In a remarkable festive purchase, a Derbyshire-based plane enthusiast has acquired a Boeing 737 on Facebook Marketplace for just £4,000, with ambitious plans to transform it into an underground nuclear shelter. Dave Billings, who goes by the online moniker Tornado Dave, shared his unique acquisition with followers in December, revealing his intention to bury the aircraft beneath his back garden.
An Unconventional Christmas Gift
Describing it as a Christmas present to himself, Dave purchased the Boeing 737-500, which is missing its wings and has been cut down the middle, rendering it incapable of flight. Rather than aiming for the skies, his focus is firmly on getting the plane underground. The 33-foot-long fuselage, previously operated by the low-cost airline Bmibaby—a subsidiary of British Midland International that ceased operations in 2012—was manufactured in 1994 and still contains original features including a toilet, kitchen area, seats, and a life raft.
Engineering a Subterranean Haven
Dave has already constructed a 35-foot 'great escape' tunnel under his garden, accessible through an old WWII well, along with a shelter made from a shipping container. Once the Boeing 737 is buried, these structures will be connected via the plane's door. To transport the aircraft to his property, it required hauling by an ex-army Foden crane truck and a HIAB lorry, followed by loading onto another lorry for the final journey.
The bunker construction will involve covering the plane with a layer of insulation and concrete, preserving its original interior elements. Dave's innovative projects have garnered a significant online following, with nearly 270,000 subscribers on YouTube and 211,000 followers on TikTok. A recent TikTok video offering a glimpse inside the severed plane has attracted almost 310,000 views.
Mixed Reactions from the Online Community
While many supporters have praised Dave for giving the old aircraft a new lease of life, some commenters have raised concerns about the project's impact. Questions have been posed regarding neighbours' awareness of the digging activities and potential difficulties when selling the house in the future. In response to a query about whether the plane would fly again, Dave humorously remarked, "Yes, one last time into the hole."
Notably, one former Bmibaby crew member who flew on this specific aircraft expressed astonishment at seeing it repurposed in such an unconventional manner. This isn't the first instance of creative aircraft reuse; previously, entrepreneur Steven Northam purchased a 1960s Boeing 737-200 on eBay for £5,000, converting it into a two-storey holiday home complete with modern amenities while retaining original features.
The Boeing 737 series, which first flew in April 1967, has seen numerous variants accommodating between 85 and 215 passengers. Dave Billings' project represents one of the most unusual second lives for these retired workhorses of the aviation industry, blending practical shelter construction with extraordinary engineering ambition.
