Repurposed Airplanes That Were Given New Life On The Ground

Humans finally conquering the phenomenon of flight not only increased our ability to travel wherever we wish but also improved our vision: we were able to see the Earth from a different perspective. However, before this, thousands of human flights took place in the form of balloons before the Wright brothers’ historic breakthrough. When the airplane was ushered into society, it presented a whole new way of perceiving and experiencing the planet, causing so much joy around the world. With their initial public flights in the summer and early fall of 1908, Wilbur and Orville sparked a revolution that only strengthened as it got older. Now, imagine taking an innovation like that and converting it to these… umm… original creations that we see below. We humans indeed are a unique bunch.

Limojet

This just might be the perfect union of a luxury private jet plane and automobile, as seen during Knowledgefest in Dallas, Texas. The Illinois-based business Jet Seeter Inc gave the vehicle the moniker “Limo-Jet.” It was evidently a ten-year relationship.

Developed in 2006 as a concept, the completed product is now physically rolling out. This massive machine can accommodate more than 50 people at once and is entirely legal on the road. With lights, speakers, screens, and a powerful V-8 engine, this limousine is one of a kind.

Giving a new meaning to airport hotel

This is a brilliant concept. This jumbo jet hostel may be the solution if you really are frightened of flying but still want to experience the feeling. The hotel Arlanda in Stockholm, Sweden, is known as Sweden’s only “Jumbo Stay.”

This is a decommissioned Boeing 747, but this is not the most incredible aspect of this plane’s second life. They managed to squeeze 33 rooms into this giant while still leaving plenty of legroom. Ironically, this is a short distance from Stockholm-Arlanda Airport.

Speedster

Take a good hard look at this hot rod. If a gearhead upcycles parts of an aircraft, this is the end result. Yes, that is an underbody fuel cell out of a Lockheed fighter jet from World War II. Also, the car is not filthy.

That is the original paint job, complete with all of the use markings from operational missions during WWII. The 18-inch tires are unique in their own way. The creators took them from a milk truck. Then, they used them to transform the vehicle into a soapbox derby car.

We’re lovin’ this

This McDonald’s went above and beyond! The fast-food business, which is based in Taupo, New Zealand, has a retired DC 3 plane as a core part of the restaurant’s framework. How often can you say that you’ve enjoyed a Big Mac in an airplane?

That, in our perspective, is simply an additional motive to go. In addition, they provide wings to first-time guests. The plane once belonged to the Aero Plane Automotive Company, a defunct car dealership. The Douglas airplane acted as a kind of corporate icon.

AI(RV)

Alright, if we had the ownership rights to this bad boy, RV parks don’t seem that bad. Even better, you wouldn’t need to connect any power. This airplane RV is thoroughly environmentally friendly. It is likely the first jumbo jet with a negative carbon footprint.

Why? Because wind and solar power fuel this machine (putting all the naysayers to shame). In being frank, renting something for vacation is probably not wise. Though there is plenty of room, it’s much more of a one-of-a-kind limo than an RV.

Air McDonald’s

For something like a playground, how does this work? When standing in this McDonald’s in Budapest, Hungary, it doesn’t appear that the miniature fort with the flag will get much usage besides this. Instead, we’d make a beeline for the biplane fort. In fact, this is used as a kind of party area.

It’s a terrific utilization of obsolete military planes and a brilliant idea. It’s incredible what a fresh coat of red paint with gold trim can accomplish for an antique aircraft. It transforms from garbage into treasure in a jiffy.

School on wings

Recall how much you disliked going to school? That is most likely not the situation here. This aircraft modification is located in Georgia, USA. One of the local school’s headteachers created this. He wanted to provide a positive, stimulating educational experience for his students.

As a result, the school purchased and repurposed a Yakovlev Yak-42 into a classroom. Because the cockpit is still completely intact, the kids have a great time. If you’re five years old, it means you have over 1500 controls, buttons, and switches to play with.

Plane Sweet Home

Now here’s a fantastic one. Bruce is a visionary who works as an engineer. He believes that vintage jets should not be discarded. As a result, he rebuilt one and now lives in it.! Bruce paid $100,000 for the Boeing 727 in 1999.

