Isn't this only for planes with some value left? Either they're for parts or might fly again? Otherwise, wouldn't you just cut up the airframe and sell it for scrap?
Now, composite planes are a different story. I doubt there's any value in scrap carbon fiber.
For planes that are being retired, they usually take the engines off pretty early because they have some of the most valuable parts for resale in them.
They’d also be drained of all fluids. For planes in storage to be used again later, they fill all the fuel, hydraulic, etc. lines with special liquids to keep them preserved. So it’d be at least a week’s work for a team to get a stored plane going.
The Airlander 10 wrote off their old prototype, and has a maximum payload of 10 tonnes, whereas an unloaded 747 is about 180 tonnes. Remember it's a plane so big that they used to piggyback the space shuttle orbiters (which are not small) on it.
I believe just like storing a car for a long time, fluids are drained and other items removed/wrapped for storage. You can't just jump in the cockpit and taxi out to the runway. They are kept in a state that is relatively easy to restore to functioning status but not in functioning status.
Good luck taking off without fuel and any ground equipment, not to mention any consumables that would have to be replaced after prolonged stay in a desert.
Looks like they leave fuel in the tank if it’s for short term storage, but they drain various fluids if it’s longer term storage. Probably depends on the circumstances.
Precisely—and this circumstance is retirement with no prospect of a quick sale.
At a guess, they’ll probably have limited parts value, only that which would be valuable to operators of 747 freighters. Mainly the engines, if they’re in good nick.
The authentication method is knowing how to fly said plane and getting in said plane in the first place.
The planes that are relatively accessible aren't flightworthy without effort, and the planes that are flightworthy require violating federal law (in the US) to access them.
>and the planes that are flightworthy require violating federal law (in the US) to access them.
That doesn't really answer the question though. Breaking into a house also violates laws, yet it happens all the time. If you've made it onto an airport tarmac, can you just steal a plane?
Now, composite planes are a different story. I doubt there's any value in scrap carbon fiber.