View Full Version : The Airplane Graveyard
Wheel-Nut
08-28-07, 05:20 PM
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=pbrt7j5rx91r&style=o&lvl=1&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=9392830&encType=1
Cheap way to sightsee!! :D
Wheel-Nut
08-28-07, 05:40 PM
Yes, and lots of F4's. I'm surprised to see so many B1 bombers.
Methanolandbrats
08-28-07, 05:50 PM
Are all of those scrap, or are some "mothballed" just in case?
I'm guessing this is close to Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson AZ. Was there about 10 years ago. Its staggering to drive by this and see hundreds and hundreds of military planes parked, out of service. There are also sites in the desert around Tucson that are parking lots for commercial airplanes. Some just waiting to be put back into service.
Tomcats are all going to scrap so Iran doesn't accidentally get any avionics updates or spare parts.
A certain percentage is used as spare parts, some may be reactivated. Some will even be used as R/C live targets for training.
History Channel had a pretty cool show on this a few months ago on how they decommission old airplanes, ships, and missiles.
I remember reading that the Air Force has started a small company that pulls parts from mothballed planes, re-furbishes the parts to spec, and "sells" the parts back to the armed forces. They turn a good profit, as I recall.
(...this might have been from the History Channel show mentioned by Wabbit)
http://www.visi.com/~jweeks/boneyard/index.html#SITEB
AMARC is the US Air Force Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center. This is the central depot for all US military planes that are pulled out of service and put into storage. The AMARC puts these planes into long term storage, often covering them with a white plastic coating to protect the aircraft from the elements. In many cases, the stored aircraft are refurbished and sent back into service, sometimes after being sold to foreign militaries. In other cases, useful parts are pulled off of the aircraft, and the remains are sold to nearby scrappers.
I highly recommend the Pima Air & Space museum next door to the boneyard! It's got a ton of cool planes, all sitting in the hot hot sun. As I recall, they have two Air Force Ones from the 60s that you can board and look through.
http://www.pimaair.org/images/stories/restoration/PASM-2005%20collection.jpg
I saw F-111's, but missed the B-1's.
As I recall, the B-52's are scrapped in a manner (the removal and placement of the wings) so that the Russian satellites can confirm their destruction.
The F-4's bring back memories of the air shows at McGuire AFB. NJ ANG F-4's would do the simulated bombing runs on the base. Nothing like seeing the F-4's on afterburner pulling up and away. That and the F-106 making a high speed pass. :thumbup:
indyfan31
08-28-07, 07:32 PM
OK folks, one of you has to know what the heck I'm looking at.
Go up the extreme north-west corner of the graveyard, near what appears to be a plowed field right by E. Picacho St. There are two "dart" shaped aircraft off by themselves. WHAT THE HECK ARE THOSE THINGS?
Then look north of Picacho St. Is that a racetrack or a golf-cart test track?
cameraman
08-28-07, 08:01 PM
Ya mean the two arrows?
http://homepage.mac.com/datkinso/.Pictures/Darts.gif
And if you are using a Mac just use Google Earth and search Davis Monthan AFB
Microsoft designed no love for Macs into the livemaps web site. Something about wanting to sell Windows or something:rolleyes:
The Google picture is clearer
http://homepage.mac.com/datkinso/.Pictures/Darts2.gif
Found a third one
http://homepage.mac.com/datkinso/.Pictures/Darts3.gif
I am surprised to see F18's...:confused:
cameraman
08-28-07, 08:21 PM
And these would be the B1s
http://homepage.mac.com/datkinso/.Pictures/B1.gif
OK folks, one of you has to know what the heck I'm looking at.
Go up the extreme north-west corner of the graveyard, near what appears to be a plowed field right by E. Picacho St. There are two "dart" shaped aircraft off by themselves. WHAT THE HECK ARE THOSE THINGS?
Then look north of Picacho St. Is that a racetrack or a golf-cart test track?
Look to be partially scrapped F-106's....:confused:
And these would be the B1s
Sure enough... short lifespan on those. :(
Those smaller delta wing planes look like Saab's to me, but seems unlikely, unless they were being used for the Agressor Squadrons???
http://www.sci.fi/~fta/DK215m.jpg
Wheel-Nut
08-28-07, 09:01 PM
Cool info . . . what might these be? The delta wing craft.
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=32.15258,-110.842306&spn=0.001594,0.002317&t=h&z=19&om=1
Saab might not be too far off.
Linky thing goes to Google Earth Community. Some Saab's were seen at Mirimar back in 2006.