Further upgrades included transportation and base blocks made out of concrete. He claims there is sophisticated lighting and controls within. He made the toilet operational and installed a functioning shower. Currently. He’s putting money aside to purchase a fuselage for yet another home plane!

Opposite day

The “Cosmic Muffin” (no joke here. This is a real name) is a type of plane boat. The background on this special one is that Howard Hughes previously owned it. The Boeing B – 307, in fact, used to be his cherished property.

Nevertheless, in 1969, the aircraft was ruled unfit for flight and thrown into a landfill where it was discovered by Kenneth W. London, an airline pilot and Fort Lauderdale realtor. He worked on changing the jet into the world’s most unique houseboat for four years.

Airplane Guesthouse

What exactly transpires if you’re a retired engineer with a passion for aviation? Toshikazu Tsuki, for example, made furnishings, a pool cover, and even an entire house out of discarded aircraft parts. He also employed a mix of several planes to build it.

His one-of-a-kind house integrates Boeing 707, 727, 737, and 747 aircraft parts. The combination involves both civil and military planes. Internally, airplane seats function as sofas, and old turbine covers with glass panels serve as tables. He has one creative noggin for sure.

Perfect use of available opportunity

Some might recall the Turkish airplane that wrecked a few years ago at Kathmandu’s airport. That airplane has now been resurrected but does not have the ability to operate anymore. The proprietor will use it to create Nepal’s first aircraft museum.

It was an Airbus A330 that could seat 224 people before its fateful incident in March 2015. Before the change from aluminum airplane corpse to aviation museum was completed, the new owner retrieved the wrecked jet and put upwards of half a million dollars into it.

Food plane or plane truck?

The Los Angeles Aeronautical Museum actually purchased this particular beauty. It’s a WWII-era DC3 airplane that’s been turned into a food truck. But this isn’t just any food truck. Gourmet dinners are available for under $20 for visitors to the museum.

Chilean sea bass, lobster, and steak are among the dishes on the menu. They name it the DC3-Gourmet. Also, now the museum will be able to use this as a means of raising funds. The museum will use the earnings from this to sponsor youth programs.

Air sculpture

Although this may appear to be an excellent “what in the name of?” piece, it is really quite significant. Jordan Griska, a Philadelphia artist, was assigned to create special artwork for Lenfest Plaza in 2011. This is the magical result of his brainstorming.

A Grumman Tracker II aircraft serves as the centerpiece of the plaza’s artwork. The plane was 45 feet long with a wingspan of 73 feet during the Cold War era. This plane’s role was to hunt down submarines effectively.

Now this is how you build a slide

Ukrainians use this plane that’s been converted into a massive slide! Appropriately, it’s on the grounds of an airbase, so it’s spot-on for the subject. Take a look at its height and how the front wheel is precariously on that tiny pole.

If you ask us, it appears to be a little risky. Ukrainian children, on the other hand, adore it! They must climb a spiral stairway to reach the top of the slide. They enter the plane and proceed to the slide, where they come racing down.

Freedom!

There really is just one plan of action when you’re a huge fan of airplanes and freedom: create the world’s most distinctive house out of an airplane. Joe Axline did so with his dwelling, which was built by not one, but two airplane airframes.

The Katy, Texas airplane house has everything you’d expect, including a kitchen, bathroom, various bedrooms, and a patio. Joe, on the other hand, is a driven individual. In the end, he wants to live in an airport home, not simply a plane house.

Simply put, beautiful!

Yeah, this is a 1965 Boeing 727. Hotel Costa Verde now owns it as a fuselage home. It had previously shuttled passengers on South African Airlines and Colombia’s Avianca Airlines. It required five tractor-trailers and a long journey to the Manuel Antonio rainforest to complete this project.

The one-of-a-kind hotel property is perched on a 50-foot platform. A lovely rock stairway acts as the entrance. This aircraft transformation is really nothing short of remarkable. They even removed the right wing and changed it to a deck that offers excellent views and a relaxing sanctuary.

Taking accommodation to a whole new level

Here, we’re in the Netherlands for our next one-of-a-kind conversion. It’s a 1960s hotel suite, but if you didn’t see this coming, you’d believe you were going into a trendy, posh IKEA. Like the Jumbo Stay we mentioned earlier, this is near an airport (Teuge, Netherlands).

