Living with Your Wings: The Joys and Challenges of Hangar Home Life

For pilots, the idea of taxiing your airplane right into your home isn’t just a dream—it’s a lifestyle I’ve lived and perfected for over 20 years. I’ve been designing hangar homes—aviation homes—for two decades, building on decades more of crafting high-end homes and commercial spaces. Hangar homes aren’t just about merging a house with a hangar; they’re about integrating your passion for flight into every day. From taxiing to your doorstep to juggling plane maintenance at home, it’s a mix of exhilaration and practicality that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

The Joys: Wings at Your Doorstep

Picture this: you wake up, grab a coffee, and step into your hangar—sometimes a workshop, sometimes a garage for motorhomes or other toys—and there’s your plane, ready to roll. I fly in and out of my neighborhood routinely—mostly for business, sometimes just because—and I never get tired of the thrill. Approaching my airpark from 1,000 feet, landing, and taxiing into my hangar is a rush that’s as fresh today as it was 20 years ago. I’ll glance down to see if Kim, my wife, has opened the hangar door—or I’ll hit the remote myself if she’s out. Countless times, I’ve been deep in a design on my computer, felt that itch to escape, and pushed my Lady-J out for a low flight down the river. A few hundred feet up, skimming the water, and every ounce of tension melts away.

The Challenges: Living with Your Plane

Living with your wings has its quirks. Your hangar doubles or triples as many things, perhaps a workshop, or a toy farm, storage, a place for your motorhome. And if you are into wrenching on engines you can do it right there. That can be a challenge if the home and hangar are connected. But there are things that can be done. Some folks prefer their home and hangar separate, but I like them connected, designed to look like they belong together, flowing as one beautiful unit. It can be a lot of space to maintain. But for me, those are small prices for having my plane steps away. I use it for everything: visiting family, picking up the grandkids for a weekend with Papa, even flying 100 miles to my trusted dentist. And when forensic inspection gigs call (not my favorite, but I always want to help), I’m often called because I can go anywhere—my plane gets me close, and Uber handles the rest.

Designing the Dream: From Napkin to Reality

I design hangar homes, either from scratch or based on ideas my clients want to turn into an integrated, beautiful design. As a Professional Engineer and designer, I handle the plans from design to finals. My own home started as a sketch on a napkin while driving across the Tampa Causeway. By the time I hit my office, it evolved through drafts into the place I’ve called home for 20 years—a connected hangar and house that’s as functional as it is striking. Whether it’s picking the right hangar door (bifold or hydraulic) or balancing space for planes and toys, I’ve learned it’s about making the lifestyle work. My neighbors here are the friendliest I’ve ever had—a diverse bunch united by that passion for flight.

If you’ve ever considered living with your airplane, there’s never a better time than now. It’s a commitment, sure, but one that puts your wings where they belong—right at home. Got a hangar home vision? Let’s make it fly—I’ve been there, built that, and I’m still soaring.