The "Bone Yard" in Tucson AZ‏

[Bigunit]

The Bone Yard near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base -Tucson, Arizona

Remember - Each one of these had a multi-million dollar price tag!

For those of you who have never seen this in person, it is something to see. The precision in they way they are stored and parked is impressive.

It's difficult to comprehend the size of the 'Bone Yard' (over 2,600 acres) and the number of aircraft (over 4,200) stored there. Of course, the most important thing to remember is that thay are all capable of being returned to service at a moment's notice if the need ever arises.

If you are ever in the Tucson area, the weekly tours of the Bone Yard are still given through the Tucson Air Museum, located just south of Davis-Monthan AFB.

Both, the museum and the Bone Yard are very popular attractions in the Arizona desert. It's difficult to comprehend the number of military aircraft in dead storage until you see these photographs or visit it in person!

Even if you have seen this before, look again. The 3rd largest Air Force in the world is sitting on the ground here.

Here's a link with a lot more info.

http://www.amarcexperience.com/AMARCDescription.asp

 

[j3jackson]

Wow!

 

[LagunaH1]

How recent are these photos? I ask because one photo shows a bunch of F-14's and I recall reading how these retired jets were being destroyed for rather obscure reasons

 

[08SolarFlareH3]

Wow, that is truly amazing!

 

[Bigunit]

How recent are these photos? I ask because one photo shows a bunch of F-14's and I recall reading how these retired jets were being destroyed for rather obscure reasons

Mikkel, I haven't been out there in about 4 years & they still had F-14s then. The AMARC website still shows that they have 187 F-14s in storage. They keep the site fairly current but you could always try calling and asking.

http://www.amarcexperience.com/AMARCArticleF14Tomcat.asp

 

[LagunaH1]

A friend of mine used to work for Grumman when they were building the F-14D so for some reason I like the Tomcat a lot. -Doesn't hurt that the F-14 was the plane they flew in "Top Gun"

 

[alrock]

Been wanting to go to there for years.

 

[LagunaH1]

Maybe we should go..... Tucson isn't THAT far away

 

[kd7irm]

That sounds like fun!

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

[M22KLARS]

I've seen these pics before and would love to check it out in person sometime.

 

[Calamitygirl]

Someone please tell my bosses I need more vacation time so I can go more places and still have time for Moab !

 

[FormerUser]

I'll have to check the AMARC website, but I believe most of those BUF's were guillotined at the wings and fore/aft fuselage as part of the START(strategic arms reduction treaty) agreement. Last I heard they had a couple C5-A's, B1 Lancers and a whole slew of F16's(lawn darts). I think Pakistan's F16 Block D models were/are stored out there.

 

[H3slate]

A friend of mine used to work for Grumman when they were building the F-14D so for some reason I like the Tomcat a lot. -Doesn't hurt that the F-14 was the plane they flew in "Top Gun"

Wasn't that about beach volleyball?? :giggle:

 

[Yarjammer]

How recent are these photos? I ask because one photo shows a bunch of F-14's and I recall reading how these retired jets were being destroyed for rather obscure reasons

I believe the F-14's, as well as most of the choppers are essentially skeletons. The market for F-14 parts is heavily protected by the US due to Iran having them. The same goes for many of the helicopters having found their way into our adversaries hands.

 

[05Mudiak]

We have a few B-52s over there in "long term storage" meaning they are the ones that can be returned to service. All the other are used for parts. As for the chopping up I think they did chop alot of them. I think it was anything older than the G model not sure exactly I do know over the last couple years they did chop up quit a few,
. The G & H's have a lot of interchangable parts. Since we can not get a lot of parts new anymore we get a lot of parts through AMARC

 

[Sierra H3]

Bone Yards

Bone yards are very cool. I remember steaming into the Bremerton Navy "bone yard" in the 1980s. It still had the USS New Jersey (Battleship), USS Missouri (Battleship), USS Chicago (Heavy Cruiser), USS Oklahoma City (Heavy Cruiser), USS Hornet (WWII Aircraft Carrier), USS Bon Homme Richard (WWII Aircraft Carrier), and many WWII tin cans (Destroyers) that basically won the war in the Pacific. So much history most people never got to see. By the way, DMAFB cut up the BGM-109 ground launched cruise missile airframes of the program that I worked on at GDC upon leaving active duty. I guess they do a lot of decommissioning out there.

 

[SGT-Wright]

Check out the place with Google Earth. Lots of detailed view.

 

[3Hummers]

Very cool place.

 

[Ken3t]

I wonder how easy it would be for an enemy of ours to set up for a debilitating attack of such a target.

 

[Expendable]

wow, that place looks so cool! I will have to remember about it next time I am in Arizona! Thanks for sharing the Pics!

 

[cgalpha08]

Just think about how impressive it would be if we really had to mobilize!!

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[LagunaH1]

I believe the F-14's, as well as most of the choppers are essentially skeletons. The market for F-14 parts is heavily protected by the US due to Iran having them. The same goes for many of the helicopters having found their way into our adversaries hands.

Ah yes, Right, I remember reading something but had forgotten why it was the F14 needed to be protected like that. A firend of mine used to work for Grumman when they were building the later model F14's so I am fond of the Tomcat

 

[HUMMER INVESTMENTS]

ID wonder if anybody could buy one and restore it like this:
[video=youtube;szmYTeiHaIY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szmYTeiHaIY[/video]

 

[auggie mathis]

The boneyard is a awsome place to visit.

 

[Bigunit]

J. Travolta drove to Tucson just to visit the Pima Air & Space Museum and the Boneyard this past Weekend.

http://www.facebook.com/PimaAirAndSpace