Why Thousands of Aircraft are Abandoned in the Arizona Desert

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It is without a doubt that the United States of America, in this current day and age, has the largest, most advanced and most powerful military on the planet. But given that the US is constantly developing new aircraft to full specific roles, making older aircraft obsolete, what happens to these old planes? Once a particular type of plane is no longer needed as a newer and more advanced model has come to take its place, where do the old ones go? Across the country, there are locations known as airplane graveyards where these aircraft go to be either scrapped, sold, maintained or just kept dormant. However, the most famous and the largest of these complexes is the Airplane Graveyard at the Davis-Monthan Base in Tucson, Arizona, which is commonly known as the Boneyard. At this location, there are thousands of planes stationed here, with many of them at their final resting place. The Tucson Boneyard is also a massive tourist attraction and even a pop culture icon, featuring in several popular movies such as Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Can't Buy Me Love, both of which were filmed on location. But how did the Tucson Boneyard become so crucial to American aircraft disposal and what types of planes have been stored here in the past or there currently?
Video
0:00 Where Do Old Airplanes Go to die?
1:34 How the Tucson Graveyard Grew to the Size it is Today
7:29 What Happens to Planes When They Arrive at the Tucson Boneyard?
10:41 The B-29 Superfortress - The Bomber that Ended WWII
12:53 The B-36 Peacemaker - The First Bomber of the Nuclear Age
14:02 B-52 - The Most Iconic Bomber in American Military History
14:58 F-4 Phantom - One of the Longest Serving Fighter Planes
16:41 The F-14 Tomcat - Top Gun’s Most Famous Fighter Plane
19:03 The Tucson Boneyard, a Marvel of Aviation History
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» CREDIT
Scriptwriter - Brandon Evans,
Editor - Patrycja Klimczuk
Host - Ryan Socash
Thumbnail image SearchNet Media (alterered Cc) flic.kr/p/7M1YWX
» SOURCES
/ itshistory
» NOTICE
Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.

[@garyodle5663]

These airplanes are not "abandoned" in the Arizona desert. They are PARKED in the Arizona desert; there's a difference. They are well cared for. Some are regenerated and sent back into service. Some are stripped of parts to be used back in the fleet. Some are sold as scrap, but all of them are cared for, monitored, and used for a purpose.

[@emiliodesalvo7024]

Indeed!

[@teedub00]

As is the misuse of the term "junk yard" and "bone yard." It is NOT known as the "bone yard" by those working there.

[@wilwert1746]

Good point. I lived in Tucson many years during the 1980s. Many of these aircraft are solid enough to re enter service with only minor repair and needed upgrades. It's truly an awesome sight.

[@D-Rock420]

​@@teedub00 as a Mesa/Tucson native, yes it IS known as the boneyard. Whether or not that is true is arguable. Respectably, these craft are well cared for. But for many decades, including my childhood, it's been "the boneyard"

[@teedub00]

@@D-Rock420 I was referring to military personnel at the base. I lived in Mesa/Gilbert for 13 years, and toured the AMARC twice. They made a point of not wanting people to call them the Boneyard. *editing my original comment

[@navret1707]

I spent most all of my 21 years in the Navy in or around P-3’s. I logged over 4000 special crew hours. Seeing all those P-3’s in the boneyard brings a tear to my eyes and makes me realize just how old I am (77). I would love to go out to Tucson to see them again.

[@Peter-xg5fq]

Those airplanes were to be used against the USSR. The Anglo- Saxons did enter II WW very late, they realized that the Soviets were wining, and abandoned the idea of striking USSR realizing, the Soviets were much more stronger. Remember, at end of the war, the Anglo- Saxons tried to enlist the Nazis for the fight with USSR. But, the Soviets reached Berlin, and Zhukov met Ike, the west realized that , the Soviets had a brut force to recon with, and as a result, the idea was abandoned by the west. You wont see the truth in any book, it is not in the interests of the west to tell you the truth.

[@paulzammataro7185]

Thank You

[@bountyhunter_5150]

@@Peter-xg5fq yeah keep on spreading bullshit...If the west didnt help Stalin donating him huge amounts of vehicles and gasoline then the Germans would have won. Even Stalin Admitted that without lend/lease pact Russia would have lost.

[@compsmith007]

To my regret, I must inform you that this no longer possible. During the pandemic shutdowns, Davis Monthan followed suit. No plans to reopen. I checked. Pima air and space museum probably has some, though.

[@williamedmonds9581]

My 1967 Cessna O-2A Skymaster was stored there at the Pima boneyard for many years before being purchased, stored in a hangar and forgotten about for over 20 years before I got my hands on her and started her restoration. It was very cool to see one of my old Tomcats from my squadron VF-154 at 17:45. I was one of those young recruits that was inspired by TopGun and loved seeing her virtually taking flight again in TopGun Maverick.

[@75keeper]

I was in VF-211 97-00

[@williamedmonds9581]

I was in VF-154 from 98-01.

[@JBliehall]

I was stationed at the 444th FIS with Dennis Romano in the 1960's. We were both 32251F AWS Technicians. He went on to get an aeronaughtical engineering degree and was a test pilot for Grumman on the F-14. He had photos of him and the Shah of Iran and others that told a fasinating story.

[@heatherhoward4197]

God bless you guys. And good bless america and for the republican for witch it stands. One nation. Under god. The rest is dead but yeah.

