By Michele 
Alternative building materials like buses, small houses, and shipping containers have gained popularity for their unique appeal in creating one-of-a-kind dwellings. These options offer comparable comfort to traditional homes but at a fraction of the cost, with ample opportunities for customization.
However, Jo Ann Ussery was ahead of the trend, having crafted her distinctive residence long before it became fashionable. Following the destruction of her home in Benoit, Mississippi, in 1993, Ussery, a widow with two children and limited finances, sought an affordable housing solution. Initially considering a trailer, she found them inadequate for her family’s needs.
Her brother-in-law, an air traffic controller named Bob, suggested an unconventional idea: converting a decommissioned Boeing 727 into a living space. Intrigued, Ussery inspected a Boeing 727 scheduled for dismantling and immediately fell in love. Remarkably, she acquired it, including shipping costs, for a mere $2,000.
Dubbed “Little Trump” in homage to Donald Trump’s private Boeing 727, Ussery embarked on an ambitious renovation project, investing less than $30,000. To stabilize the aircraft during renovation, she ingeniously utilized a nearby lake, anchoring it with substantial concrete. Inside, she gutted the 1,500-square-foot interior, preserving only essential features like the lavatory and overhead bins to optimize space.
Despite its unconventional beginnings, Ussery’s Boeing 727 boasted luxurious amenities, including three bedrooms, a kitchen, living area, and even a laundry room. Notably, she transformed the cockpit into a majestic master bathroom with panoramic views of the lake, meticulously designing it to evoke a sense of weightlessness.
Ussery completed all renovations single-handedly and resided in her airborne abode from 1995 to 1999 before opening it as a museum. Tragically, during transportation for relocation, the aircraft met a premature demise, falling off its carriage and succumbing to irreparable damage.