Sunday, August 14, 2011

Davis–Monthan Air Force Base

At the Davis–Monthan Air Force Base near Tucson, AZ there is a very large aircraft graveyard. Most of the aircraft found there have met or exceeded their service life but are kept there because of their value as spare parts or even potential products for foreign sales. The atmospheric conditions in the area is ideal for long term storage of aircraft which are loaded with dissimilar metals and avionics/electronic equipment. Many of the old aircraft have been chosen for display around the base. The next series of pictures will be from the actual graveyard and those others found around the AFB.

Clicking on any of the pictures will make them larger.




Just a small section of the graveyard. All aircraft are stored in sections with other like designs.



The US Navy developed this aircraft but the USAF liked it and had their own version built. It’s the A7D built by LTV at their Grande Prairie, TX plant.



Here is another aircraft developed by the US Navy that also found double service in the USAF. It’s the McDonnell Douglas F4 Phantom II.



The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog).
The troops on the ground must love to see this ugly looking aircraft when ground support is needed.