[@vf12497439]

Thank you for your service.😎

[@Glen.Danielsen]

I love this long-standing practice of having massive aircraft graveyards, boneyards, “places where they go.” They are sightly, interesting, parts repositories, museums!! Thank you for this fascinating video. 💛🙏🏽

[@billj9838]

The Tucson Arizona boneyard is very valuable. They are constantly taking parts off planes. Sometimes an entire plane will be remodeled.

[@chrisherman7531]

Ryan...those 737s with the red stripes were the former Janet airliners used for transport of Area 51 workers in it's heyday

[@TheWlosser]

Good eye and call!

[@kelvinnance8371]

They served more than just A-51. I have family who rode those flights daily. Davis-Montham AFB is used for mothballed and grounded 'platforms', and as a "spares" source. Most of what they say here is essentially true, but not everything. Off we go into the wild blue yonder...

[@mls515]

They’re still flying, just with newer planes. Still have the red stripe.

[@curiousgeorge5992]

@@kelvinnance8371 9

[@themistocles4683]

@@mls515 See them all the time at LAS. Two still in active service ferrying passengers to A51.

[@garychait3353]

My utmost respect and sincere appreciation to all Vets, in past service & current.

[@porchefamilyfarm559]

This was a very informative report. Thank you for sharing this. It was great to see the S-3 Vikings in storage. I served on board them in the late 80's- early 90's.

[@DtotheAtotheN]

I live across the street from Davis-Monthan AFB. I drive by the boneyard everyday. It is an amazing sight to see-even after 20 years of doing this.

[@lukeamato2348]

You should stop by and say hey Ukraine really could use a few

[@BrianWMay]

I would LOVE that view. All the best.

[@politicsuncensored5617]

In 1986 when the Top Gun movie came out a young son of friends who was only 12 went to see this movie. He came home and told his parents that is what he wanted to do in life. I am proud to say he did exactly that in the 1990's and made the US Navy his career. Shalom

[@christopherharris6145]

When I moved to Tucson in 1980, there were still P-51 Mustangs parked in the boneyard.

[@donnyarmstrong9559]

As a kid growing up on Tucson's east side, Broadway-Wilmont area, during the late 60's into the mid 70's, we would often ride our bikes down to the edges of the boneyard and watch the scrappers cut the various planes apart with huge guillotine like devices. We didn't realize were were watching history disappear right before our eyes.

[@EntryLevelLuxury]

I feel the same about the mothball fleet in Benicia, CA. They had a WWII Battleship, loads of support ships from WWII and Vietnam, and now they're all gone.

[@balansheppard3336]

Growing up in Tucson, I was always fascinated by the aircraft there. Many were WWII aircraft, some were early jet aircraft (like B-47s). Later, an aircraft I had actually flown in as a crew member in the USN was sited near the fence. I watched over time as it was salvaged for parts and dismembered. Sad.

[@prg2812]

Many of these aircraft had suffered a Ryanair landing.

[@Bim310]

Drove by the Ontario, California boneyard in the 70s with my Dad who was Army Air Corps during WWII and said he had driven past it after the war ended and everything was flown home from Europe and the Pacific. He said there were planes as far as the eye could see. Also, they filmed a scene from "The Best Years of Our Lives" there at the Ontario boneyard.

[@stevenhall2408]

Some of those ended up in the Planes of Fame museum. I spent a lot of time there in the 70s also.

[@jimdavis6833]

I spent 11 years of my career maintaining the F-4 Phantom in its several iterations (C/D/E/RF & the Wild Weasel). Many of them were modified into the QF-4, which was used at Tyndall AFB, Fl. for targets.

[@Britspence381]

I've always been aware of the Boneyard but didn't know much about it. Thanks for this very informative and well-produced video.👌

[@luvlife2786]

I was stationed at Davis- Monthan during the Viet Nam conflict. The back storage area was not open to the public. I was able to see planes of all types stored there. There were prototypes that never got built and planes that looked like they could not fly. They had small information cards in front that explained what they were. It was also unique to see planes fly in to be stored. Years later when I visited Tucson and saw the planes I worked on (The F4) in storage, I knew how old I was. getting.

[@BrianWMay]

I think the funniest was the three chocks and a sign saying Stealth Fighter (or whichever it was), very witty.

[@sinisterisrandom8537]

Look on the bright side you get to see aircrafts you may have never seen

[@internetcensure5849]

At your age, you are on borrowed time.

[@luvlife2786]

@@internetcensure5849 I guess my storage and marker will last longer than those planes.

[@steveallen1055]

I was stationed at Davis Montana in '71 to '73 and worked on the Flying Taco Stand C-130 that is on the display tour. It was stationed at DM on the active duty side of the base in standard grey paint as a launch vehicle for recon drones that were then recovered by H-3's.

[@barryfletcher7136]

The aircraft at Davis-Monthan are NOT abandoned. They are being > stored < until there is no longer a need for them. For example, later versions of aircraft often use many of the same parts as earlier versions and the ones at Davis-Monthan can provide those parts.

[@noahellis3672]

I watched the History channel's Boneyards series in which one episode featured Davis Monathan AMARG. They practically strip parts off of planes right down to the frame before the plane is finally considered ready for scrapping. They even sent a number of F-4 Phantoms to a facility to be converted into remote controlled target drones for testing new weapons systems. What's really impressive about AMARG is that for every dollar spent on the facility and its purpose of aircraft storage the government gets back $14.00 in savings.

[@nichevo1]

Because if they are abandoned, can I come with a U-Haul and take some home?

[@jimdavis6833]

@@noahellis3672 Yes, they were converted into QF-4s and sent to Tyndall AFB, Fl. The tails were pained Orange as identifiers.

