The Final Resting Place for B-52 Bombers, Fighter Jets & Military Aircraft is In This Arizona Boneyard

The Davis-Monthan Air Force Boneyard in Tucson, AZ

Most junkyards have cars. This one has fighter jets. Row after row of bombers, fighters, and cargo planes sit baking in the Arizona sun at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. Some get stripped for parts, others wait for new wars, and a few just rust away.

Here’s what happens when warplanes retire.

A Permanent Parking Lot for Aircraft

The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group sprawls across 2,600 acres of Arizona desert at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. This massive facility houses over 4,400 aircraft from the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, NASA and other government agencies.

Known commonly as “The Boneyard,” it stands as the world’s largest aircraft storage facility. The operation employs 550 people, almost all civilians, who maintain this vast reserve of aviation assets.

Why Tucson Was Chosen

Tucson’s climate creates perfect conditions for preserving aircraft. The region’s low humidity, between 10-20%, stops metal corrosion that would quickly damage aircraft stored elsewhere.

The area gets only 11 inches of rain yearly, keeping planes mostly dry. Sitting 2,550 feet above sea level helps the dry air preserve aircraft even better.

The hard caliche soil, a type of natural cement, holds up heavy aircraft without them sinking. This rare mix means no need for paved surfaces, cutting huge construction and upkeep costs.

How It All Began

Aircraft storage at Davis-Monthan Field started in 1945 when the Army Air Forces formed the 4105th Base Unit to store extra World War II aircraft. They first focused on keeping B-29 Superfortresses, the four-engine heavy bombers that helped end World War II, and C-47 Skytrains, the key transport planes for Allied forces.

By May 1946, workers had moved more than 600 B-29s and 200 C-47s to the site. About 30 important planes were set aside for future museum display.

Among these were the “Enola Gay” and “Bockscar,” the B-29s that dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The 1965 Consolidation

In 1965, the Defense Department created the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center. This new group brought together operations that had been spread across many bases.

Officials closed the Naval Air Station Litchfield Park facility near Phoenix, which had been the Navy’s main aircraft storage site. In February 1965, about 500 Navy aircraft flew from Litchfield Park to Davis-Monthan.

This move marked a big shift in military planning. The Tucson facility began handling aircraft for all United States armed forces, not just the Air Force, putting this vital job in one place.

The Arrival Process

Almost 95% of aircraft fly into the Boneyard under their own power, making their final landing. Once on the ground, processing starts right away.

Crews remove all weapons, ejection seat charges, and secret hardware. These items need special handling for security and safety.

The aircraft then goes through a careful defueling process. Workers pump out all aviation fuel and replace it with special oil similar to what’s used in sewing machines.

Big aircraft take much more time to process. The huge C-5 Galaxy transport planes, with their many fuel tanks and complex systems, take “forever and a day to defuel,” as staff put it.

The Preservation Process

Each aircraft gets a thorough cleaning upon arrival. This washing matters most for planes that served on aircraft carriers or in tropical areas, where salt and moisture speed up rust.

Workers use NATO grade 1010 preservation oil made just for long-term storage. After filling fuel systems with this protective oil, they run the engines to push it through all parts.

This coats fuel lines, pumps, and engine insides with a protective layer that stops breakdown. After the oil moves through everything, most drains out, leaving only the protective coating.

Staff check and record every part for existing problems. This detailed look guides any treatments needed before long-term storage begins.

The White Coating

The most striking part of the Boneyard’s preservation method is the bright white coating put on stored aircraft. This special material, called Spraylat, shields against the harsh desert environment.

Workers apply it in two separate layers. First comes a black base coat that seals the aircraft, then a white reflective top coat that helps control temperature.

Before adding Spraylat, technicians air out cockpits and clean all glass and plastic surfaces. They stuff engine intakes and other openings with desiccant material to soak up any moisture.

This protection keeps internal temperatures from reaching harmful levels. Without it, aircraft interiors would hit over 200 degrees in the desert sun, quickly damaging sensitive parts.

Storage Categories

The Boneyard sorts aircraft into four distinct groups based on their likely future use. Type 1000 marks “inviolate” aircraft with good chances of flying again.

No parts can be taken from these Type 1000 aircraft without special permission. Categories Maintenance crews “represerve” these planes every four years, renewing their protective systems.

Type 2000 aircraft serve as parts donors. These planes provide components to support active fleets when manufacturers no longer make needed parts.

Type 3000, known as “Flying Hold” aircraft, get regular maintenance including engine starts and systems checks. These planes stand ready for quick reactivation if needed.

Recycling and Salvage Operations

The Boneyard works as a massive airplane parts warehouse. During fiscal year 2019 alone, AMARG recovered 5,744 different components from its collection.

This parts program saves taxpayers about $500 million yearly in replacement costs. For older aircraft still flying, the Boneyard often provides the only source for certain components.

Maintenance crews sometimes make “special cuts” on aircraft structures to harvest specific parts needed elsewhere. One C-130 serving science stations in Antarctica flies with a tail section taken from an aircraft that once sat in the Arizona sun.

Aircraft deemed excess to Defense Department needs eventually face recycling. Workers strip all usable parts before the remaining metal gets melted into ingots for reuse in manufacturing.

Back to the Skies

Not all aircraft at the Boneyard stay permanently grounded. Some return to active service after years in storage, showing how well the preservation techniques work.

The B-52H Stratofortress nicknamed “Ghost Rider” made news when it flew again after seven years in storage. On February 17, 2015, it left for Barksdale Air Force Base, flying at 23,000 feet at 250 knots with a crew of three.

Another B-52H bomber, “Wise Guy,” followed a similar path in 2021, returning to active Air Force service after extensive restoration.

AMARG also turns retired fighter jets like F-4 Phantom IIs and F-16s into aerial target drones. These unmanned aircraft provide realistic training targets for pilots and weapons systems.

Environmental Considerations

Despite storing thousands of aircraft containing potentially harmful materials, AMARG keeps strict environmental protection measures.

The facility uses comprehensive containment systems to prevent contamination. The aircraft recycling program cuts waste and environmental impact by reusing valuable materials rather than making new components.

Within the 2,600-acre complex, AMARG stores about 280,000 pieces of aircraft production tooling in controlled areas. These specialized tools could restart production of out-of-production aircraft if needed.

The facility splits operations along Kolb Road, which runs north-south through the property. The east side mainly handles parts recovery, while the west side manages long-term storage operations.

Visiting The Boneyard

Due to increased security concerns, direct tours of AMARG are no longer available to the public, with no plans to bring them back. However, airplane fans can visit the nearby Pima Air & Space Museum, which offers information about AMARG and shows similar aircraft in an outdoor desert setting.

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