirvana is tinkering with an infinite number of tiny toys housed within a humungous toy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
9. Almost Functional<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen he first purchased the would-be piece of scrap metal, it came almost fully functional. The only thing missing was an engine, but to Bruce, this was perfect as he had no intention of moving the aircraft at all. The biggest challenge was actually towing it to his patch of land, but after that, it was smooth sailing. Despite coming without an engine, his defunct airplane was a dream come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Nooks and Crannies<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe 747 provides Bruce with more hidden spaces, ladders, and rooms than he initially imagined. Exploring the grounded jet was almost as fun as redesigning it and making it livable. Of course, he had to remove the rotting seats, folding trays, moldy carpeting, and musky overhead compartments, but after that, his now-empty plane was a wonderland waiting to be explored. If you find yourself wandering through his patch of land, you may not be able to spot him right away, probably because he himself is wandering in, on, or around the jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. Cleanliness Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though living inside a jet plane was a literal dream come true, it wasn\u2019t without its fair share of challenges. It\u2019s not so much as keeping the interior spotless \u2013 a pressurized cabin is easy to clean and naturally free of insects \u2013 but maintaining a beautiful exterior was the problem. Being lodged between two very healthy trees means having leaves scattered on and around the jet. Dust and grime also tend to latch themselves onto the jet\u2019s body, so Bruce spends a couple of days every other year dedicated to hose down the jet and remove clumps of dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Buying the Boeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOlympic Airlines of Greece decided to retire is last remaining 727-200 in 1999. Bruce had been scouring the market for a retired plane for several years, and when news of the 727 hit his ears, he fell head over heels for the jet. With assistance from a salvage company, the plane was flown from Athens straight to Portland. That was the easy part \u2013 next, he had to dismantle the aircraft and move it, piece by piece, to his new backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Total Cost: $220,000 (Give or Take)<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce had to spend a sweet 100 Gs to purchase the plane, but that was his first expense. Next, he had to pay to have it moved, dismantled, and moved again. After that, there were rewiring and refurbishing expenses. He was able to recuperate some of his expenses after the salvage company took whatever they deemed valuable (except for the plane, of course). Overall, Bruce spend more than $220,000 of his savings as an electrician to obtain the 747. A hefty investment for sure, but Bruce couldn\u2019t be happier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Doing Things Differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen asked whether he had regrets, Bruce said he probably would have done things a bit differently. Of course, not<\/em> getting the plane was out of the question, but he said he regretted letting the salvage company take the seats, electronic systems, and food and beverage trolleys before relocating the plane onto his property. Looking back, he says he probably missed a lot of the feel of owning a plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Buck Naked<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter the company had taken many of the possessions he now wishes he could keep, there wasn\u2019t very much left over for him to tinker with. Almost everything inside of the plane was taken away, leaving the plexiglass exposed, requiring new flooring. Many of the paneling inside the plane were taken as well, and all Bruce was left with was a completely naked interior. Of course, his creativity was yearning to renovate, but he would have to dedicate many years on either looking for spare parts of making his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. More Dismantling<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBefore Bruce could envision what he wanted to do with the plane, he had to dismantle quite a few things beforehand. First, he removed the unsightly overhead compartments to make the huge interior even more spacious. He also removed some of the lights, AC, and a PA system that would bump into his head when passing by. He was ultimately left with exposed wiring which \u2013 for the average person \u2013 could pose a safety hazard. Bruce, however, was a retired electrician and knew just what to do and how to manage the problem. Plus, this was actually a large reason why he underwent the project in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. More to Offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe more time spent wandering through his new home, the more he knew how he wanted to repurpose his jetliner-home. At first, his creative juices weren\u2019t flowing, but with nearly a quarter-million spent on the jet, there was no turning back. What he did know what that he wanted to create something jaw-droppingly awesome (as if the owning a plane wasn\u2019t enough!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. International Bruce<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce is a retired man living inside of a retired airplane in Oregon, but he also leads a double life in Japan of all places. He spends half the year on his grounded jet and the other half in the Land of the Rising Sun. His love for both of his homes was a seemingly unsolvable dilemma, but recently he began brainstorming on how he could live in both Japan and Oregon while maintaining his comfortable life on an airplane. Then it hit him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Airplane Home: The Sequel<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce\u2019s current place of residence is a grounded jetliner, meaning that it\u2019ll never see the skies ever again without a functioning engine (the cost of which is astronomical). He probably would have loved to fly his plane to and from Japan, but seeing the cards he was dealt with, it seemed utterly impossible to imagine. Then it came to him: instead of wishing to fly a plane back and forth, why not just own a plane-home in Japan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Bruce the (Almost) Pilot<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though the 747-200 he purchased in 1999 will never fly among the birds ever again, Bruce enjoys spending a lot of his time sitting in the cockpit (the pilot seats weren\u2019t taken away, thank goodness). Rewiring the cockpit\u2019s controls and electrical system was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor as it allowed him to indulge his nerdiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Thinking Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis plan to have an airplane-home in Japan is simple: buy an airplane and place it on Japanese soil. This time, however, he was going to maintain as much of the plane\u2019s original interior design as possible after learning from his mistakes with his US jet. He\u2019s keeping his eyes open for an older 747 jetliner that will soon enter the market. This time, he\u2019s skipping salvaging the inside entirely and keeping things as true-to-form as possible \u2013 minus a functional engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Keeping It All While Saving as Much as Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis time, he wants to keep everything he gets from his jet, moldy or not. If there are defunct napkins and doilies inside of the plan, even better! Of course, without going through a salvaging process, this means he won\u2019t get a few thousand bucks back for refurbishing his new home. However, to save as much as possible, he decided that buying a retired jetliner from Japan would save a fortune on shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Chilly Winters<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being his ideal home, the 747-200 isn\u2019t always the coziest place to live in. When it snows, it snows hard in Portland, and his jetliner isn\u2019t made to deal with extreme climates. Bruce rewired his home to provide adequate heating in the rear, but the front of the plane is an entirely different story. This isn\u2019t actually a problem for Bruce but rather for any wintertime guests looking for a jet to stay in for a couple of nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Controlling the Climate<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRight now, Bruce\u2019s biggest project \u2013 apart from scouring the Japanese market for a soon-to-be-retired aircraft \u2013 is providing heating to his entire craft. To the average man without electrician skills, this would seem like a job for the pros. Bruce, however, is a pro and is working hard at finding a solution to the problem. Go, Bruce, go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. A Home is a Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce\u2019s choice of residence may raise some eyebrows, it is no different than the average house. Bruce has even admitted that the novelty of owning his own jetliner wore off when he found himself performing traditional household chores like vacuuming and dusting. The idea of dusting your own aircraft seems like a stretch, but that\u2019s everyday life for Mr. Campbell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. Shower Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost aircrafts aren\u2019t equipped with a shower or bathtub, so Bruce had to take matters into his own hands. Located at the rear of the plane is a bathroom with running water, both hot and cold, which is supplied by a nearby well. Although the bathroom may seem pretty rough at best (hey, he\u2019s an electrician, not a plumber\/interior designer), it has served him and his guests faithfully for many, many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Outgoing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis choice of lifestyle \u2013 living in the middle of a forest in Portland in an aircraft \u2013 might seem to reflect a hermit-esque personality, but nothing could be further away from the truth. Bruce is by no means reserved at all! He\u2019s been known to be as relaxed as can be around strangers and even willing to shower in his makeshift, non-compartmentalized shower (THAT is strange) in front of others. Genius and strange go hand and hand, so this is nothing too out of the ordinary. However, if you happen to visit his plane one day, he will happily exit his craft if you wish to use his shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Simple Homestyle Cooking<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne glimpse into his kitchen and you\u2019ll see he didn\u2019t dedicate nearly as much time and effort on his kitchen compared to other parts of his home. This is normal since most men \u2013 especially single, retired men \u2013 don\u2019t need much to live. A microwave and a toaster is all Bruce needs to eat. His plane could do with a panty to keep things organized, but that\u2019s way at the bottom of his list of priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Nonperishables<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite having a working refrigerator on board, most of Bruce\u2019s food is available in dry form in boxes or preserved in cans. You might be wondering why Bruce doesn\u2019t just drive to the supermarket and pick up fresh fruits, veggies, and meat like the rest of us, and his answer is simple: he doesn\u2019t feel the need to do so. Plus, many of his overnight guests bring delicious, homemade food to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. Original Restroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne room Bruce managed to keep as authentic as possible was the restroom (separate from the shower). Inside the cramped area is the original toilet and sink, but he did have to do a bit of rough plumbing to keep the restroom working properly. The bathroom has seen some better days, but it works perfectly and has space heaters for the cold Portland months. What more could you ask for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