This jumbo jet hotel, on the other hand, is more high-scale and luxurious. Expect premium facilities like an infrared sauna and a Jacuzzi on the inside. You can even book air tours. If you’re feeling adventurous, you could even plan a skydive.

No! I asked for a plain house!

So, it’s possible that this is a tad excessive, but who are we to judge? The outside of this residence in Abuja, Nigeria, resembles a parked aircraft. Why? It appears that the pair wanted to highlight their passion for traveling.  

Take, for example, the second floor. The upper floor is actually the cockpit. The pair chose to put the computer room there to give it a more realistic feel. We only hope that other planes won’t think it’s stationed on a runway.

Awesome

The transformation of this decommissioned Boeing 747 wasn’t easy. Parts of the aircraft were transported to the California Hill country individually. Just the tail and two wings were employed, and the proprietor obtained those for the purpose of entertainment.

The parts cost Francis Rehwald $26,000. He was a former Mercedes dealer, so money was no issue. But, it took 15 years to find the perfect location, which happened to be Malibu, California. A Boeing Chinook helicopter transported the decommissioned Boeing 747.

Sky diner

This time, we’ll be heading to the beautiful Coventry, England, for our next one-of-a-kind airplane makeover. This exquisite dining restaurant was completely rebuilt from a 1950s Douglas DC. Reservations are always advised and encouraged because there are only 40 covers.

It’s called the DC-6 Diner and is located on Coventry Airbase’s Living Aviation Museum premises. Apart from the overhead passenger call button, guests are welcome to look around the cockpit (which they can with any of the museum’s planes). If pushed, it calls for a server, not a flight attendant!

Ready, set, sail!

What should you do if you’re in the 7th Air Force but have a lot of spare time, even during battle? What is the solution? Build sailboats. This is precisely just what the service members stationed in Palau achieved.

Rather than cars, they made these snug small sailboats using fuel tanks, as seen above. They’d have spontaneous contests all over the islands. There are worse things to do on a Sunday afternoon in WWI. Now, this is the peak of human creativity.

Burning man

To say that the Burning Man festival is strange is an insult. It is, nevertheless, hip and forward-thinking. Take, for example, the nightlife. You may dance around a large fire or have a good time in the hull of a 747 jumbo jet.

Who knows, maybe the hull is an art display of sorts. Although it is a deliberate act, most passengers simply want to get inside the lounge and party. Nonetheless, we’re sure this is a lot more fun than we make it out to be.

Creative

It’s no surprise that once their fuel tanks were depleted, all the warplanes dumped them. It’s not just the Allies who accomplished this. Soldiers of the 90th Photographic Reconnaissance Wing in Italy can be seen here. The bookshelf structure is constructed entirely out of German fuel tanks.

Personal belongings and tobacco fill the racks, which is intriguing. It’s a sad reminder of war’s truths. Soldiers were still required to maintain cleanliness, but they needed more to help them cope with the high stress, which is a part of every war.

Market plane

There are nighttime bazaars in Bangkok 1451 – Consider it an inner-city shopping experience that is similar to the public malls in the United States. The Chang Chui Bangkok Plane Night Market, on the other hand, is designed around such a massive Airbus shell.

It’s right in the middle of the marketplace with a massive red slide for children to enjoy (it’s hard to miss). And there are a number of other businesses, eateries, and odd artworks on the premises, so you’ll have lots to gaze at.

Jet in the park

This retired Grumman F9F Cougar had to be shipped after the Navy opted to gift it to Boysen Park, in the city of Anaheim, California. It sounds weird, but it’s true. The jet was transported by rail from Arizona to Anaheim in 1959.

At that time, it cost around 250 dollars for the transport. The plane served as a centerpiece for the park, which has been swarming with kids for quite some time. After years of using it, however, time left its mark.

Plane of Horror

A crashed plane in the middle of a field screams terror and disaster. Increase the fear element by placing a doll on the side with a placard promoting work at a nearby haunted house. Townsfolk of Happy, Delaware, used this to hire people for the haunted house.

A broken aircraft is and will be the ideal setting for all sorts of monsters. The promotion was also very successful. Then again, your attention would shift when you see a plane that appears to have wrecked in a lonely plain.

