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Abandoned Aircraft In Airplane Boneyards Captured In Global Remains (PHOTOS)

Airplane Boneyard

First Posted: 12/21/11 01:10 PM ET Updated: 12/21/11 01:10 PM ET

The following is an excerpt from Global Remains: Abandoned Architecture and Objects from Seven Continents by Michael Clinton, out now from Glitterati.

I loved flying from an early age. At 10 years old, I took my first flight to visit family in New York City, and from that moment on I was hooked. I have even fed my obsession by becoming a private pilot, so that I can have the personal experience of what it means to fly.

Over the years, as I read flying magazines and searched airplane websites, I was always intrigued by the fact that thousands of relic aircraft were parked at the Pima Air & Space Museum (in Pima County) and the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, both in Tucson. These included commercial airlines, fighter jets, cargo planes, helicopters, even dirigibles in different states of disrepair.

For airplane buffs, a visit to Tucson's aviation boneyards conjures up images of the travelers who used and enjoyed the aircraft over the years.


 
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07:36 AM on 12/23/2011
Huffpo FAIL!
But an awesome one. I love clicking on a slideshow titled 'Abandoned Boneyards' and it brings up pics of the Entourage cast. Nothing says decaying shell better than a pic of Jeremy Piven and Kevin Dillon. Loved the subtle insult, thanks guys!
04:03 AM on 12/23/2011
The Pima ASM is near the DMAFB but they are not connected. Neither the planes in Pima nor the AFB planes are, in sny sense, " abandoned.". The ones at the AFB are in storage for future use or for parts to keep other planes flying, or are being dismantled and sold for scrap. The museum planes are maintained as would be any museum display item.
03:00 AM on 12/23/2011
If you are interested in old or restored aircraft, then go to the Pima Air and Space museum if you go to Tucson. It has grown over the years, last time there was about 2007, first time in '97. They have a great collection of planes from WW2 on to B52.
02:33 AM on 12/23/2011
AMARC at DMAFB in Tucson saves the US money every year. The planes are in storage and many can be put back in service in a few days if needed. Older versions of a plane like a B-52 are used to remove parts as needed for aircraft still in service. A part that would cost millions to make from scratch can be removed from a "donor" plane and shipped the same day around the world to keep an active plane flying. When the donor plan is well stripped the rest is sold to recycle yards. Some planes do wind up as monuments at places like a VFW. Some are sold to other countries under strict use agreements. Pima Air Museum, next to DMAFB is a great display of almost every type of plane in our history, a few of which I was stationed with back in the sixties.
12:09 AM on 12/23/2011
We were there Oct 2011 and was disappointed. I thought they had every aircraft made. I was expecting to see lots of WWII fighter and Bombers. Well They are all gone. The oldest military aircraft is F-84. Most is Vietnam or newer military aircrat, no propeller aircraft.

Second I thought you could walk around - NO - you have to stay in a tour bus and look from inside the bus.

Third, the bus did not tour the entire area. It only went down certain rows where they had one of each type aircraft. The bus stopped at each display, making it a long boring tour.

The military seemed to be all Air Force, where is the naval aircraft?
07:44 PM on 12/22/2011
I drive by there while going to the Davis-Monthan Air Force base. I plan to stop there and check it out very soon.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
aturbojetpilot
07:09 PM on 12/22/2011
And Pilots go to the CASINO'S ! lol,lol,lol
06:29 PM on 12/22/2011
Take it from someone who has been there and is old enough to enjoy memories of when flying was fun and someone who knows the value of a buck: a trip to Tucson and a visit to the FREE Davis-Monthan Air Base display is worth whatever it takes you to get there.
06:03 PM on 12/22/2011
How about selling some of them to private parties or businesses? They could use them for dropping fire retardent on forest fires, etc. I've seen people buy jet trainers from the old Slovak government an fly them in the US. This way the money stays home and the US government will get better than scrape value for these planes.
04:49 PM on 12/22/2011
WH
hen in the Air Force in the 60's and 70's I had the priveledge of working on the B-58. When it was retired, it was sent to Davis Mothan AFB. My dream is to take a trip to see her again. What wonderful history lies in that desert landscape. The tales it could tell.
06:44 PM on 12/22/2011
I live 10 minutes from this and every time i go by i enjoy the history... Make the trip happen. The first time my husband saw this he never shut his mouth he couldn't believe the site.
07:01 PM on 12/22/2011
I am a fan of yours now. Glad to be the first. Will make the trip this coming spring/summer.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
aturbojetpilot
02:59 PM on 12/22/2011
a job for the wall streeters ! they can take em' apart and save the metals as needed to build new aircraft,etc
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buminthesun421
As a matter of fact, I AM a wise-ass...
04:06 PM on 12/21/2011
Why don't we sell them to Middle East countries like we usually do...
02:56 PM on 12/22/2011
This is what obamas air force will look like whe he gets done gutting the military budget.
11:26 PM on 12/22/2011
hear! hear!