World's Largest Military Aircraft Boneyard: world record in Tucson, Arizona (2024)

Tucson, Arizona, United States--The military aircraft boneyard located five miles southeast of downtown Tucson, inside the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, fills 2,600-acre of the 3,300- acre expanse of the field, and officially holds over 3,280 aircraft and 13 aerospace vehicles from the United States Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Corps, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), setting the world record for being the World's Largest Military Aircraft Boneyard, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

Photo above: Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Ariz. (Feb.4, 2004) – An aerial image of the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) located on the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Ariz. AMARC is responsible for the storage and maintaining of aircraft for future redeployment, parts, or proper disposal following retirement by the military. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer’s Mate 3rd Class Shannon R. Smith. (RELEASED) / Wikipedia

"The Boneyard is formally known as the 309th AMARG (Aerospace Maintenance And Regeneration Group). An AMARG is a boneyard facility for all excess military and government aircraft. Planes, jets, helicopters, and space shuttles belonging to the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and NASA are processed here. Another role of AMARG is to convert fighter jets into aerial target drones," the ABC15 Arizona reports.

"This collection picked up steam after World War II. More than 500 people are currently employed to take care of the 4,400+ aircraft that call this airfield their permanent residence.

"LOCATED IN THE HEART OF TUCSON, ARIZONA, DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE IS HOME TO 11,000 AIRMEN FROM 34 UNIQUE MISSION PARTNERS, WHICH SUPPORT SIX COMBATANT COMMANDERS AROUND THE GLOBE EVERY DAY. OVER THE YEARS, DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB HAS EARNED A PROUD HISTORY OF DISTINCTION AND MOST RECENTLY WAS AWARDED THE 2018 COMMANDER IN CHIEF'S ANNUAL AWARD FOR INSTALLATION EXCELLENCE AS THE BEST BASE IN THE AIR FORCE.

"THE 355TH WING IS THE HOST UNIT FOR THE INSTALLATION IN ADDITION TO ITS PRIMARY MISSION OF DEPLOYING, EMPLOYING AND SUSTAINING COMBAT SEARCH AND RESCUE AND ATTACK AIR POWER IN SUPPORT OF COMBATANT COMMANDERS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

"ADDITIONALLY, DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB IS HOME TO 12TH AIR FORCE, THE 309TH AEROSPACE MAINTENANCE AND REGENERATION GROUP, THE 55TH ELECTRONIC COMBAT GROUP, THE 214TH ATTACK GROUP OF THE ARIZONA AIR NATIONAL GUARD, 943RD RESCUE GROUP OF THE AIR FORCE RESERVE, AND U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION AMONG MANY OTHERS. (Official website)

"When the aircraft first arrive at the 309th AMARG, they are welcomed by the receiving branch. This group's responsibilities include reviewing the carrier's paperwork – an entire history of documentation including noted maintenance over the years. Next, the aircraft is stripped of firearms (all guns), ejection seat charges, clocks, and classified hardware. Following the cavity cleanse is a nice long bath. This wash is especially important for vehicles that served in salty areas. The salt must be fully removed so it does not corrode the exterior while in storage," the ABC15 Arizona

"Sequentially, the fuel system is drained, filled with lightweight oil, then drained again. This will coat the system with a protective oil film. The aircraft is finally sealed off from dust, high temperatures, and sunlight. A variety of techniques are used, from spraylat (an opaque, white, high-tech vinyl plastic compound spray) to garbage bags. The cabin will generally stay within 15 degrees of the outside temperature thanks to the spraylat.

"Finally, the aircraft is towed to its final resting place/designated storage position."

"An aircraft boneyard or aircraft graveyard is a storage area for aircraft that are retired from service. Most aircraft at boneyards are either kept for storage with some maintenance or have their parts removed for reuse or resale and are then scrapped.

"Boneyard facilities are generally located in deserts, such as those in the Southwestern United States, since the dry conditions reduce corrosion and the hard ground does not need to be paved. In some cases, aircraft that were planned to be scrapped or were stored indefinitely without plans of ever returning to service were brought back into service, as the aviation market or the demands of military aviation changed or failed to develop as anticipated.

"The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group in Tucson, Arizona, the largest facility of its kind, is colloquially known as "The Boneyard". (Wikipedia)

"The Davis-Monthan Air Force Base outside Tuscon, Ariz., is where old planes go to die," he TIME magazine reports.

