The numbers are huge: approximately 12,000 aircraft are set to be decommissioned by 2020.
In addition, 2,000-3,000
planes are estimated to have been abandoned around the world (primarily
in developing countries) according to the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA).
As their aircraft near the end of their service lives, aircraft owners must find ways for dealing with retirees.
For aircraft at that
awkward stage when they're no longer safe to fly but still too sturdy to
demolish, there are storage facilities like that at Marana Aerospace Solutions in Arizona or the Mohave Air and Space Port in California.
The problem is, they're only temporary.
While some parts --
especially engine parts -- practically sell themselves and find new
homes on new planes, other airplane parts can get more innovative second
lives, such as the ones featured below.
Furniture
Futuristic rivets,
elegant curves, gleaming surfaces and the ability to withstand extremes
... it's easy to see why furniture designers would be intrigued by the
potential of decommissioned airplanes.
The widely acknowledged leader in this niche industry is MotoArt,
a California-based company that's been designing sleek, sexy beds,
tables, chairs and sculptures constructed from deconstructed airplanes
for more than a decade.
"We have over 100
designs and have produced thousands of pieces that you find nearly in
all parts of the world, from the Dubai Burj, to the Sears Tower, and
even as far away as the North Pole," says managing partner Dave Hall.
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