They look almost prehistoric. Like ancient pictographs drawn on the wall of a tomb.
They are Google Earth views of the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson. What creates this tableau is an aircraft boneyard – a place where aircraft find their final rest. In this case it is the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG).
AMARG is the home for all out-of-service aircraft from all branches of the U.S. government. Some 4,200 military aircraft ranging from modern F-16s and F-18s to drones to Vietnam-era fighters rest at Davis-Monthan.
Why here? Because the desert conditions greatly reduce the chance of rust and corrosion.
The aircraft stored here fall into four categories:
• Long Term – Aircraft kept intact for future use
• Parts Reclamation – Aircraft kept, picked apart and used for spare parts
• Flying Hold – Aircraft kept intact for shorter stays than Long Term
• Excess of DoD needs – Aircraft to be sold off whole or in parts