Upcycle all the way!

This is a really unusual use for an obsolete aircraft. Boeing 747s appear to be discovering a new purpose as storage buildings in Bangkok, Thailand. The bizarre thing is that it isn’t unusual to see old planes flying around in various levels of deterioration in multiple locations of the city.

It’s as if they just land, get hauled to some distant place, and then die. Many of them seem to have been repurposed as storehouse sheds. It’s an attempt to de-clutter the city, and it appears to be working.

Bar in the sky

We’re back in Costa Rica’s Manuel Antonio jungle with yet another airplane makeover. This particular one is in the National Park, and it includes a decommissioned 1954 Fairchild C–123 freight aircraft as part of the El Avion Bar’s design.

Whereas the plane may not ever lift off, if you sit with the bartender long enough, you just might. When you enjoy a drink at El Avion, you can indeed count yourselves a part of history. The plane has ties to the infamous Iran-Contra affair.

Air-Camper

The “Aero Camper” is the name of this small invention. Phil Collins, the proprietor, spent several years constructing it. The construction is based on the skeleton of a 1964 Piper Comanche. He paid just under $500 for it. Along the way, there were several oddities.

For example, he found it helpful to place a full-size humanoid mannequin within the fuselage to determine where furniture should be placed. The RV was placed on wheels and on an axle only after the owner completed most of the labor, personally.

A whole new outlook on aerodynamics

A police officer in Washington, DC, owns this plane automobile. He used the base of a Toyota van and a 1956 Cessna aircraft to build this one-of-a-kind vehicle. The automobile was initially designed and built for the famous 24 Hours of LeMans competition in South Carolina.

But, ever since, owner Jeff Bloch has made some changes to the car in order to make it street compliant. The most challenging part of the project was procuring the aircraft and fitting it to match the Toyota van’s chassis.

Salon in the sky

We felt we’d show you this one because we’ve viewed pretty much all there is to create out of flying buses. A 25-year-old makeup artist from Scotland, Amber Scott got her business up and running after she turned an Air Atlantique G-Conv aircraft into a beauty shop.

She obtained the aircraft from her folks, who have had it laying around their Carluke, Lanarkshire, house. What’s more? Here’s the punchline. After ten years, they decided to turn it into a bed & breakfast. Their inability to get this flying worked in Amber’s favor.

AIR(KEA) – Just like IKEA

What to do if you have mounds of old airplane spare parts lying around everywhere? Well, you’re going to turn them into furniture. It’s the ideal combination of aircraft and repurposing. – sofas, workstations, dividers, beds, you name it.

Just about any other piece of furniture may be made from vintage airplane parts. Of course, you must be in the mood for an industrial, contemporary aesthetic. We’re not sure just how well it might go with an antique-filled home.

Air bed

If you’ve ever wanted a bed fashioned out of airplane components, this Boeing 747 bed is the way to go! It is the pinnacle of elegance and sophistication created by Motoart. The gleaming stainless steel contrasts beautifully with the black leather headboard.

The architecture of the 747 bed is undeniably sturdy. It won’t take you a long time to hit the snooze button. But, as cool as it is, there’s one thing that takes it to the next level. It has a system of LED lights for various purposes.

Washer broke? No worries

On wash day, the Marines in Guam are seen doing their laundry. Their washing machine seems to be the most intriguing aspect. The propeller propels it to run. That isn’t to suggest it isn’t influenced by the wind. They might only use it on a windy day.

But, based upon that Marine perched on the “washer,” we believe that it was a common chore. It doesn’t appear that this is his first attempt riding the machine. However, you must admit that this is a really creative use of aviation parts.

What’s with NZ and airplanes?

Got a hankering for cookies in NZ? Then go to cookie time! They are the biggest cookie producer in NZ. They have a unique restaurant, as it turns out. Another DC-3 military plane was converted into a popular sweet-treat café.

This belonged to the Royal Air Force and contributed approximately to 4,000 hours of flight. Cafes, as we’ve seen before, are a fantastic place to put obsolete military planes. It offers them a new lease on life and serves as an excellent advertisement for the enterprise.

