Today's Air Force: At the Boneyard
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- This week on a special edition of Today's Air Force we will take an in-depth look at the Boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. We'll meet the dedicated team that brings new life to old aircraft and hear the nostalgic stories of the airmen who flew these planes decades ago.
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Before I leave this earth, I am going to visit this historic site! It is so hard watch them scrap those awesome planes!
Great job in bringing the mission of the 'boneyard' to light. Lots of good information, history, and photography. Thanks everyone for all your hard work.
I was there in October. Yes, you can visit the boneyard but it has to be on an official tour from the Pima Museum. The aircraft in storage there ARE NOT rotting. Some are being used for parts while some are in mothballs in the event they are needed to be restored for operational duty. Some of the C-5s will be converted into C-5Ms. This is NOT a junk yard. It's an aircraft storage facility. Older, worn out aircraft are cut up for scrap but there are airframes there that will fly again. The "boneyard" is actually a reclamation center.
Thanks for explaining this, a lot of people have no idea what really goes on there.
Are you able to go in any of the aircraft?
I grew up a few blocks from the main gate at D-M, back in the 70's. I used to love taking the MASDC (Now AMARG) tour.
Now you have to go to Pima Air and Space Museum and buy tickets, but back then you just had to get to the Security office good and early, sign up and wait for the clunky old USAF school bus to take you on tour.
Back then, there were still quite a few WW2 and Korea era planes in the mix, as well as modern test aircraft that had gone into mass production. The prototype 707 was one of my favorites.
If you get a chance to visit the place, you should.
I cry when I see the F-111 in such a state. These are incredible aircraft and it would seem to me they deserve better.
The F-4 Phantom has always been to me an airframe of striking beauty. This was a very entertaining piece. Thank you.
I have been blessed with the opportunity to drive by the bone yard my whole life. I dont know which is more magical, having to opportunity to see such history everyday or knowing tha my father TSgt William R. (Ted) Estes jr retired from DMAFB after 20yrs of honorable service.
Great that they invite the public.
Stationed at DMAFB for 3 years. I loved going to the "Boneyard" and looking at all the planes.
Tucson was part of my sales territory once and I had to drive around the base a few times just to look at the aircraft. I suppose having two uncles that were former jet fighter pilots had something to do with that (one was killed in his F-100). For me, gazing down the rows of aircraft a sense of peace comes over me, its quiet and calm yet you realize these machines were designed for another mission. Keep up the good work gentlemen and thanks to Air Force Today for putting on this excellent video, very professional.
Forgot to mention, just think, at one time there were hundreds of P-51 Mustangs out there after the war, what a shame they for the most part were all scraped. I don't know if the general public back then could buy one, I'm sure some were lucky enough to.
I've visited Davis-Monthan and it is great so visit if you are in Arizona.
I rode a C-121 to Libya and a C118 back from Germany to New Jersey..and yes,a C119 from Turkey to Greece and then a C130 to France...
So many great aircraft with proud histories ...
A trip there is on my bucket list.
I grew up there and left in 89. yes there is still ww2 aircraft there. makes me think of home when I see pictures of the boneyard.
I didn't watch the video, but went there over the summer. There's a hunk of titanium and other metals in the frames of the B-2 and other top aircraft cockpit sitting out in the open valued over 1 billion dollars! 1 billion for the frame of the plane (metal: I think it was titanium)!!! If you go, I highly suggest taking the tour of the base (from the museum) and allowing a few hours to walk around the museum.
As a kid in the 80s I built most of the aircraft here.
I was at my VA hospital few months back and a worker was walking out with a model, I stopped him, asked him about the 6 turning & 4 burning, said a vet that few on one built it.
Probably knew his number was coming. .
Very well done Video.. Been to the Boneyard once and hope to go back again soon.
Thanks Matt!
I remember looking down at "The Boneyard" from Mt. Lemmon as the sun reflected off all those aircraft. It was like a very large mirror reflecting the sun.
