Get a slice of an A380 – from toilets to the business class bar

Aircraft enthusiasts from all over the world will soon be able to get a little piece, or in some cases quite a big chunk, of aviation history next week, as parts and bells and whistles of an A380 go up for auction.

More than 500 items will be auctioned over three days at a charity event in France, with the vast majority coming from just one aircraft: Emirates Airbus A380 MSN13/Reg: A6-EDB.

The aircraft entered service in 2008 and was the 13th A380 built by Airbus, and the second to join Emirates, reports avgeekery.com. Due to the downturn in travel caused by the coronavirus pandemic, it was put into storage in 2020 before being decommissioned in 2021. It has since been split for auction with proceeds benefiting the Airbus Foundation and the AIRitage Association, which preserves aerospace heritage.

So what can you get for your hard-earned money?

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Well, those on a tighter budget can start with Lot 347, which is a handheld microphone with no estimate, so you could get a bargain. After that, €80, or NZ$140, can net you Lot 12 – a set of three emergency exit light panels, or for €20 extra, what red bolts from the galley.

If you want a private VIP experience at home, Lot 37 is the curtain separating economics from business – yours for an estimated $100-150. Or how about? Lot 97‘s toilet seat and bowl for up to €300?

Of course there are some big ticket items like rows of four economy seats (€1500-2500), the entrance door to the cabin (€3000-5000) and parts of the propulsion system (€15.000-20.000).

Perhaps the most glamorous item is Lot 200 – the business class bar for a price of up to €30,000, or just over NZ$50,000 (plus some hefty postage and packaging).

There are also some sentimental items up for grabs.

Airbus takes action “one of the famous orange suits worn by Claude Lelaie, one of the two pilots who flew with Jacques Rosay during the test flight campaign of the first A380”.

The first flight took place on April 27, 2005, and Lelaie said he agreed to donate his jumpsuit for two reasons.

“First, I wanted to make this gesture for the Airbus Foundation, which works in the humanitarian field for the benefit of communities and youth. This resonates with the educational approach I take with schools, with my books on flight testing in aviation,” Lelaie said.

“Second, it is my way of paying tribute to all the women and men who have made this fantastic program possible, and in particular the Airbus Flight Test team, which I had the honor of leading and doing a remarkable job.”

The jumpsuit is Lot 330 with an estimate of between €2000-3000.

There are also some items up for grabs, such as the A380 blades turned into works of art by street performers.

The A380 is one of the most beloved aircraft ever built.

At one point, it was seen as the future of aviation. It was state-of-the-art and could carry more than 800 passengers in quiet comfort. But it also proved expensive to fly, and airlines increasingly began to switch to smaller, more fuel-efficient aircraft.

In December last year, the last ever A380 superjumbo transferred to new owner, Emirates. The aircraft, which is registered as A6-EVS, was the 251st aircraft to be made. While production may have been discontinued, the superjumbo will still be seen regularly in the skies and at airports for years to come.

The auction will start on Thursday, October 13th at 2pm (CEST local time), or on Friday at 1am here in New Zealand, and then over the next two days, but anyone interested in bidding must register in advance.