Two aircraft that have hung inside The Leonardo since 2016 are being torn apart for scrap after a few prospective buyers expressed interest but could not cover the additional costs of removing them. Demolition crews began dismantling the floor-level Convair C-131 transport plane on Sept. 28, and the Soviet-built MiG-21 fighter jet is next, piece by piece, after the city pulled its second auction listing this month, having determined the jet could not be removed whole.
A Failed Sale Leads to the Scrapyard
The two planes were left behind after Salt Lake City terminated its lease with the museum, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. The aircraft had been the centerpiece of Flight, an exhibit that debuted at The Leonardo in 2016, and city staff say they identified early on that removing the planes would free up room for other uses. The city now plans to convert the former display space into administrative offices.
Before deciding to demolish the planes, the city tried to sell them, holding an open house and an online auction, per the same Tribune report. The open house drew zero attendees, and the Tribune reported that a few prospective buyers were interested but could not cover the additional costs of removing the aircraft. The MiG-21 was put back up for auction on Oct. 6, but the city later pulled it from the listing altogether.
Why the Jet Can’t Just Be Lifted Out
Removing the MiG-21 in one piece turned out to be more complicated than it sounds. The Tribune reports that the project team determined a full removal wasn’t possible, since pulling the jet out whole could compromise the building’s structural integrity — the city lacks detailed information on how the plane was originally installed and suspended inside the museum. As a result, the MiG will be taken down piecemeal, with crews prioritizing the building’s safety over preserving the aircraft’s condition, the Tribune notes…