How The World's Largest Airplane Boneyard Stores 3,100 Aircraft | Big Business

The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group stores thousands of retired military, forest service, and NASA aircraft in the Arizona desert. The massive collection of F-16s, C-5s, B-52s, A-4 Skyhawks, and others would be the world's second largest air force. But the planes don't just come here to die. Parts are reclaimed and entire planes are regenerated so they can go back into service.

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How The World's Largest Airplane Boneyard Stores 3,100 Aircraft | Big Business

[ON]

*For a person loving aircrafts that place is no less than a paradise...*

[miguelribancos]

Col. Barnard is one of the most down to earth Maintenance Officer I have ever met. I’m a former knuckle dragger crew chief. Interviewed her for a leadership paper while in college when she was a deputy commander of 412th MXG at KEDW. Great lady. I’m happy that she is the commander at AMARG.

[marks]

One of my old Air Force bosses got into a wee bit of trouble back in the early 70's just after Vietnam, while assigned to Davis-Monthan AFB. His punishment was guard detail as a Security Augmentee for 30 days in the boneyard. It consisted of roaming around the boneyard and reporting in by radio every half hour. He said at the time they still had many WWII and Korean War era aircraft as well as newly retired jet fighters, jet bombers, and multi prop transports. The boneyard was huge and he was put in different sectors on his shifts. At the time he was told there were over 10, 000 aircraft crammed into the boneyard. As newer models came in, but older ones were condemned, scrapped for parts, or sold off to other countries. He said it was eerily quiet out there, but there was the constant sound of metal flexing from the hot sun into the cool evenings. Most activity was during the day and his shift was at night. It was just him (and a couple of other augmentees), an occasional maintenance team, and roving SP patrols that made sure no one was sneaking in to steal parts or vandalizing planes. His only other company was the occasional coyote or other desert creatures. Otherwise, it was a quiet punishment.

[shamrock]

It's amazing how much time, energy and money has to go into simply maintaining aircraft when they don't do anything, it's honestly surprising airlines like Ryanair are able to turn a profit

[edjarrett]

Having worked at DM for three years, it was always a delight to drive by the rows of aircraft under the AMARG ownership. As a tanker pilot, I also appreciated that numerous replacement parts were coming off retired tankers. It truly is a national resource.

[rgsx]

My Dad landed a C-130 at Antarctica with ski's. Said it was one of the most exciting things he had ever done.

[misterchof]

Everybody gangsta till you here “Autobots, Roll Out!”

[yota]

I don’t know anything but I’m pretty sure that test flight guy has the best job ever. Sounds like he gets to go out and have some fun with all the planes

[reneecarter]

As a former airframe mechanic, I can literally smell this video.

I’m so glad to know these poor birds aren’t going to sit in scrap, but it’s heartbreaking to see the ones that have to stay.
(I’d totally adopt one)

[timothylongbottem]

I live in Arizona and my parents work at the base. I love this episode!

[camrenwick]

As a British veteran. The US military always amazes me.

[JM-wddk]

Yet another perfect example why we need Right-to-Repair legislation.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

[sheikhmohsin]

She didn't have to be in uniform for me to know she had served in military. Her saying 'assets' was proof enough.

[juanfigueroa-serville]

I hope Colonel Barnard gets her star and more before she retires! Her energy is phenomenal. She is no kill joy! It’s been a privilege and honor to learn of her and her team and what they do. Airline companies must be salivating just awaiting the day she transitions to civilian life.

[conradmcdougall]

Someone will hopefully read this comment.
I like airplanes.
That is all

[Literallyarealhuman]

Being a test pilot has to be one of the most heroic jobs on earth

[SellTheBenefits]

Fun fact:
During the height of the pandemic, when air travel was near zero, all the major airlines sent some of their unused aircraft down to Tucson for the same preservation reasons the video talks about.

[jayeshratangairi]

She clearly knows her trade and damn am impressed with her knowledge

[Ichigo_]

Great to meet you Col. Barnard. Love to see someone loving their job❤️

[johnpitzer]

I have been an Aircraft Maintenance Technician for 38 years, and that would be a dream job.