Great place to visit and learn about the many ways AMARC keeps serving aircraft flying. Those who think AMARC exists just to "scrap" are ignorant. Scrap is what's left over after millions of dollars in parts and equipment are efficiently harvested. Obsolete fighters are returned to service as drones for missile testing, airlifters are parted out to keep others working, and a wide variety of common electronics and other hardware are pulled, tested or overhauled, then put back into the supply system. Airframes ready to be scrapped are used for Aircraft Battle Damage Repair training which is vital and cannot be done on active aircraft for obvious reasons. (My class got to hack holes through skin, hydraulic lines and wiring in an A-7 and C-130 then repair the damage. Large fun was had by all.)
Fascinating documentary! Greets from the UK.
Excellent! Brings back lots of memories. The time lapse was exceptional!! Nice job, Mr. Breese!!
Very well done and thanks for your service
Really a beautifully put together production. Thanks for all of your hard work on this. I really enjoyed it.
You have to get a very high score on your ASVAB test to get in the USAF. They have the highest score from all the services. so it's kinda more difficult if you have problems with that exam.
Anyone else get a knot in their stomach watchin the birds come in to be put down? I crewed KC-10's and we flew in to monthan after the gulf war and watched wave after wave f-4's come in..all different variants from rf-4's to ww f4's....it felt erie being there...
The parts and alloys I understand. But to watch them demolished would be sad for this Veteran. We served together.
But also, the Air Force Broadcasting Service produced the show, Airman Magazine shot the time lapse and still imagergy. The video was acquired by SSgt Zach Lopez and myself.
horrible to see such great aircraft with such great history sitting there like that..
That last segment really gets me.
Yes it is, they show another photo at 18:30. I am correcting a prior posting I submitted thinking it was just a radar test plane.
this kinda makes me cry.. must respect for every soilider int he world :)
lived here all my life and its weird to see people being amazed its just a normal view here. anyways u cant go inside the boneyard but the museum is cool and you can do what ever you want there .
Not according to the video. They said it was open to the public and you are even allowed to get up close and personal with these aircraft.Only a special few were off limits.
LuRcH February 2015 - The only way on the boneyard is on a bus tour from the Pima Air and Space Museum. No one is allowed off the bus and ID's may be checked on the way in to the grounds.
chippercs
the F-4 was such an awesome plane not to mention how sexy it looks its sad to see them being turned into targets
It's really a sight to see Davis Monthon AFB and the over 5000 planes on Google Earth. I visit the storage facility on Google Earth all the time and look for things I may have missed in the past. Also, it seems that the operators of the satellites scan new area photos to update Google Earth about once a year so it's always cool to check out the new satellite photos to see what's been added since the last Arial photos were taken! If you know how to use all the tools in Google Earth it makes it so much easier to compare Satellites photos from over the years and the different layers as far back as 25 years ago! Check it out.[
Corrie...this piece was done by some of our talented folks at Airmen Magazine. I will submit an inquiry as to who, specifically, did the time lapse.
shame XV470 - 1969 build RAF F-4 Phantom FGR.2 could not be saved, this aircraft for many years was a gate guardian at Raf Woodvale Near Southport Sefton Uk
Very interesting, thanks for the show.
Saw my dear F-111s and F-4s on an aerial shot...I was an F-111D crew chief at Cannon AFB...RIP, Aardvark and Phantom!
It was Mr. Andrew Breese who did the time lapse shots for us
amazing place i visited many years ago whilst recovering and restoring a super constellation for flight back to australia. There are many aircraft available for sale but when i was there the way it was done was to buy from the scrappers before they scrap what u want the scrappers have the contracts and access to aircraft u cant buy direct from davis monthan but there are deals to be had . whilst there i saw 3 cessna o2's in flying condition still in military garb with wing hardpoints etc 7,500 bucks each a bargain..If you visit davis monthan the bone yard dont forget to go across the road to Pima air and space museum that is really most wonderful place to see the old aircraft and a bonus to travellers well was when i was there is all the hotels in town have free open bar from 5 till 7 for guests yup open bar anything for free so finish ur exploring for the day at half 4 so u make the free bar back at the hotel..
