Buses, small houses, and shipping containers have all seen a surge in appeal as potential building materials for one-of-a-kind dwellings.
These alternatives to standard lodgings offer the same level of comfort at a fraction of the price and with a wide range of personalization options.
But Jo Ann Ussery made her own unique house long before it was cool.
She bought a decommissioned Boeing 727 and transformed it into a lavish mansion.
(video of the plane can be found below)
One-of-a-kind housing
In 1993, Ussery’s home in Benoit, Mississippi was destroyed, marking the beginning of her journey.
Her husband had recently passed away, so she and her two kids needed a place to live but had very little money.
She had hoped that getting a trailer would solve all of her issues, but she soon discovered that she couldn’t afford a house that was big enough to accommodate her family of three.
Ussery’s brother-in-law, Bob, is an air traffic controller and proposed that they try living on an airplane.
Ussery was receptive to the concept, so he went to examine a Boeing 727 that was about to be broken up for parts.
She fell in love at first sight, and the price, including shipping, was only $2,000.
Ussery gave her Boeing 727 the moniker “Little Trump” after learning that Donald Trump also had a private Boeing 727.
She jumped right into her expensive and time-consuming home improvements.
Major refurbishment
She put in less than $30,000 (around $60,000 in today’s money) on the makeover.
She needed to make sure it stayed put in its current location while she worked on the inside.
Ussery made use of the lake that was already present on her property by parking the plane such that the nose pointed out over the water. Because of this particular reason, a substantial amount of concrete was used to secure the tail. She then started demolishing the nearly 1,500 square foot interior.
The plane measures 138 feet in length and has 76 windows.
The windows did not open, as is standard on commercial planes, but that was not a problem on the Ussery because the plane was equipped with air conditioning.
She upgraded the insulation and laid new flooring as well. What exactly from the original 727 has been preserved?
Having only one airplane lavatory and the overhead bins to store your belongings is a brilliant answer to the problem of limited space.
Interior features
Ussery was able to move on to the finer touches and extra comforts after the major renovations were finished.
There were three bedrooms, a living area, a kitchen, and even a laundry room in the updated plane.
It also had an oven and a phone in addition to the washer and dryer.
What Ussery did with the cockpit looking out over the lake was unquestionably the best improvement.
She renovated it into a master bathroom fit for a king, complete with a soaking tub.
She planned the room’s layout so that its occupants would feel as though they were floating in midair.
Most notably, Ussery did all the remodeling work by herself.
Between 1995 until 1999, she called her converted jet home before deciding to open it to the world as a museum.
It was being transported a short distance when it tragically fell off the carriage and was destroyed.
It’s a good thing we have these breathtaking snapshots below:
Michael Douglas’s Son Is a Carbon Copy of His Dad, and Fans Can’t Believe It
Michael Douglas and his sons recently attended a big event in style, and fans couldn’t get over how much they all look alike.
Michael Douglas showed up with strong family support at the 2024 Princess Grace Awards. His sons, Cameron, who is 45, and Dylan, who is 24, joined him at the event.
Michael Douglas and his sons recently attended a big event together, charming everyone with how much they look alike.
The trio appeared on the red carpet at The Pierre Hotel in New York City on October 23 for the 40th anniversary of the Princess Grace Awards. Michael stood proudly in the middle with his arms around his sons, making for a heartwarming family scene.
Michael wore a classic black suit with a bow tie. On his left, Dylan matched his father’s style with a navy-blue suit and a black bow tie. Cameron, on his right, added a personal touch with a black suit, a stylish striped tie, and bold black-framed glasses.
Later, Michael shared a photo of them on Instagram, showing his appreciation for the award he received. He wrote, “Night out with my two sons @dylan__douglas @cameronmorrelldouglas! Thank you Prince Albert II and @princessgraceus for honoring me with the Prince Rainier III Award last night in NYC.”
Fans quickly reacted to his post, with many noticing how similar the three of them look. “Sharp-dressed men 👏,” one person commented. Others highlighted the strong resemblance, calling them “Daddy’s copy” and “carbon copies.”
Many fans pointed out that Michael and Cameron look especially alike. One fan noted, “The one in the glasses looks a lot like Michael.” Others mentioned how Cameron reminded them of Michael in his famous film Falling Down.
While many saw a strong resemblance between Michael and Cameron, others thought Dylan looked more like his mother, Catherine Zeta-Jones. “Cameron looks like Michael, and Dylan looks like his mom,” one fan commented. Another said, “Dylan is a mix of you and Catherine.”
Michael has a son, Cameron, with his ex-wife Diandra Luker and two children—Dylan and a daughter, Carys, 21—with his wife, actress Catherine Zeta-Jones.
At 80, Michael feels he’s become a better dad as he’s gotten older, though sometimes he’s mistaken for his kids’ grandfather. He once shared a funny story about attending his kid’s college event where someone mistook him for their grandparent. “This is not grandfather’s day, this is parents’ day,” they said, and he had to reply, “I am a parent!”
Michael says his second chance at family life with Catherine has made him more patient and involved. After 25 years of marriage, he feels that raising Dylan and Carys has been “a good ride.” Although he stays active, he admits he’s had to cut back on some activities. “It’s nice having someone look after you and say, ‘You okay, Dad?’”
Michael also deeply appreciates his family life with Catherine, calling these years some of his happiest. He feels grateful for his family and proud of his kids. Dylan has finished college, while Carys is close to completing her studies.
Michael has openly spoken about how his busy career took him away from his eldest son, Cameron, during his early years. This distance affected Cameron deeply, leading to struggles with addiction and even prison time. Michael once admitted in a letter to a judge that his demanding job left little room for family, and he regretted missing out on Cameron’s life.
Cameron later admitted that he “hated the wreckage” drugs brought to his life, though he felt unable to stop. Watching his son’s struggles, Michael and his ex-wife, Diandra, felt helpless. “I thought I was going to lose him,” Michael recalled.
However, after his release in 2016, Cameron rebuilt his life. Now, he’s a devoted father to his child with his partner, yoga instructor Viviane Thiebes, and he’s reconnected with his acting career. Cameron now feels grateful for the support his family has shown him through it all.
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