31. Doing the Laundry<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother part of Bruce\u2019s home that he\u2019s proud of is the laundry room. Equipped with the latest (at the time) washer and dryer, there\u2019s absolutely no need for Bruce to rely on professional services to keep his clothes as fresh and crisp as possible. He\u2019s been willing to give up many comforts, but skimping over a laundry room was not something he considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
32. His Way<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people dream of living in Florida or other beachside\ncountry or state after retirement, but not Bruce Campbell. His choice of home\nhas surprised many, but he has remained active in retirement by tinkering with\nhis aircraft and making it as livable as possible. If you\u2019re wondering what Bruce\nhad to do to make his plane a real home, you can check out his site at\nAirplaneHome.com. Regardless of what you may think, one thing is for certain: he\u2019s\nhappier doing this his way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the last things you\u2019d expect to see in the middle of the forest is an abandoned jet plane. After all, it\u2019s not every day that we find aviation technology left to corrode in the wilderness or for raccoons to turn it into a makeshift residence. But that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019d find if you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":8998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97331,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions\/97331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
When he first purchased the would-be piece of scrap metal, it came almost fully functional. The only thing missing was an engine, but to Bruce, this was perfect as he had no intention of moving the aircraft at all. The biggest challenge was actually towing it to his patch of land, but after that, it was smooth sailing. Despite coming without an engine, his defunct airplane was a dream come true.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
10. Nooks and Crannies<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe 747 provides Bruce with more hidden spaces, ladders, and rooms than he initially imagined. Exploring the grounded jet was almost as fun as redesigning it and making it livable. Of course, he had to remove the rotting seats, folding trays, moldy carpeting, and musky overhead compartments, but after that, his now-empty plane was a wonderland waiting to be explored. If you find yourself wandering through his patch of land, you may not be able to spot him right away, probably because he himself is wandering in, on, or around the jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. Cleanliness Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though living inside a jet plane was a literal dream come true, it wasn\u2019t without its fair share of challenges. It\u2019s not so much as keeping the interior spotless \u2013 a pressurized cabin is easy to clean and naturally free of insects \u2013 but maintaining a beautiful exterior was the problem. Being lodged between two very healthy trees means having leaves scattered on and around the jet. Dust and grime also tend to latch themselves onto the jet\u2019s body, so Bruce spends a couple of days every other year dedicated to hose down the jet and remove clumps of dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Buying the Boeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOlympic Airlines of Greece decided to retire is last remaining 727-200 in 1999. Bruce had been scouring the market for a retired plane for several years, and when news of the 727 hit his ears, he fell head over heels for the jet. With assistance from a salvage company, the plane was flown from Athens straight to Portland. That was the easy part \u2013 next, he had to dismantle the aircraft and move it, piece by piece, to his new backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Total Cost: $220,000 (Give or Take)<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce had to spend a sweet 100 Gs to purchase the plane, but that was his first expense. Next, he had to pay to have it moved, dismantled, and moved again. After that, there were rewiring and refurbishing expenses. He was able to recuperate some of his expenses after the salvage company took whatever they deemed valuable (except for the plane, of course). Overall, Bruce spend more than $220,000 of his savings as an electrician to obtain the 747. A hefty investment for sure, but Bruce couldn\u2019t be happier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Doing Things Differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen asked whether he had regrets, Bruce said he probably would have done things a bit differently. Of course, not<\/em> getting the plane was out of the question, but he said he regretted letting the salvage company take the seats, electronic systems, and food and beverage trolleys before relocating the plane onto his property. Looking back, he says he probably missed a lot of the feel of owning a plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Buck Naked<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter the company had taken many of the possessions he now wishes he could keep, there wasn\u2019t very much left over for him to tinker with. Almost everything inside of the plane was taken away, leaving the plexiglass exposed, requiring new flooring. Many of the paneling inside the plane were taken as well, and all Bruce was left with was a completely naked interior. Of course, his creativity was yearning to renovate, but he would have to dedicate many years on either looking for spare parts of making his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. More Dismantling<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBefore Bruce could envision what he wanted to do with the plane, he had to dismantle quite a few things beforehand. First, he removed the unsightly overhead compartments to make the huge interior even more spacious. He also removed some of the lights, AC, and a PA system that would bump into his head when passing by. He was ultimately left with exposed wiring which \u2013 for the average person \u2013 could pose a safety hazard. Bruce, however, was a retired electrician and knew just what to do and how to manage the problem. Plus, this was actually a large reason why he underwent the project in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. More to Offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe more time spent wandering through his new home, the more he knew how he wanted to repurpose his jetliner-home. At first, his creative juices weren\u2019t flowing, but with nearly a quarter-million spent on the jet, there was no turning back. What he did know what that he wanted to create something jaw-droppingly awesome (as if the owning a plane wasn\u2019t enough!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. International Bruce<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce is a retired man living inside of a retired airplane in Oregon, but he also leads a double life in Japan of all places. He spends half the year on his grounded jet and the other half in the Land of the Rising Sun. His love for both of his homes was a seemingly unsolvable dilemma, but recently he began brainstorming on how he could live in both Japan and Oregon while maintaining his comfortable life on an airplane. Then it hit him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Airplane Home: The Sequel<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce\u2019s current place of residence is a grounded jetliner, meaning that it\u2019ll never see the skies ever again without a functioning engine (the cost of which is astronomical). He probably would have loved to fly his plane to and from Japan, but seeing the cards he was dealt with, it seemed utterly impossible to imagine. Then it came to him: instead of wishing to fly a plane back and forth, why not just own a plane-home in Japan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Bruce the (Almost) Pilot<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though the 747-200 he purchased in 1999 will never fly among the birds ever again, Bruce enjoys spending a lot of his time sitting in the cockpit (the pilot seats weren\u2019t taken away, thank goodness). Rewiring the cockpit\u2019s controls and electrical system was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor as it allowed him to indulge his nerdiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Thinking Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis plan to have an airplane-home in Japan is simple: buy an airplane and place it on Japanese soil. This time, however, he was going to maintain as much of the plane\u2019s original interior design as possible after learning from his mistakes with his US jet. He\u2019s keeping his eyes open for an older 747 jetliner that will soon enter the market. This time, he\u2019s skipping salvaging the inside entirely and keeping things as true-to-form as possible \u2013 minus a functional engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Keeping It All While Saving as Much as Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis time, he wants to keep everything he gets from his jet, moldy or not. If there are defunct napkins and doilies inside of the plan, even better! Of course, without going through a salvaging process, this means he won\u2019t get a few thousand bucks back for refurbishing his new home. However, to save as much as possible, he decided that buying a retired jetliner from Japan would save a fortune on shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Chilly Winters<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being his ideal home, the 747-200 isn\u2019t always the coziest place to live in. When it snows, it snows hard in Portland, and his jetliner