[@barryfletcher7136]

@@nichevo1 All of the aircraft are on US government property and - no - you can't go there with a U-Haul and take some.

[@DavidLee-yu7yz]

@@barryfletcher7136 The comment was sarcastic about the the inference/wording used, get a sense of humour.

[@rogerpenske2411]

Unbelievable! Ryan, for someone who gets so many words mispronounced, it is stunning how you got both Tucson and Davis-Monthan Absolutely perfect!

[@Van-pw5uh]

Ditto! His delivery hurts the ears!!

[@borismedved835]

That's cool for the guy who says "nuke-u-lar."

[@foxtrot312]

Like aircrafts, when aircraft can be plural too without the 's

[@johnsherman6347]

Went there while in the Marine Corps air wing as we needed a part for the APU and they had many C-119s there being stored ! It was unbelievable to see what was there just in 1965 ! Would love to see the base one more time before I hit the “boneyard”!

[@alancranford3398]

The planes at the Boneyard are anything but abandoned. You mentioned that the F-14 fleet in storage has enhanced security--but the entire compound is protected territory.

[@williamwingo4740]

They know where every part of every aircraft is, and it's really a giant warehouse in the desert. When I was TDY there in early1969 they were still getting the last of the B-47's. Later in F-4's, I would stop over there on the way to somewhere else and I remember one time the ramps were all covered with B-58's. Now they've got the F-4's, too.

[@donnburge9774]

Grew up there played in the bell helicopters as a kid in 1970 before they fenced them in, live in Escalante Gardens dad was chief msgt at DM

[@MrAquinas1]

@@donnburge9774 I was visiting friends in Tucson in '73, and I couldn't resist. "The fence" was a piece of cake to climb over, and I had a grand old time exploring old WWII aircraft. My father was a crewman on a B-17. There were so many planes that were just shells of their former selves, I wasn't always sure of the type, but I did have a deeply meditatve experience honoring the heroic vets who flew them.

[@Jonathan.D]

@@MrAquinas1 That must have been awesome seeing all those WWII-era aircraft. The pictures of the boneyard in Germany right after WWII is stunning but in a much different way. Wish I could see either place. I wonder if it's possible to find out what happened to the aircraft used for photo recon. My grandfather was in England during WWII and installed the cameras for photo recon.

[@Jeff-bz6jp]

It's a military installation. So there's that.

[@Idahoguy10157]

F-4 Phantom II: the World’s greatest distributor of MiG parts

[@ldkbudda4176]

I agree, but Russians writes on Wickipedia (in Russian) otherwise ;)

[@saddletramp6935]

Yea, most scattered over South East Asia. Unfortunately not enough. What an effn airplane. Loud, large greasy,mean ,smelly. Reminds me of ..... me.

[@919specops]

This was absolutely stellar. Thank you for making such a quality program.

[@user-mp7yj7gj6d]

I loved the footage of the F4 Phantom. My dad was a maintenance chief for the VF 114 Aardvarks during Vietnam, which was shown in one of the clips. Thanks for the video!

[@mikem1959]

I toured there about 7-8 years ago. It was very interesting. The current google maps satellite image looks like was half as full compared to when I took the tour.

[@ronalddevine9587]

I had the pleasure of visiting a cousin in Tucson several years ago and the Boneyard was on my bucket list. I don't know what was more interesting, the museum or the graveyard. They have an SR-71 in the museum, FASCINATING.

[@johnd5398]

The SR-71 has been my favorite plane since I was a kid. I lived in Tucson for 2 years during a work project and I visited the Air & Space Museum, having NO IDEA they had an SR-71. I have to tell you, I got a bit misty seeing one up close and being able to touch it. It was truly the high point of my time in Tucson... which isn't the nicest town, if we're being honest. I wasn't able to tour the Boneyard due to RAIN, of all things. lol

[@ezwins7971]

We have an aviation history museum in ponce de lion fl and it has an sr-71 along with a bunch of other planes but honestly inside the museum where you can see the internals of the engines and guns is my favorite part

[@Kiddman32]

@@ezwins7971 There is a Blackbird beneath a wing of the "Spruce Goose" at the Evergreen Museum in McMinnville, OR. The whole museum is very much worth a visit.

[@artiek1177]

I loved the Pima Air Museum. I was out there about 5 years ago.

[@tedmoss]

@@johnd5398 What is your definition of "nice"? Tucson is a very old town acclimated to the desert, which is where we all will have to be with global warming. Even Phoenix, where I live is changing.

[@donnaryan3162]

This is very exciting to watch! When you showed the first aerial shot of the layout I shrieked with glee! Thank you for this wonderful video.

[@Audiogeek-kf2ez]

This is an excellent non military documentary that is the best I have seen (my father, former Korean era AF) took my her in the Early 70s. I wish I remembered more, but the size was overwhelming. What a great documentary

[@colhubbard9348]

Why does everyone forget about the B-47? Its the strategic bomber in service between the B-36 and B-52. The B-47 was the 1st all jet heavy bomber......

[@ronfullerton3162]

Jimmy Stewart was in a movie made about the B-47, and was the pilet. He flew them when they were the SAC bomber. They didn't have a very long service life, but were the front line bomber for a few years.

[@landtuna8061]

@@ronfullerton3162 Stewart's movie "Strategic Air Command" was all about the B-36 and has some great, rare, flying scenes. He was not the pilot.

