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Salt Lake City scraps two historic planes to make room for winter market

Salt Lake City scraps two historic planes to make room for winter market

Built World Salt Lake City, UT local

C-131 and MiG-12 demolished after auctions and an open house found no buyers.

Yesterday: City confirms both planes scrapped

Overview

Updated 1 hour ago

Two historic military planes that hung over Salt Lake City's winter farmers market are being scrapped. City crews demolished a Convair C-131 transport in late September and are finishing a MiG-12 to clear the building for the market's return on Nov. 14.

The Leonardo, an interactive science and technology museum, closed for good in 2025 after "years-long challenges" with its aging building. The planes had no takers: a buyer's open house drew nobody, and online auction bids didn't cover removal costs. Demolition became the city's cheapest option.

Why it matters

Taxpayers now pay to demolish artifacts no museum wanted, a reminder that closed institutions' collections can become costly liabilities cities must resolve.

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Key Indicators

2
Historic aircraft scrapped
A Convair C-131 and a MiG-12 from The Leonardo are being demolished to clear market space.
0
Buyers at aircraft open house
An open house for potential plane buyers drew no attendees earlier in 2026.
1
Propeller injury in market
A customer hit their face on the C-131's propeller at the 2025 season opening; propellers were then removed.

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Organizations Involved

Timeline

2011 October 2026

9 events Latest: Yesterday
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. City confirms both planes scrapped

    Latest Announcement

    Officials say C-131 scrapped and MiG-12 removal nearly complete; market returns Nov. 14.

  2. MiG-12 demolition begins

    Demolition

    Work to remove and demolish the second plane gets underway.

  3. C-131 demolition begins

    Demolition

    City crews start scrapping the Convair transport.

  4. Buyer open house draws no one

    Sale attempt

    Event for potential plane buyers ends with no attendees.

  5. Planes listed on state auction site

    Sale attempt

    Low interest; few bids fall short of covering removal costs.

  6. Winter market moves into former Leonardo

    Relocation

    Lease formally terminated; market moves in days later after Gateway space became unavailable.

  7. Customer hits propeller at market opening

    Incident

    One shopper strikes the C-131 propeller; crews remove propellers for later events.

  8. Leonardo closes permanently

    Closure

    Museum's temporary renovation closure becomes permanent; owners cite aging building.

  9. Leonardo museum opens downtown

    Opening

    Interactive museum opens with aviation exhibit featuring both planes.

Scenarios

1

Winter market completes full season at former Leonardo site

Likely Resolves by Apr 18, 2027

Discussed by: KSL reporting; Salt Lake City Public Services Department schedule

The market is scheduled to operate every Saturday from Nov. 14, 2026 through April 17, 2027 now that the planes are cleared. The planes were the main physical obstacle, so the market's second season in the building should run without interruption.

2

MiG-12 demolition completes as planned

Likely Resolves by Jan 31, 2027

Discussed by: Salt Lake City Public Services Department

Demolition of the MiG-12 began in October 2026 and was nearing completion when the city announced the scrapping. The scenario resolves when the city confirms the aircraft is fully removed and the space is ready for the market.

3

City announces permanent tenant or redevelopment for former Leonardo

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: KSL background; city's search for new uses of the building

The lease that brought in the winter market was part of the city's search for new uses after the museum closed. The scenario resolves if the city or Downtown Alliance announces a long-term tenant or development plan for 209 E 500 South.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

October 2008 – 2010

Berlin Tempelhof Airport closure (2008)

Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, a landmark aviation facility, stopped commercial flights in October 2008 after a referendum on keeping it open failed. The city then considered housing and commercial development on the site.

Then

In 2010, Berlin opened Tempelhofer Feld, turning runways into the city's largest public park.

Now

The terminal and hangars found event and exhibition uses, and the park draws millions of visitors a year.

Why this matters now

Tempelhof shows a city preserving its aviation architecture for public use. Salt Lake City did the opposite: it kept the building for a market but scrapped the aircraft that cluttered it.

November 1947 – August 1993

The Spruce Goose finds a permanent home (1947–1993)

Howard Hughes' H-4 Hercules, the "Spruce Goose," flew once in 1947 and was kept in a climate-controlled Long Beach hangar for decades. After Hughes died, his estate moved it while owners sought a museum willing to take it.

Then

The plane toured display venues during the search for a permanent home.

Now

It landed at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, in 1993 and remains on public view there.

Why this matters now

The Spruce Goose survived because its fame drew museums willing to pay for it. The Leonardo's planes were obscure by comparison: an open house drew no takers, and auction bids fell short of removal costs.

Sources

(1)