A large decommissioned Boeing 727 airplane parked permanently in a dense Oregon forest, serving as a private home.
A Teenage Dream Takes Flight
At 15 years old, Bruce Campbell saw an airplane boneyard on television. That single image sparked an unconventional lifelong goal: he would one day live inside a commercial jet.
Half a century later, the retired electrical engineer made it happen. Now 73, Campbell lives inside a decommissioned Boeing 727 permanently parked in the dense woods of Hillsboro, a suburb of Portland, Oregon.
The journey began in the early 1970s when Campbell purchased nearly four hectares of land in Hillsboro for roughly $25,800. Decades passed before he finally put his airplane plan into motion in 1999.
Securing a Piece of History
Campbell initially hired a salvage company to locate a jet, a decision he later heavily criticized. “That was a mistake. I will never do that again. Salvage companies are wreckers,” he told CNBC Make It.
Despite the friction, the company sourced a remarkable aircraft. Campbell paid $100,000 for a 100-square-meter Boeing 727 that originally seated 200 passengers for Olympic Airways.
The aircraft held a unique piece of international history. In 1975, this exact plane transported the remains of Aristotle Onassis, the Greek-Argentine shipping magnate once married to Jacqueline Kennedy.
A $120,000 Towing Operation
Buying the plane in Greece was only the first hurdle. Getting a commercial airliner into the Oregon woods required a logistical nightmare.
Crews had to completely dismantle the wings and tail to tow the massive fuselage through the downtown streets of Hillsboro. They also stripped the engines and essential flight hardware, permanently grounding the aircraft.
The complicated moving process tacked an additional $120,000 onto his total budget.
Inside the $370-a-Month Cockpit
Today, Campbell lives quietly inside the silver fuselage surrounded by towering trees. He kept the plane’s main structure intact, preserving the original cockpit and overhead compartments.
His living quarters are strictly utilitarian. He sleeps on a futon that doubles as a couch, uses a makeshift shower, a portable washing machine, and stores his food in an original airline catering cart.
There is no traditional oven or gas stove. His kitchen consists only of a microwave and a toaster oven. “I’m a nerd. I don’t cook, so it’s a minimal area,” he admits.
Living debt-free on his own land keeps his overhead incredibly low. His monthly expenses hover around just $370, which covers his property taxes and electricity bill.
Open Doors and Vintage Macs
Campbell spends his days repairing vintage computer systems, specifically old Macintosh machines, and maintaining his aluminum home.
He does not keep his unique sanctuary hidden. The Boeing 727 has become a local attraction, drawing curious visitors who travel out to the woods just to speak with him.
Campbell documented his entire multi-year process on a personal website to prove that alternative, sustainable housing is highly achievable. “It’s an incredible experience,” he said. “Living in a plane is great.”