[@colhubbard9348]

@@ronfullerton3162 i just dont understand why content creators (at least 7 different ones that i watch) that do history info/documentary about american /nato aircraft, they always go B-36 to B-52. They always leave out the B-47. Just doesnt make sense to me is all lol

[@colhubbard9348]

@@ronfullerton3162 1947-1977 service life..... longer than i remember.

[@ronfullerton3162]

@@landtuna8061 The movie I saw may of been a SAC training film or something similar. But it definitely was the B-47. It was more about a routine training mission for a B-47 crew.

[@Manco65]

The Boneyard is fascinating. Not only in the planes stored but the methodology used to preserve the ones that can be regenerated.

[@internetcensure5849]

junk the same.

[@marcmcfarlane789]

How can you not love the United States and its technology and its people

[@crystalclearwindowcleaning3458]

Thank you this was very interesting. It's so sad to see so many wonderful airplanes just sitting out there in the desert.

[@sherirobinson6867]

This was not only informative and educational but, very entertaining!

[@brandtc.7991]

Holy crap, did I just catch this right when it's posted! NICE! Cant wait to watch!

[@riogrande5761]

As the son of a career Air Force Lt. Col, my dad has told me of the bone yard since I was a teen in the 70's. This video was a nice summary of the history of the bone yard and it's evolution to the present day.

[@pat36a]

Right next to the Bone Yard is Pima Air Museum , it's the largest Private Air Craft Museum. They also store planes that have been sold or going to Museums but are awaiting transport . I have family in Tucson and the bone yard has always been on the to do list since the 70's.

[@densealloy]

Here in Kingman AZ, we have an airplane storage area at our airport. The airport was a USAAC base in WW2 and it was a boneyard after the war and there is a video of all the old nose art and the breakdown of the planes here on YT.

[@fishbike9103]

When I was a kid in California during the ‘50s and ’60s, my family would go to visit cousins in Tempe for Thanksgiving, and I remember passing a substantial aircraft boneyard in the Goodyear/Avondale area west of Phoenix. In later trips I never saw it again. I don’t remember the exact dates. Is this the one mentioned as having been transferred from Phoenix to Tucson?

[@glenngray1231]

My son was stationed at DM. Got to see the Boneyard many times. Last time he was there, all I had to do was drive to the end of his street and there were rows of planes. Took the tour many times . also went to Pima Air Museum . They have one of the only B-36 Peacemakers still around. If you find yourself in Tucson, that time to take the tour. If you have kids they will love it.

[@jimrky6062]

I like the B36 at Dayton in the Museum of the US Air Force. My FAVORITE plane there.

[@artiek1177]

Loved it!

[@babyskinboots5291]

They're also restoring 2 warbirds currently. A Bf-109 and P-51.

[@paulsuprono7225]

@@jimrky6062 That's Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio 🇺🇸

[@jimrky6062]

@@paulsuprono7225 - That's where the Museum of the US Air Force is, yes.

[@VroodenTheGreat]

If you have MSFS 2020, the boneyard recently got an overhaul and it looks GREAT! You can just take off from Tuscon, AZ or just take off from the air force base.

[@jackielinde7568]

Just out of curiosity, how does Luke fair in MFS 2020? (I have an 11 year old potato for a computer and cannot play that title.)

[@VroodenTheGreat]

@@jackielinde7568 I didn't understand the question.

[@jackielinde7568]

@@VroodenTheGreat Luke Air Force Base outside of Glendale, Arizona... about 300 miles to the north of the boneyard. How does it look in MSF2020?

[@robertdrinkall8947]

Their not abandoned, their in storage. Some do get reactivated from time to time, while others are used for parts. A very interesting site.

[@thomasmeyer6407]

The whole process of getting them ready for storage is amazing. I wonder what types of tricks they use that I could apply to my vehicles / ATVs / etc

[@bigdaddy7119]

Disregard the smiley, it was a typo lol!

[@k2_tech745]

There really aren't any tricks. It's a long checklist of reviewing things that could damage / corrode the aircraft over the long term from being stored outside. Covering the windows with the white material reflects the UV to prevent drying and crazing (yes, that is a word) of the polymer that the windows are made of. It also goes beyond the window a bit to cover the seams to prevent drying of the seal and entry of water. Essentially the checklist is developed by engineers that repeatedly ask the same question for each part or area on the aircraft: "What is going to happen and how can it be slowed or stopped?". Fuel tanks will be drained and the system flushed with a high grade carb cleaner. Many steps for different aircraft depending on the system and what the mfg'er recommends or what the engineers determine to be the best way if no info is available from the mfg'er.

[@thomashowlett8295]

I grew up in Tucson, and have always been an avid aviation enthusiast, so that boneyard and surrounding aviation companies where a big part of my life. Although I no longer live there, I enjoy looking at the boneyard with Google Earth, and see how many different planes I can identify from a strictly top down view.

[@iamsyskey4044]

It's awesome to find other people who also had this growing up.

[@infledermaus]

Same here. We lived on base for a couple of years - '60-'62. Attended Lowell Smith as well. Pops retired and we moved to a house across Golf Links from the base.

[@Retr0racin]

Jan 14 1962 I was born on that base, Davis Monthan AFB. My dad was in a F-101 Squadron.

[@Cory14Tina02]

What an amazing and interesting video. I'm still astonished by my own ignorance of the Boneyard and its history, even though I live within 1 mile of its borders and could also easily walk to the Pima Aerospace Museum.

