Is Alaska on your mind? Stay in a historic airplane transformed into a luxurious accommodation

Jon Kotwicki, a flying instructor in Alaska, is turning old planes into cool houses in an “airport amusement park.”

Situated in southern Alaska’s scenic beauty, these converted planes serve as Airbnbs for visitors.

Jon, who runs the FLY8MA pilot school, chose not to pursue commercial aviation.

Flying for the airlines “pays good money and everything, but it’s a very boring job,” he told CNN. “Driving Uber is more interesting because you can talk to your passengers.”

Jon fell in love with the area after a vacation in south-central Alaska, where he enjoyed hiking, fishing, and bear spotting.

He decided it would be the perfect place for him, his team, and his Pomeranian dog, Foxtrot, to buy property and possibly create their own airport and manage their project.

The site, just over 100 acres, started with a runway and expanded to include cabins for students and tourists.

The cabins feature heated floors, towel bars, and other upscale amenities. Jon then decided to take the project further by converting old planes into cool houses with a Jacuzzi on the wing and a barbecue grill.

He plans to have three such planes. They also built a second runway and a hangar to accommodate this growth. With a laugh, Jon admits, “I have a tendency to go a little overboard.”

“It’s fun, whether it’s grown adults just in awe of the place, or it’s kids running up and down the whole length of the airplane, going crazy and running to the cockpit,” he says, explaining that the process is frustrating, stressful, overwhelming, and expensive, it is ultimately rewarding.

The first converted plane was a 1950s DC-6, which was used to transport freight in Alaska. It now offers a two-bedroom, one-bath stay with a fire pit on the wing deck, priced at about $448 per night on Airbnb.

The DC-9, with three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a sauna, a hot tub, and heated floors, is now available for bookings at around $849 per night and can host seven guests.

Work is also being done on a Boeing 727, which will be set up as a lodge for guest gatherings.

Jon plans to include a large kitchen and dining table in the new aircraft, creating a space where guests can enjoy meals together.

He will also add a hot tub and comfortable couches to the wings. The tail will be converted into a rooftop deck with a fire pit for relaxation.

He has also recently bought a fourth plane, a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, a military transport from 1949 to 1955, which he describes as “so ugly, it’s cool.”

A new feature under construction is a 60-foot control tower with an all-glass geodesic dome, which will serve as an Airbnb where guests can view Alaska’s Northern Lights from bed.

Visitors will also have the chance to explore older planes, engines, and propellers on the property.

The site already includes cross-country skiing trails, and Jon plans to add a frisbee golf course and a volleyball court.

Finding a new plane for the site usually takes eight to nine months, involving contact with various sources to find one available for purchase and transport to Wasilla.

Fortunately, getting permission to convert these planes into accommodations has been easier than in more populated areas.

“Luckily, where we’re at in Alaska is totally unzoned. The property that we bought, because of the size of it, we are allowed to do whatever we want with it,” he said, adding that the main challenge was transporting the planes on the highway, but once they arrived, the conversion process was easy.

Rural Alaska is ideal for some parts of Jon’s project, but the harsh climate creates challenges.

Unlike dry environments better suited for storing aircraft, Alaska’s cold and damp conditions make maintenance difficult. Heating a single plane during winter can cost up to $2,000 a month.

Jon explains that planes aren’t as well insulated as people might think. Aluminum loses heat quickly, making it hard to keep the planes warm.

Although planes can fly in extreme cold, they rely on burning large amounts of jet fuel for heat.

Before conversion, the planes have minimal insulation, similar to a double-glazed window.

Jon’s team upgrades this with spray foam insulation, but heating remains challenging due to the planes’ narrow design.

While a location like Arizona would have been easier for the project, Jon believes Alaska’s unique qualities make the effort worthwhile.

See one of the luxury accommodations built by Jon, the man who converted old planes into cool houses: