This is what happens to passenger jets and retired airplanes when they’re decommissioned and no longer allowed to fly with an airline service.
Retired airplanes actually have a surprisingly busy second life.
Some get stripped down, others get dressed up, and a few even end up as restaurants or homes.
Contrary to popular belief, there isn’t a vast ocean of abandoned jets.
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Retired airplanes are stored in specialized facilities known as ‘aircraft boneyards’, the most famous of which is probably the US Air Force’s Boneyard.
These are typically located in arid regions, such as the deserts of Arizona, where dry conditions help prevent corrosion.
For instance, the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, houses over 4,000 aircraft.
This makes it the world’s largest aircraft storage and preservation facility.
U.S. Navy by 3d Class Shannon R. Smith/Wikipedia Commons
Once a plane is officially done flying, it’s often taken apart and most of it doesn’t go to waste.
According to the International Civil Aviation Organization, 85 to 90 percent of a retired plane’s materials are reused or recycled.
Around half of those parts, like engines and landing gear, get cleaned up and sold back into the market, and there are companies like TARMAC Aerosave in Europe specialize in this process.
They dismantle planes, sort the parts, and either resell or recycle the materials.
That’s a pretty impressive recycling rate, especially when you consider how massive airplanes are.
Of course, some passenger jets get lucky and go on to live new lives.
Instead of being taken apart, they’re sold to new owners.
In fact, many airlines actually prefer buying used planes, like BeOnd for example.
It’s cheaper, and if the plane is still airworthy, it can be a solid option for shorter or less demanding routes.
Another airline that buys used planes is Southwest Airlines.
They’ve bought dozens of second-hand planes over the years and simply refurbished them with fresh interiors and new paint.
It’s like giving an old car a tune-up instead of buying a new one.
And not all passenger jets stay in aviation, as some are turned into hotels, cafés, homes, or even playgrounds.
A few creative people have converted old jetliners into backyard offices or Airbnb rentals, allowing guests to stay inside an aircraft cockpit.
It’s not exactly common, but it’s proof that retired airplanes don’t have to sit around collecting dust, unlike these supercars abandoned in parking garages across Los Angeles.
So next time you board a flight, remember: when that plane’s flying days are over, its story isn’t.
Whether it’s scrapped, sold, or turned into a taco stand, chances are it’s not the end of the journey.
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