Good airplanes also get scrapped. In the recent past images have shown that an A380, the world’s biggest commercial airplane that has been sent to the scrapyard, generated significant emotional responses.
The first A380 to die was when Singapore Airlines Company decided to retire its first A380 a year ago following a decade of service and the second-hand market was down. The frame has been chopped down, ending all the chances for the big bird to fly ever again.
The missing sections are mostly aluminum or things like the doors that can be trafficked to other airplanes easily. But the aircraft’s construction includes carbon fiber, glass and GLARE (Glass laminate aluminum reinforced epoxy) for large sections. These material choices help to reduce weight and improve aircraft reliability and performance. But they also limit its recycling potential.
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