On 13, 14 and 15 October 2022, European manufacturer Airbus will auction 500 parts from A380 aircraft. The initiative aims to support the work of the Airbus Foundation and the AIRitage association, which preserves aerospace heritage, the company said.
Most of the parts will come from the aircraft with manufacturer’s serial number (MSN) 13. It first flew in April 2008 and operated for Emirates between October of that year and August 2020.
In October 2021, the aircraft was decommissioned by TARMAC Aerosave, a company specialising in sustainable end-of-life management. The company was responsible for the disassembly, recycling and final disposal of each of its elements.
Objects to be auctioned were selected on the basis of historical, aesthetic and technological interest. The inventory of pieces will include lamps, elements of the on-board bar, ladders, handrails, trolleys and seats, among others. The process will take place in Toulouse, although it will be possible to participate remotely. There will be 380 lots and a total of 500 different elements.
Perhaps one of the most valuable items for aviation enthusiasts will be the orange suit of Claude Lelaie, the Airbus pilot who led the test flight of the first A380 in 2005.
Conversion into pieces of art
Some elements, such as the engine blades, were entrusted to street artists who turned them into pieces of art. «They will undoubtedly be one of the main attractions of this auction», said Airbus.
The company has invited artists interested in working on the pieces to participate in the auction in October. «An industrial part can sometimes resemble a work of art: design, materials, complexity often make them elements with unique characteristics», Airbus said in a statement.
Sophie de Lacroix, who in charge of organising the auction, commented that «artists with varied profiles, who share certain experiences, themes and aspirations» were chosen. These include «travel, freedom, technology, commitment and human experience», all of them «perfectly associated with the emblematic A380».
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