Saab's @ Mirimar (http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/Number/598498/page/vc)
coolhand
08-28-07, 09:28 PM
B-1s have been limited due to the START treaty.
External hard points for bombs are also banned. If not for that the B-1 could haul a huge load faster over large distance than an other bomber. Even the Tu-160
Cool info . . . what might these be? The delta wing craft.
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That looks like an F-106:
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/fighter/f106/f106_schem_01.gif
Ya mean the two arrows?
For a minute there I thought you meant a couple of Avro Arrows. :eek: That would have been quite the coup to find THOSE!
http://www2.kpr.edu.on.ca/brook/avro/CP/avroclimb.gif
Officially, one is still missing. ;) :p
http://members.shaw.ca/b.bogdan/Arrow/avro_arrow.htm (sorry about the embedded sound...)
I am surprised to see F18's...:confused:
Future Royal Australian Air Force. :gomer:
For a minute there I thought you meant a couple of Avro Arrows. :eek: That would have been quite the coup to find THOSE!
Stories like that drive me crazy. :shakehead I hate to see history thrown away.
Obviously, there are a lot of aviation buffs here. The National Museum of the US Air Force (http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/) is a must see for anyone actually reading this thread. They have an impressive collection with many one of kind aircraft such as:
Tacit Blue
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/web/050317-F-1234P-057.jpg
And everyone's favorite:
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/web/050324-F-1234P-019.jpg
stroker
08-28-07, 11:05 PM
OOOH! OOOH! I know what those "darts" are--
They're single engined missiles that were launched piggyback from SR-71s. They used a scramjet powered lifting body. I can't remember what the specific purpose of them was--they weren't air/air missiles, but they might have been air/surface delivery systems for nukes or a drone.
http://sierratimes.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard//printpage.cgi?forum=2&topic=1017
Two other planes, the A-12 and the YF-12, could easiy be mistaken for the SR-71. The A-12 was the first plane developed out of the three. It is actually a host plane for the smaller, faster, and higher-flying D-21 drone, code-named Tagboard, which sat piggyback on the A-12 and used a ramjet engine once released for flight. The project was soon cancelled, however, due to a fatal accident, and the D-21 went on to use the B-52 as a transport host. The YF-12 was an SR-71 with an internal bay carrying three Hughes GAR-9/ AIM-47A air to air radar guided missiles, designed to shoot enemy airplanes flying at lower altitudes. Only three YF-12s were ever built.
http://www.sr-71.org/blackbird/d-21small.jpg
http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app4/d-21.jpg
OOOH! OOOH! I know what those "darts" are--
They're single engined missiles that were launched piggyback from SR-71s.
D-21B (http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=396) from the USAF Museum website:
The first operational launch was on Nov. 9, 1969, but the D-21B was lost. Several successful operational missions were flown over the next two years, but the D-21 program was highly classified and details have not been released. The program was canceled in 1971 and the D-21s were placed in storage.
cameraman
08-28-07, 11:26 PM
D-21B (http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=396) from the USAF Museum website:
That looks right, the skymaster next to it is about 30' long.
http://homepage.mac.com/datkinso/.Pictures/Darts3.gif
The D21B was 43' long by 19' wide. The F-106 was 70' long, more than double that of the skymaster so it can't be one of those. The F-4 is 63' long by 39' wide.
Stories like that drive me crazy. :shakehead I hate to see history thrown away.
Obviously, there are a lot of aviation buffs here. The National Museum of the US Air Force (http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/) is a must see for anyone actually reading this thread. They have an impressive collection with many one of kind aircraft such as:
A visit to the museum and on to Columbus for the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends (http://www.gml2007.com/) would be a road trip to remember.
Methanolandbrats
08-29-07, 12:11 AM
On a related note, this place is amazing http://www.strategicairandspace.com/
indyfan31
08-29-07, 12:12 AM
Sure look like those funky Saabs.
http://www.pimaair.org/images/stories/restoration/PASM-2005%20collection.jpg[/IMG]
Yes, its a great little air museum. I can recall one prop Air Force One and a SR 71 Blackbird. Plus about every kind of warbird (mostly jet age) that you can think of. Very 'cool' place, although it is hot. :)
cameraman
08-29-07, 01:31 AM
Sure look like those funky Saabs.
They are too small to be J-35s. The wingspan of a J-35 was ~31 feet, those "darts" are 20' wide scaled off of the F-4 and the O-2.
Added bit of aerial photo trivia, the O-2 is wider than it is long 40' wing span by 30' length. The OV-10 that replaced it is 40' by 40'. If your mouse draws a rectangle you are looking at an O-2, squares are OV-10s.
