In the early ’70s, Bruce Campbell paid $25,800 for a 10-acre plot of land in Hillsborough, a suburb of Portland, Oregon.
electrical engineer, who is now 73 and lives in a parked plane on his property, states cnbc make it the dream began when he saw An Airplane Boneyard on TV when he was 15. he decided wanted to live in one.
In 1999, Campbell resolved to follow through, but didn’t know how to go about it, so he hired a salvage company to find the plane for him.
Campbell says, “That was a Whopper class mistake. I will never do that again. Salvage companies are wrecks.” “I highly recommend purchasing a fully intact and fully functional jetliner, except for the removal of the engines.”
Campbell’s jetliner stands on a 10-acre property he bought in the early ’70s.
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After months of searching, the company found a Campbell Boeing 727 200-passenger jetliner that was 1,066 square feet and weighed approximately 70,000 pounds. It was found in Greece and is a part of American history… sort of.
The plane was used in 1975 to transport the remains of the airline’s owner, Aristotle Onassis. The late Greek-Argentine shipping magnate was married to former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis at the time of his death.
Campbell paid $100,000 for it, and the plane was flown from Greece to Oregon to prepare it for taking ownership. Once the plane was ready, it was driven through the streets of the city of Hillsborough to Campbell’s Land. That process involved removing the engine and other elements that make it up so the plane could never fly again. Its total cost was $120,000.
“When you live in a structure like this, you tend to feel a little more satisfied with your life,” he says. “And if you’re an engineer, scientist, or anyone who appreciates the grandeur and beauty of aerospace technology, it’s a happy place to live.”
Campbell’s aircraft was originally owned by the late shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.
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He spent 15,000 dollars and spent 2 years to make the plane home
Campbell added a makeshift shower, a makeshift sink, a portable washing machine, a refrigerator, and a food service cart from another plane that serves as her pantry.
In place of a stove, Campbell has a microwave and a toaster oven, which he barely uses. “I’m a nerd. I don’t cook, so it’s a minimal kitchen area,” he says.
Next to the kitchen area, Campbell has her own futon sofa, which doubles as her sleeping area and her workspace.
Their monthly expenses are $370 per month, which includes $220 per month in property taxes and $100 to $250 per month in electricity.
Campbell spends much of his time restoring old computer systems and giving people tours of his airship home.
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Now, Campbell spends his time restoring old computer systems, fixing various electrical systems on aircraft, and letting people come and tour his aircraft.
“I have no regrets about pursuing this vision. In my experience with my guests, I believe that humanity will wholeheartedly embrace this vision in proportion as we use every jetliner who retire from service,” he says.
As he divides his time between America and Japan, he hopes to one day have an airplane there too. “The aim is to build a home in the country I love and with the people I love,” he says.
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