"More than 4,000 military aircraft are parked on the base, from B-52s to stealth bombers, where they are salvaged for parts and broken down for scrap. It's one of the most popular satellite pictures online, making guided tours of the area a hot ticket."

"With the area's low humidity in the 10%-20% range, meager rainfall of 11" annually, hard alkaline soil, and high altitude of 2,550 feet allowing the aircraft to be naturally preserved for cannibalization or possible reuse, Davis-Monthan is the logical choice for a major storage facility," the Airplane Boneyards reports.

"Aircraft from the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, NASA and other government agencies are processed at AMARG, which employs 550 people, almost all civilians. It is the largest airplane boneyard in the world.

"Another role of AMARG is to support the program that converts old fighter jets, such as the F-4 Phantom II and F-16, into aerial target drones. It also serves as an auxiliary facility of the National Museum of the United States Air Force, and stores tooling for out-of-production military aircraft. AMARG's typical inventory comprises more than 4,400 aircraft, which makes it the largest aircraft storage and preservation facility in the world."

"According to museum executive director Scott Marchand, the last time that civilians were able to freely wander the Boneyard was the early 1970s.

"All of this, Scott said, dampens the appeal of the Boneyard for the average visitor. But for "real hardcore airplane nerds" the Boneyard remains a bucket-list destination, a chance to view mile after mile of ghost planes, cocooned as if by some aircraft-eating spider, while a tour guide calls out the names and service histories of the various jet fighters, tankers, cargo planes, helicopters, and bombers," the Roadside America reports.

"For such tourists -- and Scott counts himself one of them -- the Boneyard is, "one of the most amazing aerospace spectacles in the world." For everyone else, the museum -- which has 80 outdoor acres of old aircraft that visitors can actually touch -- is probably more satisfying."

"There are so many intriguing abandoned places in Arizona, but this is a place that houses abandoned planes. The Boneyard in Arizona is a cool storage spot for military aircraft that has a creepy vibe. It’s guaranteed to interest anyone! The Boneyard is located on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base just outside Tucson, Arizona. Here you’ll find tons of retired aircraft. It’s a true boneyard – a resting place for worn-out or damaged planes," the Only In Your State reports.

"It's almost beautiful the way the old planes are lined up there in the desert, reflecting the hot sun all day. There are different categories of storage for the aircraft. "Long-term storage" is for planes that will be used again in the future. The category for planes kept for spare parts is "parts reclamation." "Flying hold" means aircraft are kept for a shorter time than the long-term category, and "excess of DoD needs" means the planes are sold off in parts or as a whole.

"The Arizona desert is a great resting place for these planes. The low humidity, light rainfall, and dry soil keep the aircraft from getting rusty. The ground doesn't even have to be paved as the soil is dry enough to move the planes without needing pavement.

Testimonials from TripAdvisor

"You can visit the Airplane Boneyard by booking it in advance thru Pima Air & Space Museum. We didn't, so we ended up looking the abandoned planes thru the fence. Even so it's pretty amazing and unbelievable sight. The best place to see (outside the AFB) is driving East Escalante Rd from South Kolb Rd to South Calle Polar. This is a sight you can't see everyday.

"Recommend visit to see old planes of all types. They have a night tour which looks fun. Unique place to visit in Tucson."

"You can no longer take a tour of the boneyard... They the USAF no longer has the resources to run the trips around the yard..."

"The Air Force Boneyard Tour is very interesting and worth the trip. It is a bus trip around the area where old, no longer use planes are kept. It is very interesting to see different planes side by side. A very informative and relaxing tour. NOTE: it's necessary to get a security clearance at least 2 weeks before. Do it as early as possible, the tour fills up quickly in the winter. Either before or after this tour, you can tour the Pima air museum, the cost is included in the Boneyard tour."

"It's like an airshow. This was exciting and interesting at the same time. Very entertaining. Would recommend to anyone interested in modern military aircraft."

World's Largest Military Aircraft Boneyard: Tucson, Arizona

Address: S Wilmot Rd, Tucson, AZ 85708, USA

Location: north of Valencia Road and south of Escalante Road, in between Wilmot Road and Kolb Road. This is near the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, which is located at 2720 S. Craycroft Rd.

Directions: Bus leaves from Pima Air & Space Museum. Southeast edge of the city. I-10 exit 267. Turn east onto E. Valencia Rd. Drive 1.5 miles. Museum entrance on the right.

Hours: Tours have been canceled as of 2023.
Facebook: 309th Aerospace Maintenance And Regeneration Group

See the airplane graveyard on Google Maps.