Yes, I saw the “Megastructures: 747 Demolition”. They guy said you must make sure about the tanks.

Here are some facts from the same documentary –

Not just the fuel but hazardous Uranium !!!

Megastructures 747 Demolition Channel 5 30 September 2008

After 24 years too old and too expensive – flown 12 times round the world

6 million pieces

AeroTurbine – Arizona

Salvaged parts £3.4 million

30% of recovered parts used in 747s

When new takes 100s of people 4 months to build

To break takes a few people 12 weeks using manuals used to construct

1st – Engines x 4

2nd – All recoverable parts for sale

3rd – Hazardous material

4th – Crush to extract aluminium, steel, copper, wire

Engines when new cost £2.5million after salvage will fetch £750,000 (£3 m for all 4 engines)
150 man hours to remove 4 engines

Recoverable parts/instruments – recalibrated and re-sold for use estimated value >£35,000

Cockpit Voice recorder, Flight Data recorder recovered from above passenger cabin at rear

Nose – Radome (normally withstands 500mph winds) weighs 90 kg after salvage can fetch £8,000

Actuators each approx. 90 kg x 10 fetch £40,000 – 2 in each wing flaps, 2 in rudder and 4 in tail flaps

5 sets of landing gear each can fetch £25,000

Even a coffee maker can fetch £1,000

Hazardous material must be removed fully – depleted uranium used to counterweight in tail for stabilization in flight. If exposed to heat during demolition depleted uranium can become radioactive. Not for smelting.

Fuel tanks must be emptied of all fuel and gas. A 6′ person can stand and walk inside the fuel tanks. 2 x 64,000 litre tanks in each wing and 1 x 64,000 litre tank under seats.

5 miles of tubing
170 miles wring
3 million fasteners

Reclaimed aluminium can fetch £15,000

Finally reduced to 6m x 6m scrap/junk