We all had these dreams and fantasies when we were children.
Remember when you wanted to live in a castle, fly to the moon, or discover the latest scientific breakthrough?
It’s so nice to look back to our child-like wonder, right? If only we could turn back time and make them come true.
For 73-year-old Bruce Campbell, he had to wait years to follow his dreams.
He was only 15 when he saw an airplane boneyard on TV – a sight he could not believe existed.
He was so amazed at what he saw that he promised he would own one someday.
He didn’t know how to achieve it, but that desire would soon drive him to take little steps to make it come true.
Bruce bought a 10-acre lot in Hillsboro, Portland, Oregon, in the 70s.
Land was still cheaper then, so he only spent $25,800.
Still, he didn’t know how to make his teenage dreams come true.
That’s when he learned about salvage company and this Boeing 727, a 200-passenger jetliner that spans 1,066 square feet and weighs a whopping 70,000 pounds.
He paid $100,000 for the plane and had it transported from Greece to Hillsboro Airport.
From there, they degassed the plane and removed its engine, never to be flown again.
Bruce shared that transporting the plane from the airport to his vacant lot was challenging, with its wings only a few inches away from touching everything at the side.
But when it reached there, Bruce slowly secured the aircraft’s position and worked on his new home.
His aircraft home is nowhere near perfect, but it’s magical, to say the least.
He has a simple futon with an electric heating blanket which keeps him warm during the cold season.
Cellphone signal was also difficult inside the plane, so he had to make do with facing one cell phone at one of the polycarbonate windows, which is radio transparent.
As a self-confessed geek, Bruce said he never cooked, so he did not find the need to have a kitchen.
A fridge, a toaster, and a microwave oven – that’s all he needed.
Nothing fancy, just as long as he has enough supplies in the refrigerator.
However, staying true to his airport-home living, he utilized the food service carts that came with the plane.
The bathroom was never a problem for Bruce. After all, the aircraft has two toilets!
He has one for himself and another for guests. And when he needs to take a shower?
He had this fabricated half enclosure and a shower head, and everything worked well.
Bruce decided to keep some parts as is, especially since guests enjoy them so much.
He started entertaining guests who came across or knew of his home and wanted to check it out.
He showed guests around the plane and let them sit on the original seats of the aircraft – well, the only ones he was able to salvage.
But guests absolutely love being in the cockpit!
It’s like every child’s dream to see what an airplane’s cockpit looks like, and their eyes glisten at the amazement when they finally step in there.
Bruce talks to the guests and tells them about his vision. His guests meant a lot to him and have kept him going – a friendship forged, something he will treasure forever.
Interested in how his aircraft home looks? Take a tour by watching the video below!
