Retired jumbo jet now a dream home

NeverSayGoodBye

11 Jun 14, 14:09

HILLSBORO (Oregon) - Deep in the rolling hills outside the suburbs of Portland, a Boeing 727 seems to have landed at the top of a steep dirt driveway encircled by towering pines.

For Mr Bruce Campbell, 64, it is home.

Complete with wings and landing gear, it is where he spends half the year. In 1999, the former electrical engineer had a vision: to save retired jetliners from becoming scrap metal by reusing them.

He sees the task as part of his goal in life. "Mine is to change humanity's behaviour in this little niche," he said as he stood beside the plane.

On board, he sleeps on a futon, bathes in a makeshift shower and cooks with a microwave or toaster, eating mostly canned food.

He is among a handful of people worldwide - from Texas to the Netherlands - who have turned retired planes into a living space or creative project.

The Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association - an organisation made up of industry leaders such as Boeing that focus on sustainable end-of-service practices for airframes and engines - estimates that 1,200 to 1,800 aircraft will be dismantled around the world over the next three years.