isn\u2019t made to deal with extreme climates. Bruce rewired his home to provide adequate heating in the rear, but the front of the plane is an entirely different story. This isn\u2019t actually a problem for Bruce but rather for any wintertime guests looking for a jet to stay in for a couple of nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Controlling the Climate<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRight now, Bruce\u2019s biggest project \u2013 apart from scouring the Japanese market for a soon-to-be-retired aircraft \u2013 is providing heating to his entire craft. To the average man without electrician skills, this would seem like a job for the pros. Bruce, however, is a pro and is working hard at finding a solution to the problem. Go, Bruce, go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. A Home is a Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce\u2019s choice of residence may raise some eyebrows, it is no different than the average house. Bruce has even admitted that the novelty of owning his own jetliner wore off when he found himself performing traditional household chores like vacuuming and dusting. The idea of dusting your own aircraft seems like a stretch, but that\u2019s everyday life for Mr. Campbell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. Shower Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost aircrafts aren\u2019t equipped with a shower or bathtub, so Bruce had to take matters into his own hands. Located at the rear of the plane is a bathroom with running water, both hot and cold, which is supplied by a nearby well. Although the bathroom may seem pretty rough at best (hey, he\u2019s an electrician, not a plumber\/interior designer), it has served him and his guests faithfully for many, many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Outgoing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis choice of lifestyle \u2013 living in the middle of a forest in Portland in an aircraft \u2013 might seem to reflect a hermit-esque personality, but nothing could be further away from the truth. Bruce is by no means reserved at all! He\u2019s been known to be as relaxed as can be around strangers and even willing to shower in his makeshift, non-compartmentalized shower (THAT is strange) in front of others. Genius and strange go hand and hand, so this is nothing too out of the ordinary. However, if you happen to visit his plane one day, he will happily exit his craft if you wish to use his shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Simple Homestyle Cooking<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne glimpse into his kitchen and you\u2019ll see he didn\u2019t dedicate nearly as much time and effort on his kitchen compared to other parts of his home. This is normal since most men \u2013 especially single, retired men \u2013 don\u2019t need much to live. A microwave and a toaster is all Bruce needs to eat. His plane could do with a panty to keep things organized, but that\u2019s way at the bottom of his list of priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Nonperishables<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite having a working refrigerator on board, most of Bruce\u2019s food is available in dry form in boxes or preserved in cans. You might be wondering why Bruce doesn\u2019t just drive to the supermarket and pick up fresh fruits, veggies, and meat like the rest of us, and his answer is simple: he doesn\u2019t feel the need to do so. Plus, many of his overnight guests bring delicious, homemade food to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. Original Restroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne room Bruce managed to keep as authentic as possible was the restroom (separate from the shower). Inside the cramped area is the original toilet and sink, but he did have to do a bit of rough plumbing to keep the restroom working properly. The bathroom has seen some better days, but it works perfectly and has space heaters for the cold Portland months. What more could you ask for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
31. Doing the Laundry<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother part of Bruce\u2019s home that he\u2019s proud of is the laundry room. Equipped with the latest (at the time) washer and dryer, there\u2019s absolutely no need for Bruce to rely on professional services to keep his clothes as fresh and crisp as possible. He\u2019s been willing to give up many comforts, but skimping over a laundry room was not something he considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
32. His Way<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people dream of living in Florida or other beachside\ncountry or state after retirement, but not Bruce Campbell. His choice of home\nhas surprised many, but he has remained active in retirement by tinkering with\nhis aircraft and making it as livable as possible. If you\u2019re wondering what Bruce\nhad to do to make his plane a real home, you can check out his site at\nAirplaneHome.com. Regardless of what you may think, one thing is for certain: he\u2019s\nhappier doing this his way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the last things you\u2019d expect to see in the middle of the forest is an abandoned jet plane. After all, it\u2019s not every day that we find aviation technology left to corrode in the wilderness or for raccoons to turn it into a makeshift residence. But that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019d find if you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":8998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97331,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions\/97331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
The 747 provides Bruce with more hidden spaces, ladders, and rooms than he initially imagined. Exploring the grounded jet was almost as fun as redesigning it and making it livable. Of course, he had to remove the rotting seats, folding trays, moldy carpeting, and musky overhead compartments, but after that, his now-empty plane was a wonderland waiting to be explored. If you find yourself wandering through his patch of land, you may not be able to spot him right away, probably because he himself is wandering in, on, or around the jet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
11. Cleanliness Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though living inside a jet plane was a literal dream come true, it wasn\u2019t without its fair share of challenges. It\u2019s not so much as keeping the interior spotless \u2013 a pressurized cabin is easy to clean and naturally free of insects \u2013 but maintaining a beautiful exterior was the problem. Being lodged between two very healthy trees means having leaves scattered on and around the jet. Dust and grime also tend to latch themselves onto the jet\u2019s body, so Bruce spends a couple of days every other year dedicated to hose down the jet and remove clumps of dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Buying the Boeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOlympic Airlines of Greece decided to retire is last remaining 727-200 in 1999. Bruce had been scouring the market for a retired plane for several years, and when news of the 727 hit his ears, he fell head over heels for the jet. With assistance from a salvage company, the plane was flown from Athens straight to Portland. That was the easy part \u2013 next, he had to dismantle the aircraft and move it, piece by piece, to his new backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Total Cost: $220,000 (Give or Take)<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce had to spend a sweet 100 Gs to purchase the plane, but that was his first expense. Next, he had to pay to have it moved, dismantled, and moved again. After that, there were rewiring and refurbishing expenses. He was able to recuperate some of his expenses after the salvage company took whatever they deemed valuable (except for the plane, of course). Overall, Bruce spend more than $220,000 of his savings as an electrician to obtain the 747. A hefty investment for sure, but Bruce couldn\u2019t be happier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Doing Things Differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen asked whether he had regrets, Bruce said he probably would have done things a bit differently. Of course, not<\/em> getting the plane was out of the question, but he said he regretted letting the salvage company take the seats, electronic systems, and food and beverage trolleys before relocating the plane onto his property. Looking back, he says he probably missed a lot of the feel of owning a plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Buck Naked<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter the company had taken many of the possessions he now wishes he could keep, there wasn\u2019t very much left over for him to tinker with. Almost everything inside of the plane was taken away, leaving the plexiglass exposed, requiring new flooring. Many of the paneling inside the plane were taken as well, and all Bruce was left with was a completely naked interior. Of course, his creativity was yearning to renovate, but he would have to dedicate many years on either looking for spare parts of making his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. More Dismantling<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBefore Bruce could envision what he wanted to do with the plane, he had to dismantle quite a few things beforehand. First, he removed the unsightly overhead compartments to make the huge interior even more spacious. He also removed some of the lights, AC, and a PA system that would bump into his head when passing by. He was ultimately left with exposed wiring which \u2013 for the average person \u2013 could pose a safety hazard. Bruce, however, was a retired electrician and knew just what to do and how to manage the problem. Plus, this was actually a large reason why he underwent the project in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. More to Offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe more time spent wandering through his new home, the more he knew how he wanted to repurpose his jetliner-home. At first, his creative juices weren\u2019t flowing, but with nearly a quarter-million spent on the jet, there was no turning back. What he did know what that he wanted to create something jaw-droppingly awesome (as if the owning a plane wasn\u2019t enough!