OOOH! OOOH! I know what those "darts" are--
They're single engined missiles that were launched piggyback from SR-71s. They used a scramjet powered lifting body. I can't remember what the specific purpose of them was--they weren't air/air missiles, but they might have been air/surface delivery systems for nukes or a drone.
I agree with stroker. I thought those drones were decoys.
I agree with stroker. I thought those drones were decoys.
If they were actually scramjets, they may have been just for scramjet research.
Cool.
http://www.wvi.com/~sr71webmaster/d21~1.htm
Wheel-Nut
08-29-07, 01:03 PM
From Gnam's link.
D-21B #530 On display at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ in AMARC as of October 10, 2000
D-21B #531 Stored at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ in AMARC as of October 10, 2000
D-21B #532 Stored at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ in AMARC as of October 10, 2000
oddlycalm
08-29-07, 02:07 PM
Wow, D-M has seen a lot of new arrivals since I spent a day crawling around there 10yrs ago. It's jaw dropping how much it's changed.
The description is exactly right. They drain the hydraulics and fill it back up with anti-corrosion fluid and do a careful job of preserving them for re-activation later. Had a biker buddy that worked there.
The day we were there the were adjusting the rack on an old F102 with a three stage burner which it was chained down. Hell of a racket but it sounded great when the burner was engaged. On it's way to somewhere in South America. Lot's of A-10's from the first Gulf War but only a fraction of the B-52's there now.
oc
Dryden Flight Research Center (http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/photo/index.html)
Some great old photos here... :thumbup:
indyfan31
08-29-07, 05:07 PM
From Gnam's link.
D-21B #530 On display at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ in AMARC as of October 10, 2000
D-21B #531 Stored at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ in AMARC as of October 10, 2000
D-21B #532 Stored at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ in AMARC as of October 10, 2000
Ok, once again, I'll be the doofus and ask: what's that mean?
cameraman
08-29-07, 05:28 PM
It is an inventory listing the three "darts" in the photos above.
The large picture has the two in storage and the single one seems to be the "display". Unless it is
D-21B #522 Stored at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ in AMARC as of October 10, 2000
D-21B #524 Stored at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ in AMARC. NASA owned.
or
D-21B #536 Stored at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ in AMARC as of October 10, 2000
Seem that there are six, or were six, D-21B drones in storage at AMARC. Three are visible from the web photos.
stroker
08-29-07, 10:04 PM
Has anyone here read Kelly Johnson's book? They were working on a missile for the SR/YF that was a 2000lb tungsten bolt released from the same D-21 mounts and used to attack ships. The thing would have a guidance system and a rocket used more for guidance than propulsion--they figured that the impact at Mach X would go straight through a carrier-sized target. The energy released from the impact alone would be adequate to destroy whatever the ship was. Probably a thought that would keep most US Carrier Fleet Admirals awake at night...
coolhand
08-29-07, 10:24 PM
Kinetic weapons in the from of guided tungsten or Uranium rods has been talked about. But that would be over kill for a modern ship when a normal guided bomb would do it.
THOR is what people have talked about in terms of spaced based rods that would impact the earth with enough KE to match a small nuke. I have read some places that the guidance wont work to to the heat building up around it during reentry and upon impact with the ground the ground will shatter it
indyfan31
08-30-07, 01:18 PM
It is an inventory listing the three "darts" in the photos above.
The large picture has the two in storage and the single one seems to be the "display". Unless it is
D-21B #522 Stored at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ in AMARC as of October 10, 2000
D-21B #524 Stored at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ in AMARC. NASA owned.
or
D-21B #536 Stored at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ in AMARC as of October 10, 2000
Seem that there are six, or were six, D-21B drones in storage at AMARC. Three are visible from the web photos.
Ohhhh, it's like a mini SR-71. thanks cameraman.
datachicane
09-02-07, 04:32 AM
D21B #534 is on display down the road from me in McMinnville, along with SR71 #832/61-7971 and an unreasonably big wooden airplane built by some film director. They're just putting the finishing touches on a new building to hold a shuttle, too. You can do those things when you're the CIA. :gomer:
Interesting trivia:
The museum's named after a son of the founder of Evergreen Aviation, Capt. Michael Smith, who was killed in a 1995 automobile accident while his brother was driving. His brother, Mark Smith, was racing David Kudrave on a Virginia mountain road in his Saab 900 when the accident occurred. Both Mark Smith and David Kudrave were drivers in CART until the end of the 1994 season, Smith for Walker.
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