Arizona Engineer Builds Dream Airplane Quonset Home

No. That’s not a massive Boeing jammed inside of a too tiny metal Quonset Hut^TM hangar; it’s actually a collection of different planes that have now become the most spectacular Quonset Hut airplane home in one Arizona town.

At first glance, this unusual creation takes quite a few moments to mentally digest. Your mind initially sees a plane inside of a building, but after careful observation, it’s clear to see Toshikazu Tsukii’s amazing vision.

For over four years, Tsukii masterfully pieced together portions of several planes and created an aviator’s dream home.

“When I saw an old sad looking Boeing fuselage at one of the ‘bone yards’, my mind was set to embark on a new challenge,” says Tsukii.

He also included two SteelMaster Quonset Huts^TM which serve as large, single car garages.

“After numerous studies and investigations as to what kind of garages I could attach to both ends of the guest quarter, it became apparent that the arch building with ridged surface would offer the best appearance as it exhibits a distinguished contrast to the modified fuselage with smooth skin surface,” says Tsukii.” Unlike standard prefabrication building, a main garage door had to be on the arched side. After contacting potential building suppliers, I was convinced that the SteelMaster design was the only one that could provide me with a solid reliable door. Both garages are identical in size—14’ wide, 25’ deep, and 18’ high.”

Tsukii, who worked as a Raytheon Engineer and holds licenses for a commercial pilot and flight instructor, told the Arizona Daily Star that this project was the last of three career goals he set for himself many years ago. His dream was to become an engineer, an architect and an aviator. He successfully achieved all of them after he designed and constructed his Quonset Hut airplane home.

He took parts from retired Boeing 707, 727, 737, 747 jets and military airplanes to create his special home. He used wing flaps for counters and dividers inside of the house and he also created custom glass-top tables from the engine cowling of a DC-9 and the wheel of a B-57. The home has four rows of airplane windows, letting plenty of sunlight inside. There’s even a massive pool inside that Tsukii says he uses regularly.

He sliced a Boeing 707 fuselage into thirds and put the pieces together to construct the body of the home. He then added a second story onto the house and added a cockpit, nose, and gallery from a Boeing 737. He also added the tail from a Boeing 727 on the opposite end of the building.

The Quonset Hut airplane home is located in La Cholla Airpark in Oro Valley. The other homes in this area were built around a landing strip which is the perfect spot for a home like Tsukii’s. Despite the fact that other houses in the area have metal airplane hangars on their lots, the homeowners association there had a difficult time with Tsukii’s unique living quarters because of its unusual design.

Although Tsukii hit a few rough patches with building inspectors, his engineering skills and determination allowed him to continue to build his dream Quonset Hut airplane home.

Now the home has become a place where neighbors and other aviation aficionados hold meetings and other gatherings, and it’s a colorful conversation piece for passersby. It’s become many things to many residents in the area, but for Tsukii, it’s a dream come true.

He is more than satisfied with his amazing airplane home and the SteelMaster garages he incorporated into his design.

“We have had over 150 people who looked at the building in the past few weeks and have received nothing but excellent comments on the SteelMaster building design in providing clear span construction, high quality, and outstanding appearance with the fuselage being sandwiched by two of their attractive buildings,” says Tsukii.