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. International Bruce<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce is a retired man living inside of a retired airplane in Oregon, but he also leads a double life in Japan of all places. He spends half the year on his grounded jet and the other half in the Land of the Rising Sun. His love for both of his homes was a seemingly unsolvable dilemma, but recently he began brainstorming on how he could live in both Japan and Oregon while maintaining his comfortable life on an airplane. Then it hit him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Airplane Home: The Sequel<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce\u2019s current place of residence is a grounded jetliner, meaning that it\u2019ll never see the skies ever again without a functioning engine (the cost of which is astronomical). He probably would have loved to fly his plane to and from Japan, but seeing the cards he was dealt with, it seemed utterly impossible to imagine. Then it came to him: instead of wishing to fly a plane back and forth, why not just own a plane-home in Japan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Bruce the (Almost) Pilot<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though the 747-200 he purchased in 1999 will never fly among the birds ever again, Bruce enjoys spending a lot of his time sitting in the cockpit (the pilot seats weren\u2019t taken away, thank goodness). Rewiring the cockpit\u2019s controls and electrical system was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor as it allowed him to indulge his nerdiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Thinking Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis plan to have an airplane-home in Japan is simple: buy an airplane and place it on Japanese soil. This time, however, he was going to maintain as much of the plane\u2019s original interior design as possible after learning from his mistakes with his US jet. He\u2019s keeping his eyes open for an older 747 jetliner that will soon enter the market. This time, he\u2019s skipping salvaging the inside entirely and keeping things as true-to-form as possible \u2013 minus a functional engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Keeping It All While Saving as Much as Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis time, he wants to keep everything he gets from his jet, moldy or not. If there are defunct napkins and doilies inside of the plan, even better! Of course, without going through a salvaging process, this means he won\u2019t get a few thousand bucks back for refurbishing his new home. However, to save as much as possible, he decided that buying a retired jetliner from Japan would save a fortune on shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Chilly Winters<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being his ideal home, the 747-200 isn\u2019t always the coziest place to live in. When it snows, it snows hard in Portland, and his jetliner isn\u2019t made to deal with extreme climates. Bruce rewired his home to provide adequate heating in the rear, but the front of the plane is an entirely different story. This isn\u2019t actually a problem for Bruce but rather for any wintertime guests looking for a jet to stay in for a couple of nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Controlling the Climate<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRight now, Bruce\u2019s biggest project \u2013 apart from scouring the Japanese market for a soon-to-be-retired aircraft \u2013 is providing heating to his entire craft. To the average man without electrician skills, this would seem like a job for the pros. Bruce, however, is a pro and is working hard at finding a solution to the problem. Go, Bruce, go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. A Home is a Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce\u2019s choice of residence may raise some eyebrows, it is no different than the average house. Bruce has even admitted that the novelty of owning his own jetliner wore off when he found himself performing traditional household chores like vacuuming and dusting. The idea of dusting your own aircraft seems like a stretch, but that\u2019s everyday life for Mr. Campbell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. Shower Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost aircrafts aren\u2019t equipped with a shower or bathtub, so Bruce had to take matters into his own hands. Located at the rear of the plane is a bathroom with running water, both hot and cold, which is supplied by a nearby well. Although the bathroom may seem pretty rough at best (hey, he\u2019s an electrician, not a plumber\/interior designer), it has served him and his guests faithfully for many, many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Outgoing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis choice of lifestyle \u2013 living in the middle of a forest in Portland in an aircraft \u2013 might seem to reflect a hermit-esque personality, but nothing could be further away from the truth. Bruce is by no means reserved at all! He\u2019s been known to be as relaxed as can be around strangers and even willing to shower in his makeshift, non-compartmentalized shower (THAT is strange) in front of others. Genius and strange go hand and hand, so this is nothing too out of the ordinary. However, if you happen to visit his plane one day, he will happily exit his craft if you wish to use his shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Simple Homestyle Cooking<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne glimpse into his kitchen and you\u2019ll see he didn\u2019t dedicate nearly as much time and effort on his kitchen compared to other parts of his home. This is normal since most men \u2013 especially single, retired men \u2013 don\u2019t need much to live. A microwave and a toaster is all Bruce needs to eat. His plane could do with a panty to keep things organized, but that\u2019s way at the bottom of his list of priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Nonperishables<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite having a working refrigerator on board, most of Bruce\u2019s food is available in dry form in boxes or preserved in cans. You might be wondering why Bruce doesn\u2019t just drive to the supermarket and pick up fresh fruits, veggies, and meat like the rest of us, and his answer is simple: he doesn\u2019t feel the need to do so. Plus, many of his overnight guests bring delicious, homemade food to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. Original Restroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne room Bruce managed to keep as authentic as possible was the restroom (separate from the shower). Inside the cramped area is the original toilet and sink, but he did have to do a bit of rough plumbing to keep the restroom working properly. The bathroom has seen some better days, but it works perfectly and has space heaters for the cold Portland months. What more could you ask for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
31. Doing the Laundry<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother part of Bruce\u2019s home that he\u2019s proud of is the laundry room. Equipped with the latest (at the time) washer and dryer, there\u2019s absolutely no need for Bruce to rely on professional services to keep his clothes as fresh and crisp as possible. He\u2019s been willing to give up many comforts, but skimping over a laundry room was not something he considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
32. His Way<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people dream of living in Florida or other beachside\ncountry or state after retirement, but not Bruce Campbell. His choice of home\nhas surprised many, but he has remained active in retirement by tinkering with\nhis aircraft and making it as livable as possible. If you\u2019re wondering what Bruce\nhad to do to make his plane a real home, you can check out his site at\nAirplaneHome.com. Regardless of what you may think, one thing is for certain: he\u2019s\nhappier doing this his way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the last things you\u2019d expect to see in the middle of the forest is an abandoned jet plane. After all, it\u2019s not every day that we find aviation technology left to corrode in the wilderness or for raccoons to turn it into a makeshift residence. But that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019d find if you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":8998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97331,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions\/97331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Even though living inside a jet plane was a literal dream come true, it wasn\u2019t without its fair share of challenges. It\u2019s not so much as keeping the interior spotless \u2013 a pressurized cabin is easy to clean and naturally free of insects \u2013 but maintaining a beautiful exterior was the problem. Being lodged between two very healthy trees means having leaves scattered on and around the jet. Dust and grime also tend to latch themselves onto the jet\u2019s body, so Bruce spends a couple of days every other year dedicated to hose down the jet and remove clumps of dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
12. Buying the Boeing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOlympic Airlines of Greece decided to retire is last remaining 727-200 in 1999. Bruce had been scouring the market for a retired plane for several years, and when news of the 727 hit his ears, he fell head over heels for the jet. With assistance from a salvage company, the plane was flown from Athens straight to Portland. That was the easy part \u2013 next, he had to dismantle the aircraft and move it, piece by piece, to his new backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Total Cost: $220,000 (Give or Take)<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce had to spend a sweet 100 Gs to purchase the plane, but that was his first expense. Next, he had to pay to have it moved, dismantled, and moved again. After that, there were rewiring and refurbishing expenses. He was able to recuperate some of his expenses after the salvage company took whatever they deemed valuable (except for the plane, of course). Overall, Bruce spend more than $220,000 of his savings as an electrician to obtain the 747. A hefty investment for sure, but Bruce couldn\u2019t be happier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Doing Things Differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen asked whether he had regrets, Bruce said he probably would have done things a bit differently. Of course, not<\/em> getting the plane was out of the question, but he said he regretted letting the salvage company take the seats, electronic systems, and food and beverage trolleys before relocating the plane onto his property. Looking back, he says he probably missed a lot of the feel of owning a plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Buck Naked<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter the company had taken many of the possessions he now wishes he could keep, there wasn\u2019t very much left over for him to tinker with. Almost everything inside of the plane was taken away, leaving the plexiglass exposed, requiring new flooring. Many of the paneling inside the plane were taken as well, and all Bruce was left with was a completely naked interior. Of course, his creativity was yearning to renovate, but he would have to dedicate many years on either looking for spare parts of making his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. More Dismantling<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBefore Bruce could envision what he wanted to do with the plane, he had to dismantle quite a few things beforehand. First, he removed the unsightly overhead compartments to make the huge interior even more spacious. He also removed some of the lights, AC, and a PA system that would bump into his head when passing by. He was ultimately left with exposed wiring which \u2013 for the average person \u2013 could pose a safety hazard. Bruce, however, was a retired electrician and knew just what to do and how to manage the problem. Plus, this was actually a large reason why he underwent the project in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. More to Offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe more time spent wandering through his new home, the more he knew how he wanted to repurpose his jetliner-home. At first, his creative juices weren\u2019t flowing, but with nearly a quarter-million spent on the jet, there was no turning back. What he did know what that he wanted to create something jaw-droppingly awesome (as if the owning a plane wasn\u2019t enough!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. International Bruce<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce is a retired man living inside of a retired airplane in Oregon, but he also leads a double life in Japan of all places. He spends half the year on his grounded jet and the other half in the Land of the Rising Sun. His love for both of his homes was a seemingly unsolvable dilemma, but recently he began brainstorming on how he could live in both Japan and Oregon while maintaining his comfortable life on an airplane. Then it hit him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Airplane Home: The Sequel<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce\u2019s current place of residence is a grounded jetliner, meaning that it\u2019ll never see the skies ever again without a functioning engine (the cost of which is astronomical). He probably would have loved to fly his plane to and from Japan, but seeing the cards he was dealt with, it seemed utterly impossible to imagine. Then it came to him: instead of wishing to fly a plane back and forth, why not just own a plane-home in Japan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Bruce the (Almost) Pilot<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though the 747-200 he purchased in 1999 will never fly among the birds ever again, Bruce enjoys spending a lot of his time sitting in the cockpit (the pilot seats weren\u2019t taken away, thank goodness). Rewiring the cockpit\u2019s controls and electrical system was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor as it allowed him to indulge his nerdiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Thinking Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis plan to have an airplane-home in Japan is simple: buy an airplane and place it on Japanese soil. This time, however, he was going to maintain as much of the plane\u2019s original interior design as possible after learning from his mistakes with his US jet. He\u2019s keeping his eyes open for an older 747 jetliner that will soon enter the market. This time, he\u2019s skipping salvaging the inside entirely and keeping things as true-to-form as possible \u2013 minus a functional engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Keeping It All While Saving as Much as Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis time, he wants to keep everything he gets from his jet, moldy or not. If there are defunct napkins and doilies inside of the plan, even better! Of course, without going through a salvaging process, this means he won\u2019t get a few thousand bucks back for refurbishing his new home. However, to save as much as possible, he decided that buying a retired jetliner from Japan would save a fortune on shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Chilly Winters<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being his ideal home, the 747-200 isn\u2019t always the coziest place to live in. When it snows, it snows hard in Portland, and his jetliner isn\u2019t made to deal with extreme climates. Bruce rewired his home to provide adequate heating in the rear, but the front of the plane is an entirely different story. This isn\u2019t actually a problem for Bruce but rather for any wintertime guests looking for a jet to stay in for a couple of nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Controlling the Climate<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRight now, Bruce\u2019s biggest project \u2013 apart from scouring the Japanese market for a soon-to-be-retired aircraft \u2013 is providing heating to his entire craft. To the average man without electrician skills, this would seem like a job for the pros. Bruce, however, is a pro and is working hard at finding a solution to the problem. Go, Bruce, go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. A Home is a Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce\u2019s choice of residence may raise some eyebrows, it is no different than the average house. Bruce has even admitted that the novelty of owning his own jetliner wore off when he found himself performing traditional household chores like vacuuming and dusting. The idea of dusting your own aircraft seems like a stretch, but that\u2019s everyday life for Mr. Campbell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. Shower Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost aircrafts aren\u2019t equipped with a shower or bathtub, so Bruce had to take matters into his own hands. Located at the rear of the plane is a bathroom with running water, both hot and cold, which is supplied by a nearby well. Although the bathroom may seem pretty rough at best (hey, he\u2019s an electrician, not a plumber\/interior designer), it has served him and his guests faithfully for many, many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Outgoing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis choice of lifestyle \u2013 living in the middle of a forest in Portland in an aircraft \u2013 might seem to reflect a hermit-esque personality, but nothing could be further away from the truth. Bruce is by no means reserved at all! He\u2019s been known to be as relaxed as can be around strangers and even willing to shower in his makeshift, non-compartmentalized shower (THAT is strange) in front of others. Genius and strange go hand and hand, so this is nothing too out of the ordinary. However, if you happen to visit his plane one day, he will happily exit his craft if you wish to use his shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Simple Homestyle Cooking<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne glimpse into his kitchen and you\u2019ll see he didn\u2019t dedicate nearly as much time and effort on his kitchen compared to other parts of his home. This is normal since most men \u2013 especially single, retired men \u2013 don\u2019t need much to live. A microwave and a toaster is all Bruce needs to eat. His plane could do with a panty to keep things organized, but that\u2019s way at the bottom of his list of priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Nonperishables<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite having a working refrigerator on board, most of Bruce\u2019s food is available in dry form in boxes or preserved in cans. You might be wondering why Bruce doesn\u2019t just drive to the supermarket and pick up fresh fruits, veggies, and meat like the rest of us, and his answer is simple: he doesn\u2019t feel the need to do so. Plus, many of his overnight guests bring delicious, homemade food to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. Original Restroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne room Bruce managed to keep as authentic as possible was the restroom (separate from the shower). Inside the cramped area is the original toilet and sink, but he did have to do a bit of rough plumbing to keep the restroom working properly. The bathroom has seen some better days, but it works perfectly and has space heaters for the cold Portland months. What more could you ask for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
31. Doing the Laundry<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother part of Bruce\u2019s home that he\u2019s proud of is the laundry room. Equipped with the latest (at the time) washer and dryer, there\u2019s absolutely no need for Bruce to rely on professional services to keep his clothes as fresh and crisp as possible. He\u2019s been willing to give up many comforts, but skimping over a laundry room was not something he considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
32. His Way<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people dream of living in Florida or other beachside\ncountry or state after retirement, but not Bruce Campbell. His choice of home\nhas surprised many, but he has remained active in retirement by tinkering with\nhis aircraft and making it as livable as possible. If you\u2019re wondering what Bruce\nhad to do to make his plane a real home, you can check out his site at\nAirplaneHome.com. Regardless of what you may think, one thing is for certain: he\u2019s\nhappier doing this his way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the last things you\u2019d expect to see in the middle of the forest is an abandoned jet plane. After all, it\u2019s not every day that we find aviation technology left to corrode in the wilderness or for raccoons to turn it into a makeshift residence. But that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019d find if you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":8998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97331,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions\/97331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Olympic Airlines of Greece decided to retire is last remaining 727-200 in 1999. Bruce had been scouring the market for a retired plane for several years, and when news of the 727 hit his ears, he fell head over heels for the jet. With assistance from a salvage company, the plane was flown from Athens straight to Portland. That was the easy part \u2013 next, he had to dismantle the aircraft and move it, piece by piece, to his new backyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
13. Total Cost: $220,000 (Give or Take)<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce had to spend a sweet 100 Gs to purchase the plane, but that was his first expense. Next, he had to pay to have it moved, dismantled, and moved again. After that, there were rewiring and refurbishing expenses. He was able to recuperate some of his expenses after the salvage company took whatever they deemed valuable (except for the plane, of course). Overall, Bruce spend more than $220,000 of his savings as an electrician to obtain the 747. A hefty investment for sure, but Bruce couldn\u2019t be happier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Doing Things Differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen asked whether he had regrets, Bruce said he probably would have done things a bit differently. Of course, not<\/em> getting the plane was out of the question, but he said he regretted letting the salvage company take the seats, electronic systems, and food and beverage trolleys before relocating the plane onto his property. Looking back, he says he probably missed a lot of the feel of owning a plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Buck Naked<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter the company had taken many of the possessions he now wishes he could keep, there wasn\u2019t very much left over for him to tinker with. Almost everything inside of the plane was taken away, leaving the plexiglass exposed, requiring new flooring. Many of the paneling inside the plane were taken as well, and all Bruce was left with was a completely naked interior. Of course, his creativity was yearning to renovate, but he would have to dedicate many years on either looking for spare parts of making his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. More Dismantling<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBefore Bruce could envision what he wanted to do with the plane, he had to dismantle quite a few things beforehand. First, he removed the unsightly overhead compartments to make the huge interior even more spacious. He also removed some of the lights, AC, and a PA system that would bump into his head when passing by. He was ultimately left with exposed wiring which \u2013 for the average person \u2013 could pose a safety hazard. Bruce, however, was a retired electrician and knew just what to do and how to manage the problem. Plus, this was actually a large reason why he underwent the project in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. More to Offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe more time spent wandering through his new home, the more he knew how he wanted to repurpose his jetliner-home. At first, his creative juices weren\u2019t flowing, but with nearly a quarter-million spent on the jet, there was no turning back. What he did know what that he wanted to create something jaw-droppingly awesome (as if the owning a plane wasn\u2019t enough!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. International Bruce<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce is a retired man living inside of a retired airplane in Oregon, but he also leads a double life in Japan of all places. He spends half the year on his grounded jet and the other half in the Land of the Rising Sun. His love for both of his homes was a seemingly unsolvable dilemma, but recently he began brainstorming on how he could live in both Japan and Oregon while maintaining his comfortable life on an airplane. Then it hit him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Airplane Home: The Sequel<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce\u2019s current place of residence is a grounded jetliner, meaning that it\u2019ll never see the skies ever again without a functioning engine (the cost of which is astronomical). He probably would have loved to fly his plane to and from Japan, but seeing the cards he was dealt with, it seemed utterly impossible to imagine. Then it came to him: instead of wishing to fly a plane back and forth, why not just own a plane-home in Japan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Bruce the (Almost) Pilot<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though the 747-200 he purchased in 1999 will never fly among the birds ever again, Bruce enjoys spending a lot of his time sitting in the cockpit (the pilot seats weren\u2019t taken away, thank goodness). Rewiring the cockpit\u2019s controls and electrical system was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor as it allowed him to indulge his nerdiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Thinking Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis plan to have an airplane-home in Japan is simple: buy an airplane and place it on Japanese soil. This time, however, he was going to maintain as much of the plane\u2019s original interior design as possible after learning from his mistakes with his US jet. He\u2019s keeping his eyes open for an older 747 jetliner that will soon enter the market. This time, he\u2019s skipping salvaging the inside entirely and keeping things as true-to-form as possible \u2013 minus a functional engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Keeping It All While Saving as Much as Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis time, he wants to keep everything he gets from his jet, moldy or not. If there are defunct napkins and doilies inside of the plan, even better! Of course, without going through a salvaging process, this means he won\u2019t get a few thousand bucks back for refurbishing his new home. However, to save as much as possible, he decided that buying a retired jetliner from Japan would save a fortune on shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Chilly Winters<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being his ideal home, the 747-200 isn\u2019t always the coziest place to live in. When it snows, it snows hard in Portland, and his jetliner isn\u2019t made to deal with extreme climates. Bruce rewired his home to provide adequate heating in the rear, but the front of the plane is an entirely different story. This isn\u2019t actually a problem for Bruce but rather for any wintertime guests looking for a jet to stay in for a couple of nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Controlling the Climate<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRight now, Bruce\u2019s biggest project \u2013 apart from scouring the Japanese market for a soon-to-be-retired aircraft \u2013 is providing heating to his entire craft. To the average man without electrician skills, this would seem like a job for the pros. Bruce, however, is a pro and is working hard at finding a solution to the problem. Go, Bruce, go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. A Home is a Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce\u2019s choice of residence may raise some eyebrows, it is no different than the average house. Bruce has even admitted that the novelty of owning his own jetliner wore off when he found himself performing traditional household chores like vacuuming and dusting. The idea of dusting your own aircraft seems like a stretch, but that\u2019s everyday life for Mr. Campbell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. Shower Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost aircrafts aren\u2019t equipped with a shower or bathtub, so Bruce had to take matters into his own hands. Located at the rear of the plane is a bathroom with running water, both hot and cold, which is supplied by a nearby well. Although the bathroom may seem pretty rough at best (hey, he\u2019s an electrician, not a plumber\/interior designer), it has served him and his guests faithfully for many, many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Outgoing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis choice of lifestyle \u2013 living in the middle of a forest in Portland in an aircraft \u2013 might seem to reflect a hermit-esque personality, but nothing could be further away from the truth. Bruce is by no means reserved at all! He\u2019s been known to be as relaxed as can be around strangers and even willing to shower in his makeshift, non-compartmentalized shower (THAT is strange) in front of others. Genius and strange go hand and hand, so this is nothing too out of the ordinary. However, if you happen to visit his plane one day, he will happily exit his craft if you wish to use his shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Simple Homestyle Cooking<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne glimpse into his kitchen and you\u2019ll see he didn\u2019t dedicate nearly as much time and effort on his kitchen compared to other parts of his home. This is normal since most men \u2013 especially single, retired men \u2013 don\u2019t need much to live. A microwave and a toaster is all Bruce needs to eat. His plane could do with a panty to keep things organized, but that\u2019s way at the bottom of his list of priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Nonperishables<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite having a working refrigerator on board, most of Bruce\u2019s food is available in dry form in boxes or preserved in cans. You might be wondering why Bruce doesn\u2019t just drive to the supermarket and pick up fresh fruits, veggies, and meat like the rest of us, and his answer is simple: he doesn\u2019t feel the need to do so. Plus, many of his overnight guests bring delicious, homemade food to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. Original Restroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne room Bruce managed to keep as authentic as possible was the restroom (separate from the shower). Inside the cramped area is the original toilet and sink, but he did have to do a bit of rough plumbing to keep the restroom working properly. The bathroom has seen some better days, but it works perfectly and has space heaters for the cold Portland months. What more could you ask for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
31. Doing the Laundry<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother part of Bruce\u2019s home that he\u2019s proud of is the laundry room. Equipped with the latest (at the time) washer and dryer, there\u2019s absolutely no need for Bruce to rely on professional services to keep his clothes as fresh and crisp as possible. He\u2019s been willing to give up many comforts, but skimping over a laundry room was not something he considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
32. His Way<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people dream of living in Florida or other beachside\ncountry or state after retirement, but not Bruce Campbell. His choice of home\nhas surprised many, but he has remained active in retirement by tinkering with\nhis aircraft and making it as livable as possible. If you\u2019re wondering what Bruce\nhad to do to make his plane a real home, you can check out his site at\nAirplaneHome.com. Regardless of what you may think, one thing is for certain: he\u2019s\nhappier doing this his way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the last things you\u2019d expect to see in the middle of the forest is an abandoned jet plane. After all, it\u2019s not every day that we find aviation technology left to corrode in the wilderness or for raccoons to turn it into a makeshift residence. But that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019d find if you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":8998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97331,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions\/97331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Bruce had to spend a sweet 100 Gs to purchase the plane, but that was his first expense. Next, he had to pay to have it moved, dismantled, and moved again. After that, there were rewiring and refurbishing expenses. He was able to recuperate some of his expenses after the salvage company took whatever they deemed valuable (except for the plane, of course). Overall, Bruce spend more than $220,000 of his savings as an electrician to obtain the 747. A hefty investment for sure, but Bruce couldn\u2019t be happier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
