At the 2025 Paris Air Show, French company Constellium unveiled the world's first aviation aluminum ingot made entirely from recycled aircraft metal. It was created in collaboration with TARMAC Aerosave and Airbus. It is an important step towards making aviation more resource-reusable without sacrificing quality, Interesting Engineering reports.
The project demonstrated that even complex aluminum alloys, which were previously difficult to process to original standards, can be returned to the production of new generation aircraft.
The ingot, made from old aircraft, has successfully passed the tests and meets all the strict technical and metallurgical requirements necessary for the aviation industry.
Philipp Hofmann, president of Constellium's aviation division, stressed that this is not just an experiment in the laboratory, but a real breakthrough for the industry. He emphasized that this approach paves the way for sustainable production, reduces dependence on primary raw materials and reduces carbon emissions.
The air show also showcased Airware , an aluminum-lithium alloy that is already used in modern aviation due to its lightness and strength. The company also unveiled its "Wing of the Future" program, aimed at developing lighter wing designs for next-generation aircraft.