What Happens To Old Airplanes?

Did you know the disposal of old planes is a thriving multibillion dollar business? Or that it’s recently spawned a dangerous shadow market in counterfeit aircraft parts?

Hop on board and buckle up for takeoff as we ask exactly what happens to old airplanes?

You might wonder why airplanes need to die in the first place. After all, they’re made of metal, right – can’t they just be maintained, theoretically forever?

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Imagery supplied via Getty Images

What Happens To Old Airplanes

[ranbirkang]

Use them as cafe, fast food shops, as free public housing... Send one to each high school as a model display.

[solastalgia]

$43, 000 for a 747. Would make for a amazing home once renovated.

[XX-bdok]

I guess I'm just unnecessarily emotional

[frglee]

I quite like the idea of living in a plane - say, the front half of a 747, though I am sure the local housing and land development regulators might have a differing opinion on that.

[sermonpastor]

Why can`t the metal can be used for making cars and instead of dismantling old planes they may be taken to islands and used as small malls, supermarkets and restaurants. truly it would be sound proof and AC ready. thanks.

[indrajitmitra]

Excellent and informative video. These aircrafts are being used wisely.

[ilmarilah]

I don’t care about the money, just put them in museums

[MrTwinkie]

I am driving past that Swedish 747 hotell every time I go to work :D

[Perich]

those economy seats could be used on motorcoach Buses.

[Euler]

you tech vision for making wonderful videos

[OldWorldNY]

Thanks for the upload! ✈️
I’ve never really thought about where they went... but it’s pretty neat

[stephenmiller]

When I did a stopover at Moscow some years ago there were old aeroflot planes lined up along the fence line with parts missing !

[tfscropairlinessaveukraine]

If I own a country I was trying to order those old planes because I'm going to try and do something with it

[aberobin]

Convert them all into isolation or quarantine abodes

[arunava]

The metals may be recycled to build new planes. Some valuable instruments and circuit boards may be reconditioned with certificates and used as spares for planes which are in service.

[deepalib]

I used to wonder what they do with it.. I thought it's sold as scrap!

[mihastih]

There is also one graveyard in Teurel, Spain. Some big jets there

[andrewdoesyt]

It’s sad how many military planes are being trashed, but you only need so many, and you need to take care of them well.

[thiruvetti]

Even thinking of living inside a Aircraft converted into a bed room is making me claustrophobic. But yes, it could be apt for a restaurant.

[MidnightVisions]

Boeing and Airbus fuselages are designed to flex during pressurization, which causes the lifespan issue. McDonnel Douglas DC-9 and DC-10 series were designed to NOT flex during pressurization, so pressurization cycles do not apply. I worked on a DC-10 that had over 190, 000 hours when it was retired.