Besides the fact that it would be epically cool to build a science museum inside of a 747-400?
The next two years are a unique point in time where dozens of these aircraft will be retired, and many of their airframes will end up at a boneyard, absent a more creative plan for disposition. This is plan is nothing, if not creative, and represents a categorically unique opportunity to preserve a legacy while investing in our future.
The Queen of the Skies is an aviation icon that may never be rivaled. She is not only the most recognizable aircraft in the world, but the role she played ushering in long haul, wide body, commercial air travel has left the world forever smaller and more connected. This change in the commercial aviation industry, ushered by the 747, played a pivotal role in the development of Hawaii. Fittingly, the first wide body jet ever to land at Hilo International Airport was a Braniff International Airways 747 on February 6, 1971, and ITO remained the second most popular destination from overseas flights to Hawaii throughout the 70’s, second only to Honolulu.
US carriers have about 30 aircraft coming out of service over the next two years, and there are at least as many more from foreign carriers being retired on similar timelines. These older 747s are challenging economically, as maintenance costs continue to rise with limited availability of replacement parts, and the fuel efficiency of newer aircraft. For many of these aircraft, value will primarily be extracted from usable replacement parts such as engines, navigation systems and landing gear.
By contributing a functional aircraft to a non profit, instead of parting it out and scraping the airframe, an airline can get a tax write off that may exceed the part out value, and an entirely unique marketing and branding opportunity. More details on The Plan.