14. Doing Things Differently<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhen asked whether he had regrets, Bruce said he probably would have done things a bit differently. Of course, not<\/em> getting the plane was out of the question, but he said he regretted letting the salvage company take the seats, electronic systems, and food and beverage trolleys before relocating the plane onto his property. Looking back, he says he probably missed a lot of the feel of owning a plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n15. Buck Naked<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter the company had taken many of the possessions he now wishes he could keep, there wasn\u2019t very much left over for him to tinker with. Almost everything inside of the plane was taken away, leaving the plexiglass exposed, requiring new flooring. Many of the paneling inside the plane were taken as well, and all Bruce was left with was a completely naked interior. Of course, his creativity was yearning to renovate, but he would have to dedicate many years on either looking for spare parts of making his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
16. More Dismantling<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBefore Bruce could envision what he wanted to do with the plane, he had to dismantle quite a few things beforehand. First, he removed the unsightly overhead compartments to make the huge interior even more spacious. He also removed some of the lights, AC, and a PA system that would bump into his head when passing by. He was ultimately left with exposed wiring which \u2013 for the average person \u2013 could pose a safety hazard. Bruce, however, was a retired electrician and knew just what to do and how to manage the problem. Plus, this was actually a large reason why he underwent the project in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
17. More to Offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThe more time spent wandering through his new home, the more he knew how he wanted to repurpose his jetliner-home. At first, his creative juices weren\u2019t flowing, but with nearly a quarter-million spent on the jet, there was no turning back. What he did know what that he wanted to create something jaw-droppingly awesome (as if the owning a plane wasn\u2019t enough!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
18. International Bruce<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce is a retired man living inside of a retired airplane in Oregon, but he also leads a double life in Japan of all places. He spends half the year on his grounded jet and the other half in the Land of the Rising Sun. His love for both of his homes was a seemingly unsolvable dilemma, but recently he began brainstorming on how he could live in both Japan and Oregon while maintaining his comfortable life on an airplane. Then it hit him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
19. Airplane Home: The Sequel<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nBruce\u2019s current place of residence is a grounded jetliner, meaning that it\u2019ll never see the skies ever again without a functioning engine (the cost of which is astronomical). He probably would have loved to fly his plane to and from Japan, but seeing the cards he was dealt with, it seemed utterly impossible to imagine. Then it came to him: instead of wishing to fly a plane back and forth, why not just own a plane-home in Japan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
20. Bruce the (Almost) Pilot<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nEven though the 747-200 he purchased in 1999 will never fly among the birds ever again, Bruce enjoys spending a lot of his time sitting in the cockpit (the pilot seats weren\u2019t taken away, thank goodness). Rewiring the cockpit\u2019s controls and electrical system was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor as it allowed him to indulge his nerdiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
21. Thinking Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis plan to have an airplane-home in Japan is simple: buy an airplane and place it on Japanese soil. This time, however, he was going to maintain as much of the plane\u2019s original interior design as possible after learning from his mistakes with his US jet. He\u2019s keeping his eyes open for an older 747 jetliner that will soon enter the market. This time, he\u2019s skipping salvaging the inside entirely and keeping things as true-to-form as possible \u2013 minus a functional engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
22. Keeping It All While Saving as Much as Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis time, he wants to keep everything he gets from his jet, moldy or not. If there are defunct napkins and doilies inside of the plan, even better! Of course, without going through a salvaging process, this means he won\u2019t get a few thousand bucks back for refurbishing his new home. However, to save as much as possible, he decided that buying a retired jetliner from Japan would save a fortune on shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
23. Chilly Winters<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite being his ideal home, the 747-200 isn\u2019t always the coziest place to live in. When it snows, it snows hard in Portland, and his jetliner isn\u2019t made to deal with extreme climates. Bruce rewired his home to provide adequate heating in the rear, but the front of the plane is an entirely different story. This isn\u2019t actually a problem for Bruce but rather for any wintertime guests looking for a jet to stay in for a couple of nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
24. Controlling the Climate<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nRight now, Bruce\u2019s biggest project \u2013 apart from scouring the Japanese market for a soon-to-be-retired aircraft \u2013 is providing heating to his entire craft. To the average man without electrician skills, this would seem like a job for the pros. Bruce, however, is a pro and is working hard at finding a solution to the problem. Go, Bruce, go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
25. A Home is a Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAlthough Bruce\u2019s choice of residence may raise some eyebrows, it is no different than the average house. Bruce has even admitted that the novelty of owning his own jetliner wore off when he found himself performing traditional household chores like vacuuming and dusting. The idea of dusting your own aircraft seems like a stretch, but that\u2019s everyday life for Mr. Campbell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
26. Shower Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost aircrafts aren\u2019t equipped with a shower or bathtub, so Bruce had to take matters into his own hands. Located at the rear of the plane is a bathroom with running water, both hot and cold, which is supplied by a nearby well. Although the bathroom may seem pretty rough at best (hey, he\u2019s an electrician, not a plumber\/interior designer), it has served him and his guests faithfully for many, many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
27. Outgoing<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nHis choice of lifestyle \u2013 living in the middle of a forest in Portland in an aircraft \u2013 might seem to reflect a hermit-esque personality, but nothing could be further away from the truth. Bruce is by no means reserved at all! He\u2019s been known to be as relaxed as can be around strangers and even willing to shower in his makeshift, non-compartmentalized shower (THAT is strange) in front of others. Genius and strange go hand and hand, so this is nothing too out of the ordinary. However, if you happen to visit his plane one day, he will happily exit his craft if you wish to use his shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
28. Simple Homestyle Cooking<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne glimpse into his kitchen and you\u2019ll see he didn\u2019t dedicate nearly as much time and effort on his kitchen compared to other parts of his home. This is normal since most men \u2013 especially single, retired men \u2013 don\u2019t need much to live. A microwave and a toaster is all Bruce needs to eat. His plane could do with a panty to keep things organized, but that\u2019s way at the bottom of his list of priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
29. Nonperishables<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nDespite having a working refrigerator on board, most of Bruce\u2019s food is available in dry form in boxes or preserved in cans. You might be wondering why Bruce doesn\u2019t just drive to the supermarket and pick up fresh fruits, veggies, and meat like the rest of us, and his answer is simple: he doesn\u2019t feel the need to do so. Plus, many of his overnight guests bring delicious, homemade food to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
30. Original Restroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOne room Bruce managed to keep as authentic as possible was the restroom (separate from the shower). Inside the cramped area is the original toilet and sink, but he did have to do a bit of rough plumbing to keep the restroom working properly. The bathroom has seen some better days, but it works perfectly and has space heaters for the cold Portland months. What more could you ask for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
31. Doing the Laundry<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nAnother part of Bruce\u2019s home that he\u2019s proud of is the laundry room. Equipped with the latest (at the time) washer and dryer, there\u2019s absolutely no need for Bruce to rely on professional services to keep his clothes as fresh and crisp as possible. He\u2019s been willing to give up many comforts, but skimping over a laundry room was not something he considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
32. His Way<\/h3>\n\n\n\nairplanehome.com<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nMost people dream of living in Florida or other beachside\ncountry or state after retirement, but not Bruce Campbell. His choice of home\nhas surprised many, but he has remained active in retirement by tinkering with\nhis aircraft and making it as livable as possible. If you\u2019re wondering what Bruce\nhad to do to make his plane a real home, you can check out his site at\nAirplaneHome.com. Regardless of what you may think, one thing is for certain: he\u2019s\nhappier doing this his way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the last things you\u2019d expect to see in the middle of the forest is an abandoned jet plane. After all, it\u2019s not every day that we find aviation technology left to corrode in the wilderness or for raccoons to turn it into a makeshift residence. But that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019d find if you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":8998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97331,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions\/97331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
