Boeing begin dismantling 757 ecoDemonstrator aircraft

Boeing Photo Boeing has started dismantling its ecoDemonstrator 757 aircraft after wrapping up its flight testing earlier this month. ...

Boeing Photo

Boeing has started dismantling its ecoDemonstrator 757 aircraft after wrapping up its flight testing earlier this month.

The airplane which was used to demonstrate eco friendly technologies, made one last flight to Moses Lake, Washington, where its is being dismantled and recycled in an environmentally responsible way.

Boeing will recycle usable spare parts and is also looking to extract and re-use airplane-grade aluminum to fabricate new airplane parts.

Boeing Photo

The 757 has already conducted a different recycling project. Boeing had used a 3D-printed aisle stand in the flight deck using excess carbon fiber from 787 production.

The airplane made about 100 flights over several months and more than 15 technologies. With NASA, the ecoDemonstrator 757 tested bug-phobic coatings on the right wing and Active Flow Control on the vertical tail. Boeing also tested a Krueger shield to reduce insect contamination on the left wing’s leading edge and electronic windows powered by solar and thermal energy. The aircraft also flew with a biofuel blend of US-made green diesel.

Boeing will continue the ecoDemonstrator tests along with Embraer an Embraer airplane from 2016.