Time

Can we simply discern what time it is in the rest of the globe? One can, if you do have a side of an old airplane fuselage as a “time machine.” Simply cut a chunk off and utilize the panes to show the time.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen fuselage parts used like this. An industrial airplane world clock hanging on the wall of the workplace exudes confidence. And besides, whenever it comes to upcycling airplanes into furniture, there’s no limit.

Nice whip, man

Would you look at this! It’s a Lockheed P–38L lightning aircraft, which is operated by the US Air Force. The man in the photo is a member of the 94th Fighter Squadron’s First Fighter Group’s ground staff, and he’s very fond of his vehicle.

Built out of salvaged plane parts, it’s basically a fuel tank on wheels. The livery was fitted with a plexiglass window. It looked like a regular bomber when repainted. On April 15, 1945, AAA gunned down this exact plane near Munich, Germany.

Coral reef plane

Annually, approximately 12,000 aircrafts are retired around the globe. When you add in the 2,000 to 3,000 planes that are stranded, you have a problem on your hands. What to do with all these planes? Many of these eventually wind up in a military graveyard.

There are other possibilities available to them. Start by looking at this vintage Boeing 737, for example. It is an artificial reef that lies on the floor of the sea. The Artificial Reef Society of British Columbia installed it.

Paintball!!

Whoever thought of using old airplanes for paintball matches is a genius. Bedlam uses one shown at the bottom left in Yorkshire for a variety of specialized missions. Maybe the most intimidating would be the Alamo. Your task is simple.

Protect your stronghold against being taken over. You must resist being struck in order to accomplish this. Additional aircraft in this classification are also employed for related tasks. They’re ideal for hiding or staging a sneak attack on enemies.

Air scooter

Isn’t that a moped including an American aircraft insignia? It’s composed entirely of reclaimed airplane fuselage panels and cowling. After all, hardly anything beats repairing a P–51 on Iwo Jima while driving your custom-built scooter, and it was actually working as a custom-made machine.

But we have to admit; whenever it comes to military field upgrades, this is a strong ten. Also, keep in mind that there is no manual for this kind of stuff, so what you see here is rogue wartime inventiveness.

House in the clouds

Maybe the most astonishing aspect of this airplane transformation is that it isn’t really an airplane. A Lebanese couple owned this, and it’s located in Miziara, Lebanon. They went to Australia after that, but the house is still an exhibit.

This was meticulously crafted to look like an Airbus A380. Along both sides of the house, there really are 41 portholes that provide an amazing mountain view. After all, because it’s a house, it has the expected features like bedrooms and a posh family room.

Hey, I remember that from that movie

This is indeed a fantastic way to repurpose outdated planes. After all, it serves to create every one of the situations that used to be a reality. Anything from ancient Airbus planes to jets and military transport planes has been hacked, converted, and wired into film sets.

It also works. You certainly felt happy when the villain of Air Force One got thrown out of the airplane. And what about snakes on a plane? Ahh, those were really a league of their own—entertainment at its best.

Airplane restaurant

A distinctive restaurant can be found just next to the Radisson Hotel in Colorado Springs. It’s known simply as the “Airplane Restaurant,” yet it’s a Colorado Springs landmark. You have the option of eating on the aircraft or in the adjacent building.

The structure is called “The Terminal” in line with the motif, and you might observe an airplane wing running over the ceiling through into the main dining area. Please try to wander around and browse after having your lunch.

A lounge like no other

The above lounge was indeed a temporary installation at JFK International Airport. Air Hollywood developed it, and it’s made up of reused aircraft parts. Although, there are only a few similarly common forms of concept on this list. And the Hollywood Air lounge is one of a kind.

The band Rolling Stones provided tequila for holiday guests to try. The whole lounge seemed to be geared toward promoting their touring aircraft. There’s no better method to recycle obsolete fuselage pieces, storage trolleys, and airplane furnishings than this.

Conceptual

Wait! Did we travel back in time to the set of the TV series M.A.S.H by any chance? After all, once you walk within this old Bristol fighter from the 1950s, all of that fades away. It’s now been turned into a hotel.

You may obtain a double room for a few hundred dollars per night and pay a premium for every extra guest. Better yet, you have the option of sleeping in the cockpit! Despite you must climb an uphill staircase to get around, it can accommodate four people.