[@jamison884]

The number of excess airframes in the boneyard for more recent jets and helicopters, which are stored in pristine condition per the details in the video, combine to be the fifth largest air force in the world by total number of air frames in all military branches, only trailing the active US (at 13,000+) followed by three other countries. It's a truly valuable national reserve. Attack/Bomber/Fighter Jets, Attack Helicopters, & Combat UAVs - 56 F-4 Phantoms - 168 F-15 Eagles - 309 F-16 Vipers - 149 F/A-18 Hornets - 48 A-4 Skyhawks - 20 AV-8 Harriers - 50 GR.7/9 Harriers - 101 A-10 Warthogs - 29 B-1B Lancers - 94 B-52 Stratofortresses - 40 EA-6B Prowlers - 145 AH-1 Cobras, Super Cobras, & Vipers (24) - 65 MQ-1B Predator Attack Drones - 10 MQ-8B Fire Scout Attack Drones Trainers, Transport/Utility/Refueling/AWACS Aircraft, & Helicopters - 17 KC-10 Extenders - 122 KC-135 Stratotankers - 23 E-2 Hawkeyes - 4 E-3 AWACS - 73 P-3 Orions - 57 C-5 Galaxys - 23 C-9 Nightingales - 46 C-12 Hurons - 23 C-21 Learjets - 312 C-130 Hercules - 88 H-1 Hueys - 26 SH-2 Seasprites - 22 SH-3 Sea Kings - 85 H-46 Sea Knights - 30 H-53 Stallions - 52 H-60 Blackhawks - 30 SH-60 Seahawks - 65 T-2 Buckeyes (Trainer) - 66 T-37 Tweets (Trainer) - 143 T-38 Talons (Trainer) - 19 T-39 Sabreliners (Trainer) - 166 T-34 Mentors (Trainer)

[@donaldmaxie9742]

The boneyard is a source of spare parts for the same aircraft that are still in service. Many of us do the same thing when buy used parts at a junkyard. There's just not many aircraft junkyards around.

[@jamison884]

@@donaldmaxie9742 While the US boneyard fulfills parts orders for the active fleet, they also hold aircraft in strategic reserve as complete units, so those numbers directly from their inventory won't indicate the true number of 100% complete airframes, but I believe it would be safe to estimate about 75% of those totals could be considered equivalent to complete airframes once the other 25% are labeled as "picked for parts." Either way, it's still an impressive asset for the US, and I'm glad the US maintains this large reserve for both aircraft and ships (the naval reserve fleet has warships and utility/sealift ships maintained in a similar manner in case of national emergency). I believe the national security value far outweighs the cost to prepare and maintain these reserves.

[@donaldmaxie9742]

@@jamison884 Cost is also a huge factor, imagine what it would take to tool up an make a new rudder for a B-52.

[@tedmoss]

Nice list. Where is the C-141? I flew one over the Pacific for 2 hours in 1966.

[@eastbaykidd8574]

@@tedmoss Last time I was near D-M the remaining ones has been pretty much parted out and scrapped (IIRC the TF-33 engines are compatible with the B-52H). Only gate guardians and museum pieces left, although the Hanoi Taxi (66-0177) at the USAF Museum in Dayton OH should still be flyable.

[@jeffersonchau7171]

It’s kind of an overstatement to say they’re abandoned. More technical term is long term storage.

[@CULatte]

Looks like the Air Force has permanently stopped tours to the boneyard :( Pima Space Museum that hosted the tour no longer has authorization to go into the Boneyard and the USAF has no plans to restart the tours. Big sad, the museum itself still has a ton of cool things to see though

[@jdizzforyou]

One of the benefits for an aircraft aficionado living in Tucson is that some of their planes that have been out of service for a long time are occasionally taken out. They are random treats, from old propeller bombers and transports to supersonic bombers fighters and spy planes. I miss the almost daily flyovers of a10s and f16s, I know where they went and it’s concerning but that’s what they’re there for I guess.

[@jimlivings]

A-10s are still a daily delight.

[@maximilian3004]

@@jimlivings what? sorry, couldn't hear you over the f-35As.

[@Steve.Cutler]

I've always wanted to visit the bone yard! I love the F4 phantom...the flying brick!!

[@pb68slab18]

I always spot those P-3 Orions and wonder how many of them I may have flown in during my time.

[@joshuasemon4515]

P-3's are still coming in. pretty frequently. IDK how many are still in service but they are drawing down quick.

[@thomasbell7033]

"...Some of the most advanced aircraft the world has ever seen." Shows T-28 followed by C-47.

[@bulletbegone355]

Many years ago I was involved in a program to re-wing the C5-A in Marietta, Georgia and Lockheed had a bunch of engineers figuring out the best way to remove the old wings so they could attach the new ones to the center wing box. The engines, pylons, nacelles, and fairings were all removed. A mechanic asked one of the engineers if the old wings were to be salvaged or scrapped. The engineer told him they were to be scrapped. The mechanic suggested to him to use a chalk line at the wing stations they were going to use and put a carbide blade in a Skil Saw and just saw them off. That is what they did more or less. It was incredible to see them sawing those huge wings off because I could remember how hard it was to put all the expensive tapered fasteners and gussets, doublers, intercostals, and fittings in them when they were first manufactured The pylons for the engines were a pain in the butt to install. Another time I was at Edwards Airforce Base in the Mojave Desert working on a project for Lockheed and we were modifying some U-2s to change out some of the avionics so they could use a special kind of ground searching device that would supposedly allow them to identify different kinds of aircraft on the ground by their shape and size. They were flying over the planes in the boneyard in Texas and using the special equipment to see if they would work on all the different types of planes there including some Russian made planes that the military had obtained somehow. Of course, they didn't tell us anything about the results of the tests. Lockheed was one hell of a good company to work for if you liked that kind of work which I did. The U-2 was a hell of an airplane. It looked like a glider and the outrigger wheels on the wings would fall off when they obtained lift off.

