Tour the world’s largest aircraft graveyard and storage area. (updated 2023)
The Aircraft Graveyard is not your typical scrap heap. Although the area contains old and obsolete aircraft, it is also a storage area for serviceable aircraft that are not needed for current use or obsolete aircraft that could be re-activated in an emergency. The spare aircraft are also to cannibalize parts for active aircraft. Some countries still using older model aircraft come here for their spare parts. It is the largest aircraft graveyard in the world.
The real name of the Aircraft Graveyard is 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG); it is the property of the United States Air Force. (It is also known as the aircraft boneyard).
The area is ideal for storage of machinery because of low humidity (10 to 20%) and rainfall (11 inches annually).
There are American aircraft and foreign ones from Germany, Russia and other places. American aircraft include both fixed-wing and helicopters.
The Aircraft
The sheer number of aircraft is astounding. Besides old and obsolete aeroplanes, hundreds of aircraft are stored for emergencies.
There are fighter jets, cargo planes, and some old retired Air Force One models used to carry former presidents. There are aircraft that used to belong to NASA and private airlines.
Some of the aircraft are dismantled for the sale of parts. The base sold 472 million dollars worth of spare parts in 2012. Some planes will be crushed and sold for scrap metal.
Aircraft Storage
When aircraft are brought to the AMARG for storage, they are washed to eliminate any plants or insects, especially if the plane has been in the tropics. All weapons and classified equipment are removed. The fuel is drained and replaced with oil, then drained again, leaving a thin coating of oil to prevent rust. The aircraft is then sealed to prevent sunlight and heat from entering. This is done by spraying a thin layer of plastic or covering the cockpit and other vulnerable areas with tarpaulin.
There are more Hercules aircraft sitting here in storage than the Canadian Air Force has in use. These are all serviceable aircraft.
Museum
There is also a museum of rare aircraft that is worth visiting before or after your tour.
Tours
Bus tours of the Aircraft Graveyard are available (Mon to Fri only). If you are in Arizona, I highly recommend going on this tour. It is located adjacent to the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base near Tucson. Ask at your hotel or visitor’s centre how to get there. Tickets are limited and sold on a first-come-first-service basis, so you will want to get there at least one hour before your tour. Purchase your tickets at the museum.
The Aircraft Graveyard is on an active Air Force Base, so there are some restrictions for the tour. You must provide identification in the form of a U.S. driver’s license, military ID or passport. The cost is $7 (subject to change) and well worth it.
You cannot bring backpacks, camera cases, large purses, bags or other items on the tour. You can only bring a small purse or fanny pack and a small camera without the case. Also, You must pass through security and are subject to inspection before going on the tour.
Aircraft buffs will be in heaven on this tour, but it is amazing for anyone to see. This is just a tiny sample of the hundreds of photos that I took. Way too many to post here. Go see it.
Movie
Want to see more? This video shows you thousands of aircraft that you would see in just ten minutes of the one-hour bus tour: