- by Dave Hall
MotoArt's Functional Art: MD-80 Fuselage Bar and DC-8 Cowling Desks
- by Dave Hall
Access Denied
IMPORTANT! If you’re a store owner, please make sure you have Customer accounts enabled in your Store Admin, as you have customer based locks set up with EasyLockdown app. Enable Customer Accounts
MotoArt received a large order from a customer in the Czech Republic. Here are some behind-the-scenes photos of the hard work behind the build. Check out more bars built from airplane parts.
MotoArt Loves A Challenge
Dave Hall, owner of MotoArt called his team together for one of their regular meetings to discuss the project. “This order needed to be built, packed up, and shipped to the other side of the world very quickly,” said Hall. “As always, we had a million other things in the works but I had complete confidence we’d have it done right and on time.”
Many people don’t realize that everything is handcrafted in the MotoArt studio in Torrance, CA. The team consists of skilled craftsmen who work together to get each build done right. For this order, there were lots of roles to play in producing stunning pieces of furniture for the client.
MD-80 Fuselage Bar
The bar is created with the MD-80 fuselage as the centerpiece. The fuselage is cut and will later be polished to a mirror finish and have lights.
The bar itself is made with bamboo, a renewable material which is incredibly durable and looks beautiful. Once the piece has been fully constructed, including all surfaces sanded butter smooth and edges routered to perfection, it is completely taken apart and painted.
The precision painting on top of the sleek wood makes the piece appear as though it is formed from some kind of plastic material. It really is wood under the paint. Another member of the team gets the electrical components set while others polish the fuselage and add other touches like diamond plate and glass.
DC-8 Cowling Desk
The DC-8 Cowling desk has been polished to a mirror finish. You can see owner Dave Hall and Milo in the reflection. It is is functional and stylish and features a raised glass writing surface and an equally smooth wood desk surface. This desk is fun and practical at the same time.
DC-8 Clam Shell w/ ADA Desk
This was a challenge for the team, but one expertly carried out. Two DC-8 cowlings were joined and a wood desk surface was made to fit. This was not an easy task as it needed to fit not only the unusual form of the double cowling, the tapered edges which would allow the desk surface to sit flush with no gaps, and an ADA compliant desk extension.
Note the difference in the cowling in this photo and the finished product below. The finished desk has been polished so it shines brightly.
The pieces were carefully packed and crated so that there are no mishaps or any chance of damage while en route to the Czech Republic. The client is excited about displaying the pieces at their business.
Get Your Own Retired Airplane Furniture
For more information about a custom functional piece of art for your home or business contact MotoArt.
Latest Stories
KLM 747: Aviation Meets Art at Charlotte Douglas International Airport
CLT Airport has always been more than a busy hub for travelers. It’s a place where millions of people experience the wonder of flight every year. In 2023, CLT partnered with MotoArt Studios to create a series of permanent installations that honor aviation’s past while welcoming travelers into the future.
Through these unique works, each crafted from historic aircraft components, CLT has woven aviation history into the fabric of its terminal expansion. Every piece blends artistry, functionality, and heritage, turning the passenger experience into something truly memorable. Read on to find out more about the project and new Boeing 747 PlaneTags that honor this collaboration.
Cessna T-37B Tweet: The “Tweety Bird” That Trained Generations
For nearly five decades, the high-pitched whine of the Cessna T-37B “Tweet” marked the beginning of a pilot’s journey. Rugged, compact, and unmistakable, the Tweet shaped more than 78,000 U.S. Air Force aviators from the 1950s to the 2000s. Today,...
From Western to Delta: A B727 That Bridged Two Airlines
In the 1980s, U.S. airlines were entering a new era. Some expanded, some faded into history, and others merged to create the carriers we know today. One aircraft, a Boeing 727-200 Advanced registered N292WA, lived through this transformation. Delivered brand new to Western Airlines in 1980, one of the last jets the airline would ever receive, it later traded its red and white “Flying W” for Delta’s blue widget after the 1987 merger. For over two decades, N292WA connected passengers from coast to coast, quietly bridging the legacies of two airlines. Today, its story is preserved as Delta 727 PlaneTags.
Invalid password
Enter
Share:
SR71 Blackbird: A New Perspective
Howard Hughes’ A20G Havoc: A Tough And Dependable Airplane