When asked whether he had regrets, Bruce said he probably would have done things a bit differently. Of course, not<\/em> getting the plane was out of the question, but he said he regretted letting the salvage company take the seats, electronic systems, and food and beverage trolleys before relocating the plane onto his property. Looking back, he says he probably missed a lot of the feel of owning a plane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n After the company had taken many of the possessions he now wishes he could keep, there wasn\u2019t very much left over for him to tinker with. Almost everything inside of the plane was taken away, leaving the plexiglass exposed, requiring new flooring. Many of the paneling inside the plane were taken as well, and all Bruce was left with was a completely naked interior. Of course, his creativity was yearning to renovate, but he would have to dedicate many years on either looking for spare parts of making his own. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Before Bruce could envision what he wanted to do with the plane, he had to dismantle quite a few things beforehand. First, he removed the unsightly overhead compartments to make the huge interior even more spacious. He also removed some of the lights, AC, and a PA system that would bump into his head when passing by. He was ultimately left with exposed wiring which \u2013 for the average person \u2013 could pose a safety hazard. Bruce, however, was a retired electrician and knew just what to do and how to manage the problem. Plus, this was actually a large reason why he underwent the project in the first place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n The more time spent wandering through his new home, the more he knew how he wanted to repurpose his jetliner-home. At first, his creative juices weren\u2019t flowing, but with nearly a quarter-million spent on the jet, there was no turning back. What he did know what that he wanted to create something jaw-droppingly awesome (as if the owning a plane wasn\u2019t enough!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Bruce is a retired man living inside of a retired airplane in Oregon, but he also leads a double life in Japan of all places. He spends half the year on his grounded jet and the other half in the Land of the Rising Sun. His love for both of his homes was a seemingly unsolvable dilemma, but recently he began brainstorming on how he could live in both Japan and Oregon while maintaining his comfortable life on an airplane. Then it hit him\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Bruce\u2019s current place of residence is a grounded jetliner, meaning that it\u2019ll never see the skies ever again without a functioning engine (the cost of which is astronomical). He probably would have loved to fly his plane to and from Japan, but seeing the cards he was dealt with, it seemed utterly impossible to imagine. Then it came to him: instead of wishing to fly a plane back and forth, why not just own a plane-home in Japan?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Even though the 747-200 he purchased in 1999 will never fly among the birds ever again, Bruce enjoys spending a lot of his time sitting in the cockpit (the pilot seats weren\u2019t taken away, thank goodness). Rewiring the cockpit\u2019s controls and electrical system was a challenging yet rewarding endeavor as it allowed him to indulge his nerdiness. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n His plan to have an airplane-home in Japan is simple: buy an airplane and place it on Japanese soil. This time, however, he was going to maintain as much of the plane\u2019s original interior design as possible after learning from his mistakes with his US jet. He\u2019s keeping his eyes open for an older 747 jetliner that will soon enter the market. This time, he\u2019s skipping salvaging the inside entirely and keeping things as true-to-form as possible \u2013 minus a functional engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n This time, he wants to keep everything he gets from his jet, moldy or not. If there are defunct napkins and doilies inside of the plan, even better! Of course, without going through a salvaging process, this means he won\u2019t get a few thousand bucks back for refurbishing his new home. However, to save as much as possible, he decided that buying a retired jetliner from Japan would save a fortune on shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Despite being his ideal home, the 747-200 isn\u2019t always the coziest place to live in. When it snows, it snows hard in Portland, and his jetliner isn\u2019t made to deal with extreme climates. Bruce rewired his home to provide adequate heating in the rear, but the front of the plane is an entirely different story. This isn\u2019t actually a problem for Bruce but rather for any wintertime guests looking for a jet to stay in for a couple of nights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Right now, Bruce\u2019s biggest project \u2013 apart from scouring the Japanese market for a soon-to-be-retired aircraft \u2013 is providing heating to his entire craft. To the average man without electrician skills, this would seem like a job for the pros. Bruce, however, is a pro and is working hard at finding a solution to the problem. Go, Bruce, go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Although Bruce\u2019s choice of residence may raise some eyebrows, it is no different than the average house. Bruce has even admitted that the novelty of owning his own jetliner wore off when he found himself performing traditional household chores like vacuuming and dusting. The idea of dusting your own aircraft seems like a stretch, but that\u2019s everyday life for Mr. Campbell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Most aircrafts aren\u2019t equipped with a shower or bathtub, so Bruce had to take matters into his own hands. Located at the rear of the plane is a bathroom with running water, both hot and cold, which is supplied by a nearby well. Although the bathroom may seem pretty rough at best (hey, he\u2019s an electrician, not a plumber\/interior designer), it has served him and his guests faithfully for many, many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n His choice of lifestyle \u2013 living in the middle of a forest in Portland in an aircraft \u2013 might seem to reflect a hermit-esque personality, but nothing could be further away from the truth. Bruce is by no means reserved at all! He\u2019s been known to be as relaxed as can be around strangers and even willing to shower in his makeshift, non-compartmentalized shower (THAT is strange) in front of others. Genius and strange go hand and hand, so this is nothing too out of the ordinary. However, if you happen to visit his plane one day, he will happily exit his craft if you wish to use his shower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n One glimpse into his kitchen and you\u2019ll see he didn\u2019t dedicate nearly as much time and effort on his kitchen compared to other parts of his home. This is normal since most men \u2013 especially single, retired men \u2013 don\u2019t need much to live. A microwave and a toaster is all Bruce needs to eat. His plane could do with a panty to keep things organized, but that\u2019s way at the bottom of his list of priorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Despite having a working refrigerator on board, most of Bruce\u2019s food is available in dry form in boxes or preserved in cans. You might be wondering why Bruce doesn\u2019t just drive to the supermarket and pick up fresh fruits, veggies, and meat like the rest of us, and his answer is simple: he doesn\u2019t feel the need to do so. Plus, many of his overnight guests bring delicious, homemade food to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n One room Bruce managed to keep as authentic as possible was the restroom (separate from the shower). Inside the cramped area is the original toilet and sink, but he did have to do a bit of rough plumbing to keep the restroom working properly. The bathroom has seen some better days, but it works perfectly and has space heaters for the cold Portland months. What more could you ask for?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Another part of Bruce\u2019s home that he\u2019s proud of is the laundry room. Equipped with the latest (at the time) washer and dryer, there\u2019s absolutely no need for Bruce to rely on professional services to keep his clothes as fresh and crisp as possible. He\u2019s been willing to give up many comforts, but skimping over a laundry room was not something he considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n Most people dream of living in Florida or other beachside\ncountry or state after retirement, but not Bruce Campbell. His choice of home\nhas surprised many, but he has remained active in retirement by tinkering with\nhis aircraft and making it as livable as possible. If you\u2019re wondering what Bruce\nhad to do to make his plane a real home, you can check out his site at\nAirplaneHome.com. Regardless of what you may think, one thing is for certain: he\u2019s\nhappier doing this his way.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" One of the last things you\u2019d expect to see in the middle of the forest is an abandoned jet plane. After all, it\u2019s not every day that we find aviation technology left to corrode in the wilderness or for raccoons to turn it into a makeshift residence. But that\u2019s exactly what you\u2019d find if you […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":8998,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[79,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8997"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":97331,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8997\/revisions\/97331"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8997"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8997"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/womentales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8997"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}15. Buck Naked<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
16. More Dismantling<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
17. More to Offer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
18. International Bruce<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
19. Airplane Home: The Sequel<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
20. Bruce the (Almost) Pilot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
21. Thinking Ahead<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
22. Keeping It All While Saving as Much as Possible<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
23. Chilly Winters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
24. Controlling the Climate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
25. A Home is a Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
26. Shower Room<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
27. Outgoing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
28. Simple Homestyle Cooking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
29. Nonperishables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
30. Original Restroom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
31. Doing the Laundry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
32. His Way<\/h3>\n\n\n\n