This private lot in eastern Bangkok's Ramkhamhaeng neighborhood is filled with pieces of decommissioned commercial jets, including a Boeing 747 fuselage. Photojournalist Taylor Weidman, who's lived in Thailand for two years, captured the following images during a recent visit to the airplane graveyard.
Bangkok's airplane graveyard —
This private lot in eastern Bangkok's Ramkhamhaeng neighborhood is filled with pieces of decommissioned commercial jets, including a Boeing 747 fuselage. Photojournalist Taylor Weidman, who's lived in Thailand for two years, captured the following images during a recent visit to the airplane graveyard.
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Unable to make enough money to rent a home, three Thai families apparently live in the field's disused airplanes.
Makeshift homes —
Unable to make enough money to rent a home, three Thai families apparently live in the field's disused airplanes.
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The families, including this woman, say they collect and recycle garbage to make a few dollars a day.
Recycling among the ruins —
The families, including this woman, say they collect and recycle garbage to make a few dollars a day.
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Among the airplane parts is this decommissioned McDonnell Douglas MD-82, which was once operated by Orient Thai, a domestic low-cost carrier.
McDonnell Douglas —
Among the airplane parts is this decommissioned McDonnell Douglas MD-82, which was once operated by Orient Thai, a domestic low-cost carrier.
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The interior of the planes occupied by the families show a few rudimentary decorations. Here a young woman sits under a picture of the Thai king, while makeshift curtains cover the windows.
Rudimentary decorations —
The interior of the planes occupied by the families show a few rudimentary decorations. Here a young woman sits under a picture of the Thai king, while makeshift curtains cover the windows.
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Though the field is private, it's easy to access and has become a popular site for urban explorers.
Urban exploration —
Though the field is private, it's easy to access and has become a popular site for urban explorers.
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Preferable to living on the street, the families are able to live rent free and say they aren't too far from a recycling station where they can take the foraged materials they find.
Rent free living —
Preferable to living on the street, the families are able to live rent free and say they aren't too far from a recycling station where they can take the foraged materials they find.
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An elderly Thai woman opens the door to her room in one of the decommissioned jets. While Thailand has experienced strong economic growth in recent years, a wide gap still exists between the country's rich and poor.
Economic divide —
An elderly Thai woman opens the door to her room in one of the decommissioned jets. While Thailand has experienced strong economic growth in recent years, a wide gap still exists between the country's rich and poor.
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The woman also lives with her grandson. Though these families are struggling to make a living in Bangkok, the World Bank says poverty in Thailand is primarily a rural phenomenon. As of 2013, over 80% of the country's 7.3 million poor live in rural areas.
Rural phenomenon —
The woman also lives with her grandson. Though these families are struggling to make a living in Bangkok, the World Bank says poverty in Thailand is primarily a rural phenomenon. As of 2013, over 80% of the country's 7.3 million poor live in rural areas.
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According to locals, the planes are owned by a Thai businessman who has been slowly selling off the equipment piecemeal.
Sold for scrap —
According to locals, the planes are owned by a Thai businessman who has been slowly selling off the equipment piecemeal.
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A young man brings goods into his home in a section of a disused Thai airplane. It's not known how long the families have occupied the old aircraft.
Home comforts —
A young man brings goods into his home in a section of a disused Thai airplane. It's not known how long the families have occupied the old aircraft.
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One of the plane's residents returns home after washing off nearby. Planes such as the 747 found here can typically expect a lifespan reaching three decades if they're properly maintained. Some even longer.
Long service —
One of the plane's residents returns home after washing off nearby. Planes such as the 747 found here can typically expect a lifespan reaching three decades if they're properly maintained. Some even longer.
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Dirty oxygen masks on the floor provide a reminder of the planes' former lives in the sky.
Relics of the past —
Dirty oxygen masks on the floor provide a reminder of the planes' former lives in the sky.
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Usually, decommissioned aircraft are sent to "boneyards" and salvaged for parts then broken down for scrap. The largest boneyard in the world is said to be located in Tucson, Arizona.
'Boneyards' —
Usually, decommissioned aircraft are sent to "boneyards" and salvaged for parts then broken down for scrap. The largest boneyard in the world is said to be located in Tucson, Arizona.
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The McDonnell Douglas MD-82 was a new and improved version of the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and dates to 1980. It's a single-aisle medium range aircraft. Production on the MD-80 series ended in 1999. It's not known how old the aircraft in this boneyard are.
Old airplanes —
The McDonnell Douglas MD-82 was a new and improved version of the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 and dates to 1980. It's a single-aisle medium range aircraft. Production on the MD-80 series ended in 1999. It's not known how old the aircraft in this boneyard are.
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A Thai man fans himself with a piece of plastic while listening to a battery-powered radio in his home in one of the disused airplanes.
Resting place —
A Thai man fans himself with a piece of plastic while listening to a battery-powered radio in his home in one of the disused airplanes.
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Inside the cockpit of the Bangkok plane graveyard's McDonnell Douglas MD-82, somewhat unsophisticated controls -- by modern standards at least -- give an indication as to the age of the plane.
Cockpit —
Inside the cockpit of the Bangkok plane graveyard's McDonnell Douglas MD-82, somewhat unsophisticated controls -- by modern standards at least -- give an indication as to the age of the plane.
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