Beyond the sadness of seeing so many great aircraft "retired", one does have to wonder whether the AF has gotten into the habit of "retiring" aircraft prematurely, well short of their full useful life. Think about it. The F-117 is already gone. C-5s are numerous out there and are not being "regenerated".
I lament there loss also and hopefully some will be preserved at Davis- Mothan or Wright - Patterson. I have great affection for these aircraft having worked in DoD/ NASA facilities for about thirty years. I still remember when I saw my first C-5 in flight over thirty years ago. These planes are now old, the C-5 is fifty. The C-17 does everything the C-5 did and more economically.. F-117 the same, a thirty year old aircraft. Still very stealthy, but the service has decided to invest in UAVs instead.
Been their many times . It changes all the time . And yes it is Mecca for those of us who airplane nerds .
Hauntingly Beautiful place I would truly love to vist
my airplane C-5 700457 hasn't been torn apart there yet. this according to Dover's museum director.
very nice editing looks like a real news station. keep it up
The F-4...the last of the real steam locomotives...RIP old friends.
Norm
This is so cool-I could spend days wandering around. On the B-52's and B-1's still flying it seems there is two reasons they are there-over time on the airframe or reduction in force as part of a treaty. Would this be correct?
Damn I wasn´t aware one could visit this place!
It is amazing video, congratulations, I love the planes!
put it this way...none will ever fly but they won't admit it.f4 as a drone? I like that
Tucson, HOOAH!
She has a great voice.
Just depressing for me. So so many great machines gone for ever.
Was there a year ago, Hi from the UK! :)
Can't believe there are people who still think there are WW2 airplanes stored in the Arizona desert.
Hey, is that the Air Borne Laser B747 there at 2:05? Has that been retired already? I thought at least the laser unit would have been removed and put in indoor storage given that it's the "business end" of the system.
You are correct. They were originally set out in plain sight so that the former Soviet Union could see that we were living up to our end of the bargain.
I live here I've been there a lot
Ti's sad to know that there are F-22's there already. Their relatively new aircraft.
Similar appearance, but the one shown is a radar test platform. The Laser one has a rotating ball on the nose and is still at Edwards. There were some recent adaptations, but budget has severely dampened it's use.
I wonder if they still ave any PBY's?
4:12 oh come on donate that to a restoration group!!!
Amazing!! I want to visit
very interesting
I would love to go there, and i'm not even the slightest interested in airplanes.
Congratulations to TAF for explaining this essential mission. It is clear that the reclaimed parts, repurposed aircraft and recycled materials keep out warfighters in the air and taxpayers' cost lower while making sure the mission continues.
I wish i can visit one day! Aziz
Who do I contact about getting a copy of this program to include in current DEMIL Training? It was fantastic.
they are not rotting theres a reason they are in the dessert no moisture this place is like a pick u part for the air force some airplanes that are still in service like the warthhog or a10 get parts from here because that plane went out of production but is still a lethal plain and we have 300 in service and plenty of parts here no junk yard!
If I went there. So would buy a couple of a-10 thunderbolts and make one restored from all the parts. My fwvorite warplane of today.
That's not true at all. The AF is the most difficult to get into right now, but it's because of budget cuts and manning. They're kicking people out and letting few in. They have some strict entrance requirements that other branches don't have, such as prior charges. DUI's pretty much eliminate you from the AF. LOL I remember working as a recruiter and some kid calls in, "Hey I was with a friend when he was busted for a meth lab but it wasn't mine, I was just there. Can I join the AF?" No.
I'd like to go visit and find me a plane to buy and get it back in the air since they have all types. Do they have a surplus sales program?
Makes me sad to know that most of those perfectly good WW2 planes that returned from PTO, and ETO were "turned into beer cans".
If I were a billionaire I would buy some of these to use in my private military.
i was just wondering can you actually by old aircraft from there say the likes of an F-4 Phantom?
would love to go out there
Well done, Who did the time-lapse?
i would go there if i didn't live in canada :(
"Hillbilly farm in the middle of Texas" That was a bit offensive.