[@t.m9341]

tldr

[@TucsonHippy]

At AMARG when the B-52G were retired per treaty with russia they had to be disassembled into a non flying condition. Fastest was was to use a giant guillotine to chop the plane into sections so russian satellites could verify they were permanently out of service. Also I have 10 years working U-2 Avionics. If the mod you were talking about for radar systems was in the early 80's it was probably ASARS-2 system

[@thomashelm6931]

Lockheed, The maker off my beloved c141A, that I have thousands of hours on as an aircraft loadmaster. The C5A wasn't worth the metal that they were built from.. finally, after 50 years and tons of money from pork barrel politics, they are able to fulfill their mission.

[@joestephan1111]

The Tucson Boneyard was also featured in the Biker flick "Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man". Another reason why they are there was shown years ago when my brother was flying ageing F-4s in Alaska. He was flying out to a remote alert base at the end of the Aleutians when plane trouble that suddenly sprung up almost sent him into the "drink". After barely making it in to land, his home airbase sent out a mechanic to assess. They didn't have the parts, their maintenance depot in Utah didn't either. Utah called the Tucson boneyard where they were able to strip the necessary parts from a now parked F-4. They were sent to Utah, who sent them to Alaska, who along with the mechanic sent them out to "lands end". After a week's worth of reading books, walking around, and twiddling his thumbs, my brother finally got to fly home. In 1957 our Air Force pilot father flew a B-25 to the Boneyard when they were finally grounded. Following WW2 many heavy bombers like the B-24s & B-29s we're repurposed. With the Bombay's now holding long range extra fuel tanks and the bombardier and gunnery positions now manned by people trained to watch "sophisticated" guages fed by a large scoop on top of the fuselage; they flew long hours of air weather recon in those pre-satellite days.

[@cadenbarnfather1434]

several aircraft came to canada (whether from surplus or military usage) to help in the operations there

[@kylepartridge100]

Side note, a driver, Dusty Rodgers, at a heavy haul company i worked, named his two boys Harley Davidson Rodgers, and Marlboro Man Rodgers. Seriously. Lol.

[@joebanoy]

AMARG is not under Davis-Monthan’s authority. It’s under AF Materiel Command and just shares real estate with the base and requires extra access privileges to enter the connecting gate if you don’t work for their unit.

[@neilmackenzie4394]

There is a B-52 on display at the Fairchild Air Base in Spokane Washington. It was used in the war in Viet-Nam. Besides the usual bombs painted on the sides of such planes denoting their missions, is a red star. The red star is for the only North Vietnamese jet fighter ever shot down by a B-52 tail gunner.

[@khiem1939]

My departed former neighbor, a WWII and Korean War flight engineer, received 1/3 CREDIT during the Korean War for shooting down a MIG-15 from the waist gun of a B-29! In addition, his aircraft also got credit for destroying a North Korean TRAIN, destroying it, the North Korean soldiers on it and all the weapons on it! They didn't bomb it, they destroyed it by STRAFING in a low level attack like one would do with a fighter or ground attack aircraft....NOT a B-29!

[@alanward4266]

There is a pretty good collection at Hill AF base by Ogden Utah.

[@philippal8666]

You said it all: the desert was chosen because the planes won’t rust (although they generally aren’t steel). Aluminium is expensive, as are the other parts. Windows are covered.

[@prudencepineapple9448]

Noticed a few 'Janet Airlines' 73s and, of all things, a Caravelle .

[@olentangy74]

I worked at AMARC in the mid 80’s for several years before transferring to another agency. When I was there the F-4’s were coming in every day along with A-7’s. There were easily 600 Phantoms in the desert. The vast majority were converted to target drones over a decade or more. Today there are around 50 left. The A-6 Intruders are also gone, sold for scrap. Many of the pictures I see are taken at the adjacent salvage companies.

[@ldkbudda4176]

So sad for the A-6 Intruders... For Corsairs II, too...

[@anjanghosh52]

Nice historical tour.

[@kennethdavid7365]

Its a shame that for security changes the tours from Pima of the Boneyard are no longer allowed.

[@mikeyh0]

I went a few years ago and got some great video. The Air and Space Museum had the tour. No reason to see all the planes but we did manage to see quite a few.

[@jonw3738]

I would love to visit these graveyards! This is a great video!

[@brucesteele3052]

Olivia Newton-John (RIP) purchased a plane from the boneyard while I was stationed at DM. Some choppers were sold to sheriff's offices. Aircraft and parts are sold to other nations happy with the older technology.

[@lychan2366]

Even the valley of bones can be revived. To America's adversaries: never under-estimate the power of the US military-industrial complex. It's awesome!

[@cammando2363]

It’s been 15 plus years, but I went to the boneyard. It was awesome then. I’d love to go back some day and show my son around.

