Ex-RAF engineer builds four-bed caravan pod with kitchen inside his fighter jet ENGINE for just £4,000
A EX-RAF engineer has built a four-bed caravan pod inside a fighter jet engine for just £4,000.
Steve Jones - who served in the Royal Air Force for more than five years - used to repair the same fighter jets going into combat.
Now he has built a four-bed camper in a VC10 engine, complete with a kitchen, for himself and his family to go on holiday.
The 45-year-old put the pod together in just three months, and was featured on the TV show George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces.
Incredible pictures show Steve’s journey building his dream project from scratch.
Steve said: “It’s been such a labour of love, I’ve put so much time and effort into it.
“Everyone thought I was absolutely crackers for doing this.
“Now I’ve got this completely unique pod, which is the only one of its kind in the world.”
Steve left the RAF in 2000, after five-and-half years service engineering planes at the key base of Brize Norton, Oxfordshire.
He had actually worked on VC10 aircraft, and admitted he “always loved the jet”.
In 2013, Steve and a couple of pals fixed a decommissioned RAF plane, and got it back into working order.
And the idea for the engine caravan pod began to germinate in Steve’s mind.
“I’ll have a go at doing anything,” he laughed. “The weirder, the wackier, the better.”
Steve, from Lancs, finally got the engine last year, and got to work on his dream project.
He drew up the plans - to create a double bed at the base with two bunk beds above - and built the pod from January to March this year.
As well as having help from telly presenter George Clarke, Steve’s VC10 engineer pals Ollie Pallet and Mark Wollage also helped out with the build.
Altogether it cost just £4,000, and the pod even has its own kitchen for Steve to make a brew.
It is four metres long inside, and Steve and his family will be able to see out of the old engine hole.
He is aiming to have a first trip with wife Charlotte, 39, and sons Daniel, nine, and Benjamin, seven, later this year.
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After the Channel 4 programme, Steve has had interest from all over the world with plane buffs keen to buy the caravan.
One person even offered him £25,000 - but for now, it is not for sale.
He said: “It’s gone crazy, I’ve had so many people get in contact who want to see it or buy it.
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“I’ve had around five million views of the photos online.
“At the moment I’ve got no aspiration to sell it, as it’s something I’ve always wanted to do for myself.”