Man who set out to build a treehouse actually bought Boeing 727 that’s now his home
He's kept a lot of the plane elements intact.
Featured Image Credit: 1News
A plane might not sound like the cosiest home.
But for Neil Mugford, the idea turned out to be a fantastic decision on his part.
The farmer was looking online for the perfect set of stairs for his grandkids' treehouse when he came across a retired Boeing 727.
But not just any Boeing 727. This particular model used to be an Air Force plane and was used to transport royalties like the Queen.
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When it was decommissioned, the cockpit and entire front section were removed and is now on display at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, leaving Mugford with the remaining three quarters of home-living potential.
A lot of the plane elements are still intact, including the toilet which still has a functioning 'engaged' light. Although the seats have been removed, leaving the plane pretty bare, the overhead bins remain and are used as cupboards.
The interior has been modernised and converted into a stylish one-bedroom one-bathroom home for Mugford and his wife.
Additionally, the couple's walk-in wardrobe is lit up by overhead reading lights, while the original window shades do a solid job of keeping out the light.
Seeing even more potential, Mugford added a second-story extension to house their kitchen.
Of course, converting this Boeing into a home required a lot of planning permission.
After buying the plane in 2019, the couple had to wait over a year to get their building plans approved.
Mugford had originally wanted to convert the plane’s wing into a deck, inspired by the private villa Boeing 737 in Bali. But the council disapproved.
What he did create though was a replica plane tail and engines to give his home quite an authentic look.
Overall, the building costs were similar to constructing a traditional home but you have to admit, his home looks a lot cooler.
Bruce Campbell, the designer of the plane agreed with the transformation and giving the plane a second life.
'To me it's wholly irrational to destroy the finest home-sized structures available on this planet and then turn around and build homes out of materials which are fundamentally little more than assemblies of sticks rendered with ancient and inferior design and fabrication methods,' Campbell wrote. 'What the devil are we thinking…?'