+Just An Old Southerner True that. To the rest of the country, we in the south are fair game. From "Tobacco Road" to " Deliverance" there is no hesitation at ridiculing anything Southern. But cheer up Just an old southerner, it could be worse. We could be from Detroit.
+WHEREISTHEREASON Is Detroit the worst city in the whole of the USA. Charlie Leduff book about Detroit says just that.
+WHEREISTHEREASON As a North Carolinian, I thought I was an American. Imagine being assigned to duty at MCAS Cherry Point, NC in 1958, imagine my disappointment. Sectionalism has always been rather nasty in the U.S. It's first major manifestation of which I am aware was the Civil War.
+New Day New day, In the book "1776" the author, whose name escapes me at the moment, details the differences of ideals and temperament embodied by the various colonies (soon to be states). If you have the chance I recommend reading it. Easily one of the best non-fiction works I've come across in some time. It is a collection of letters, journal and diary entries and congressional record from the time of the revolutionary war. It paints a most vivid image of the struggle and the mindset of those engaged.
+jerry6711 My response must be based on a measure of conjecture having not been there. But seeing the photographs and reading the comments of credible people, I have to say; could there be worse?
I just want to head out there with some people and restore a plane
Bring alot of money with you.
F-35 new home
Sure, pay your entrance fee at the gate.
Are their any C-119 -D Models in this yard?
+Albert Luppo The AMARC website used to list inventory and may still do so.
I've never heard of an active duty recruiter, recruiting for civilian jobs. That's usually not the way it goes. It may be something with the Navy, but nothing I have ever heard of before. Those types of jobs consist of submitting applications, resumes, interviews, and acceptance. I mean, you still have to do that for the military, but the processes are different (such as medical evaluation). There are job recruiters but it wouldn't be your typical recruiting office. Maybe miscommunication?
Does anyone know the name of the piano song playing in the background of the last segment?
No. :P
Migs at 1:27?
+smacdiesel Looks like a mig-15 or mig-17
Can anyone go in and have a look at the aircraft?
There is a tour of AMARC that begins and ends at the Pima Air And Space Museum which is nearby DM.... I dont know how much it is but I've heard it is a very good tour... Also a lot of the planes you would see in the boneyard are also at PASM including the actual F-84 Thunderstreak "Thunderbird 1" and a F-111 Tiger II "Blue Angel 5" there is also a Super Guppy Aircraft that carried the 2nd stage of the Saturn V rocket used in the Apollo missions there as well
Third stage from Douglas in California. And the CSM (Command & Service Module), and the Lunar Module. But not the first and second stages, they were too wide at 33 ft and very heavy they were barged in that is the "lake" you see beyond the launch clock back in the days of Shuttle launches, it was called the "turn basin" for the Saturn barges. The second buy of Saturns was going to be even more stunning, with "thrust augmentation" (ie strap on boosters, longer, greater payload. Nixon killed it all it was "kennedy's" project and he hated him. A planetary tragedy it was smashed to bits.
Those F4s.... what a waste.
i want a f4 phantom to buy one
Is it difficult to get into the air force?
Some of those aircraft belong on static display at a museum, not rotting in that bone yard. And there are a lot of warbirds that could be put back in the air with access to that place. They make me sick
If some organization expresses an interest in preserving a plane to be put on display, I sure the AMARG people try to accommodate them.
Music credits?
the seats can they fit my car?
today s air force at the boneyard castel
Can I buy a plane? Like a Galaxy???
to mutch chat,i just wanted to see the planes
Sorry to bother you but since you were recruiter. Would you guys get in trouble if you call someone offering a civilian job and even make an appointment to then say at the office that is not true? It happened to me not too long ago with some Navy recruiters, they offered me some sort of civilian engineering opportunity, and then they said that was not true.
HOLD the crusher !,The United States Marine Corp is looking for a few good planes,because they can't seem to buy any new ones.