[@jimcurt99]

Drive past it every day on my way to and from work- it's an amazing place... makes me sad when I see planes disappear, probably chopped up for scrap :(

[@sr71ablackbird]

it kills just to think about it. especially when the aircraft have to face `the guillotine'. ( a crane with a sharpened blade on the end of the cable). it was on one of the cable military channels that showed it chopping off one of the wings to an aircraft. :(

[@AHVlogs16]

Hey Ryan I’ve been watching your channel for a while and living in New Jersey, have enjoyed your countless videos on history of New York, jersey, and Pennsylvania’s infrastructure and historical sites. Hope to see more of em in the future, keep doing what you’re doing! Lovin it

[@jtwilliams8895]

That boneyard has to be one of the coolest places on earth. I visited there once, though I didn’t have time to take the tour.

[@alanmiller9681]

Wonderful video! It’s been more than 20 years since my last visit to Tucson. Definitely time to return.

[@9mm2013]

The first all jet engine bomber was NOT the B-52, it was the B-46.

[@slowpoke3102]

Close. . . Actually The Arado Ar 234 was the world's first jet bomber. 👣

[@kevin-gw9hl]

@@slowpoke3102 the German ME 262 was first

[@kevinswinyer3176]

@ @9mm2013, the first all Jet Bomber in the USAF was not the B 46, in fact, there is not, and never was a B 46. It was the B 47 Stratojet.

[@Grossman2868]

I don't think rust was a major factor, Oxidation would be as airplanes are mostly aluminum.

[@montinaladine3264]

Yeah I picked that up as well. This video is littered with many errors - calling them "abandoned" is just the first.

[@giraffesinc.2193]

I've been to the boneyard numerous times and LOVE it! If you are in the area, please go.

[@Hemidakota]

Thanks for the video. Very informative.

[@beameup64]

My son worked there. They salvage parts for planes still in use somewhere in the world. Some are in "mothball" like some USN ships are.

[@johncarold]

I have wanted to visit this place for years, with hundreds of aircraft I would love to repair and fly. Thanks for the video

[@richardcole9308]

Great video, great learning tool !!

[@bigdaddy7119]

(@16:30) it’s not the F-14 Phantom, it’s the F-4. 👍🏻

[@Manco65]

🤭yeah I know.

[@kosjeyr]

I'm a USAF Admin Vet that had the chance to fly in a C-130 Hercules once. That was great as I was allowed to sit at the rear door with it open hanging my legs off as long as one of their loadmasters were nearby. They wouldn't allow civies to do it as this was also during my units Family Day event. I wish I could see a B-52 Stratofortess though...

[@davidflitcroft7101]

Lucky man! The C-130 is marvelous. . . they used to supply us on the radar sites of remote Alaska in the '80's. I never got a ride, but I did get to ride a C-118 [?] in 1972 from Fairchild to NAS Whidbey. The B-52's used to lift off from Fairchild 4 at a time, usually with a pair of KC-135's. So exciting. . .

[@funken079]

Another great video , thanks

[@joedpanopio5987]

thanks a lot for such informative post in KZbin.... it looks like an educational tour watching this...

[@RoadTrekker866]

I reside in Tucson. My son is in the Navy he’s been in Tucson many times overseeing the storage of navy aircraft. It is not a “Salvage” yard, it’s a storage yard. Aircraft or stored there for future use or sold to other countries. those that will no longer be in used are strip for reusable parts.

[@internetcensure5849]

junk the same.

[@John-bz2rp]

This is a very good and interesting video. Going to the "boneyard" is one thing on my bucket list. I know I'm picking nits here but the B-29 that dropped the bomb on Nagasaki was called Bockscar, not boxcar as the closed captions had it. A similar mistake was when the captions had the B-52 called a straddle fortress, when its actually STRATOfortress. (I am pretty sure these are computer generated captions so these are understandable errors. One other thing I caught was at 16:30 where you accidentally referred to it as the F-14 Phantom, not the F-4 Phantom. (just a slip of the tongue I'm sure)

[@flagmichael]

It is a very common and off-putting characteristic of the computer-generated closed captions.

[@daverich267]

And incorrect, no space shuttles were ever in the boneyard. BUT one of the test article Solid Rocket Boosters was and it is now laying on its side at the entry to the Pima Air and Space Museum.

[@BradHouser]

I was in the process of moving from South-East Mexico to Northern California through Tucson a couple weeks ago, and I saw many planes in the distance from the highway. Will have to go see it up close next time.

[@richardhead1114]

Really well done thanks for sharing

[@ronliebermann]

The aircraft in Arizona haven’t been abandoned, on the contrary, the military spends quite a bit of money placing the more modern planes in storage. But repairing older planes isn’t profitable. The Air Force is all about the budget. So there’s a question: If the Air Force had less money, would they put older planes back in service?

[@aj-2savage896]

I guess the Navy is more spendthrift. Off the top of my head, among the types they have reactivated in number in the past to refill flightlines were the T-2B and F-18C. The USAF has also "regenerated" a B-52H for return to service not long ago. Many of the stored birds serve as parts sources for planes still in service while others are designated "inviolate," meaning they may be reactivated in the shortest possible time. Planes are not just retired to the desert for being obsolete; they go for being worn out. The first planes offered to the "Free Kuwait Air Force" were F-8 Crusaders from desert storage. They went with A-4s instead for supportability reasons.

[@mercuryfusion8325]

Many air frames are no longer manufactured. For example, the A-10. Still in use, but would be more expensive to open the manufacturing lines back up to make than to just refurbish older ones. As AJ-2 Savage said, the B-52s are left here as they can easily bring them up to full service if needed. My dad was stationed here when I was a kid (elementary to middle school) and my grandpa was a SAC mechanic during the cold war so we toured the planes, especially the B-52s quite a bit and this is a repeat of their words, especially my grandpas in regards to the B-52s.

