Joe Axline, a 62-year-old Texas native and licensed pilot, has turned heads by transforming two decommissioned planes into a fully functional and unique home in Brookshire, Texas, just 38 miles from Houston. Axline, who calls his ambitious project “Project Freedom,” invested $250,000 to purchase and renovate the aircraft, turning them into a 600-square-foot dwelling that’s as comfortable as it is eye-catching.
Axline’s interest in aviation and his desire for a creative living space led him to acquire two out-of-service aircraft—a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 and a DC-9. He purchased the planes in 2011 and had them transported to a plot of land he had bought near a private airport. Despite logistical challenges, including the time-consuming transportation of the planes from Florida and Arkansas, Axline was undeterred.
The MD-80, the larger of the two planes, serves as Axline’s primary living space. Inside, he has reimagined the fuselage into a cozy home complete with a master bedroom, living room, dining area, kitchen, and bathroom—all within just a few feet of each other. The original overhead bins provide ample storage, while the plane’s original cockpit has been preserved as a nod to its past.
“I’ve lived in a 5,000-square-foot house, and the airplane is head and shoulders above that,” Axline shared in an interview. “Living in a house, you have a lot of space, but it’s all wasted space. My airplane home is more than fit for a king.”
Pictured: The outdoor deck where Axline catches a breeze and a small garden
Renovations on the aircraft were extensive, requiring significant structural changes such as removing low ceilings, adding insulation, and installing plumbing and electrical systems. Axline also built a steel foundation to support the planes, which required 25 cubic yards of cement for just the MD-80. The second aircraft, a DC-9, remains a work in progress, currently serving as storage space but slated to become a private movie theater in the future.
Despite the challenges, Axline completed the project in less than a year, moving into his new home in 2012. Over the years, his airplane home has attracted a steady stream of visitors, whom he affectionately calls “turistas.” Axline welcomes their curiosity, often giving tours and sharing his story.
“The only thing that I don’t have here that I would have in a house is windows that open,” Axline said. However, he solves that by occasionally opening the plane’s doors to let in fresh air.
With his unique home fully paid off and monthly operating costs around just $200—thanks to a self-sustaining water well and sewer system—Axline is living his dream. “I will live here until the day I die,” he says confidently.
