Around 94% of a retired plane can be recycled. This could mean taking the cockpit pieces out to be used as spares in another aircraft. However, it could also extend to re-using the metal skin from an aircraft's fuselage. Previously recycled aircraft skin may have been destined to become soda cans, though more and more parts are being upcycled into unique keepsakes.
Turning retired aircraft into keyrings has become a massive craze in recent years. Now, Aviationtag is turning one of Airbus' Super Guppy aircraft into little tags to attach to your keys. Based on the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser, the aircraft was the predecessor to Airbus' unique Beluga family.
Own a part of the first Super Guppy
Cologne-based Aviationtag creates keyring-sized keepsakes from the ex-fuselage pieces of retired aircraft. Now and again, they manage to secure portions of particularly interesting or historic aircraft. From parts of the first Airbus A380s to be retired to an American Airlines MD-80, the company has seen it all. The company recently sold tags made from Hamburg Airport's former Lufthansa Boeing 707, which was scrapped last year.
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Aviationtag's latest creation could be the most unique aircraft that it has processed to date. The company has taken parts of the fuselage of F-BTGV, the first Super Guppy to be made. According to Planelogger.com, the aircraft took its first flight on August 24th, 1970.
While flying for Airbus, the aircraft carried parts of Concorde and Airbus aircraft to Toulouse for final assembly. Just five Super Guppys were made, and there was a joke that "every Airbus aircraft was born on a Boeing". This is because the planemaker modeled the aircraft on the Boeing 377 Stratocruiser. As time progressed and the industry developed, Airbus created a larger jet-powered successor called the Beluga.
F-BTGV last flew on July 1st, 1996. From 2006 until 2020, the aircraft had a home at the Bruntingthorpe museum. However, when the museum closed its doors in March 2020, it was left with nowhere to go.
Keeping history going
While such a historic aircraft would find a new home in an ideal world, this sadly wasn't the case. The aircraft has already mainly been scrapped, with large parts now missing. Aviationtag had already secured portions of the skin in silver, blue, orange, and red. They cut the fuselage before laser engraving their design on the tags. The first run of these aircraft parts was in the works around a year ago. They were placed available for preorder and quickly sold out.
The company is back with even more tags, though they have a twist this time around. Aviationtag typically only sells such tags on their own mounted on a piece of card. This isn't the case with the latest Super Guppy release. Aviationtag has partnered with JC Wings to create a special bundle.
For €139.95 ($154.38), it is possible to preorder the bundle, which consists of one of the limited edition tags and a 1:200 scale model of F-BTGV. Tags are available in Yellow, Red, Orange, and Blue, though it is not possible to choose the color being preordered. Preordered sets are expected to be delivered between late spring and early summer. The set can be preordered here.
What do you make of the Super Guppy's final role? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!