[@mercuryfusion8325]

@Ralpho The Great The A-10 and the B-52 are in fact currently in service genius.

[@ronliebermann]

@@aj-2savage896 Thanks for the information! For me, the issue is this: a manned plane necessarily has to be expensive, because human lives are at stake. Drones are much cheaper to operate. After all, a drone is just a radio-controlled airplane. So why not just build big drones? They can drop bombs for ninety percent less than a manned bomber. And if they get shot down, we don’t have to worry. I suspect that the Military is more concerned about money than outcomes. Even our drones cost too much. The military has become a giant money pit. The D.O.D. already takes half of our tax dollars, and now they want even more money. Pretty soon something will have to give. So maybe drones will become the only option. That’s fine with me; Pakistan and Turkey sell excellent long range drones. Let’s place an order for five hundred.

[@aj-2savage896]

@@mercuryfusion8325 The MAIN reason why any B-52s were scrapped at all was compliance with SALT treaties. They guillotined t5he wings off and chopped the fuselages in three and left them there long enough for the Russians to completely verify the destruction of the bombers. At that time, every B-52 in a museum counted as a strategic bomber. That's how paranoid the Soviets were.

[@Thetequilashooter1]

I went to the UofA, and while I was there I had the opportunity to visit the Boneyard. What a treat. I was shocked at the time how many F-15s,F-16s and A-10s were there. It was quite a sight how well organized the aircraft were lined up row after row. I can’t wait to go back the next time I visit.

[@obsoleteprofessor2034]

I think some C-5's were stored to keep from wearing them out....something to do with limited wing life. The idea was to time out the remaining flyers, park those when they reach their hours then reactivate the stored.

[@zaphodb9213]

Sad, but awesome. Keep 'em flying!

[@bobmurray3229]

Great tour ! Thank you 🇺🇸

[@Andrew-sv6zq]

I used to live in Tucson in the early 1990's. I loved driving by the bone yard and the various scrap yards in the area. There are a lot less planes there today. I can remember seeing all of those Boeing 707's that had been retired and were being scrapped. Many were from foreign countries, but you would still see TWA and Pan Am.

[@eastbaykidd8574]

The engines on those 707s kept the KC-135 tankers in parts until the KC-135R with new engines was developed.

[@sr71ablackbird]

hadn't heard of those 2 in a while.

[@TechnozSki]

I too remember seeing them right off South Kolb Road. I have a picture of an ethiopian airlines 707 there

[@oldpanamacitybeach]

I see an F-4 Phantom in the air occasionally. They're flown by radio control as aerial targets off the gulf coast of northern Florida. There's a crew at DM that preps them target practice.

[@stefanschutz5166]

Thank you from Amsterdam. Great documentary. Visited Amarc about ten years ago.

[@SolamenteVees]

AMARG is a few miles from my house in Tucson. I drive past it weekly… Also a reliable spot for Burrowing Owls.

[@tonylittle8634]

I grew up not far from this. I remember the B52’s always being moved around during Vietnam 🇻🇳 war. I remember the B29’s being cut in half as well. A lot of memories

[@hbpirate9023]

That might have been because the B-29 was an overrated piece of junk. Only about 1/3 were lost to enemy action. The rest shot themselves down.

[@robertg.durant8489]

were they playing love shack?

[@tomfields3682]

Back in the 60s there was a vast tract of land on the edge of the Miami International Airport where lots of WWII aircraft were mothballed. Probably not there anymore given the value of that land. Anyone familiar with this and know what happened to those planes?

[@evansteiner5520]

Aircraft’s

[@tomfields3682]

@@evansteiner5520 What about them?

[@gregorycasey3347]

Love the F-4 I grew up with them flying over head in the Philippines. It was a huge part of my life.

[@armandos.rodriguez6608]

Excellent,good show,great sky birds!!!!!!

[@memkiii]

The B-36 was actually from the 1940s, (1949), and was not the largest "plane" with a piston engine, and you forgot to mention *it also had 4 turbojet engines.* The Bristol Brabazon airliner, first flown in the same year (1949) was slightly larger in height and length. The piston engined Hughes Hercules transport from 1945 was *much larger,* 56' longer, and a span 90' greater than the B-36.

[@almo6914]

The B-36 was twice the size of a B-29.

[@daverich267]

Agree, probably should say the B-36 was the largest operational propellor driven military aircraft. The turbojets were mostly there for takeoff and higher speed "dash" capability but my understanding is were often shut down in flight and there were vanes to close off the intakes to reduce drag when they were not being used.

[@kevinswinyer3176]

I do believe that the B 36 actually had 6 Turbo Prop Engines, not 6 Piston Engines, along with it's 4 jets

[@fishbike9103]

@@kevinswinyer3176 In all the documentaries I’ve seen, they were 6 28-cylinder, 4-row “Wasp Major” piston rotaries.

[@kevinswinyer3176]

@@fishbike9103 oh, ok. For some reason, I always thought that the B 36 Bomber had 6 Turbo Prop Engines along with it's 4 Jets. I stand corrected on that, thank you.

[@xaero76]

The B29 FIFI... came from the Bone yard, and she was made up of at least two B29s

[@timandnikki2011]

I see Cardiff, California at minute 16:00, behind the F-14 Tomcat. Pic looks like it was taken in the 1980's. Great Video!

[@Nic7320]

Impressive how accurately they can park them in such perfect rows.

[@NfidelNet]

The F-4 Phantom- proof that if you strap it to large enough engines, even a brick can fly