Davis-Monthan AFB 'bone yard'
Discussion
Elroy Blue said:
The F4s were converted to drones. They are using F16s now. Many aircraft are used for spare parts and many are returned to service.
It's more accurate to describe the base as a reclamation and regeneration yard.
Two of the last F-4 drone conversions were displayed at Oshkosh this year - they were due to be used as targets the following week.It's more accurate to describe the base as a reclamation and regeneration yard.
They were suitably smokey - an ex-F4 and Lightning mate who was out there with us got suitably emotional watching them fly, probably the last time he'll see an F-4 airborne, said that F-4 tactical doctrine required the use of afterburner as much to clean up the smoke as for performance.
Apparently, the target drones have an old Sidewinder warhead fitted in the rear cockpit as a demolition charge.
aeropilot said:
Ayahuasca said:
Also, Starfighters and Phantoms - why are they still kept around?
No more Starfighters at AMARG......not been any there for decades!!Most of the F-4's have gone now as well.
In the Google Earth view there are well over a hundred Phantoms there. I wonder how old the imagery is?
Ayahuasca said:
There is what looks like an F106 and half a dozen Canberras - so there is some old stuff there!
The 106 and single examples of other stuff that used to be there in large numbers are in a small museum style display area near the visitors centre, from memory. I think there's a 105 (or there used to be) as well, and some other older stuff.Edited by Ayahuasca on Tuesday 11th October 01:52
aeropilot said:
The 106 and single examples of other stuff that used to be there in large numbers are in a small museum style display area near the visitors centre, from memory. I think there's a 105 (or there used to be) as well, and some other older stuff.
It's quite a large museum - Pima Air and Space Museum (used to be called the Pima County Air Museum).http://www.pimaair.org/
Years ago I went on a tour of the boneyard and visited Pima Air and Space Museum across the road. One of the formative experiences of my childhood! Pima is brilliant as you can walk around and underneath everything. Sitting in the shade of a B-36 Peacemaker having some lunch was incredible, as was trying the doors of all the aircraft to see if any of them had accidentally been left open...
The place is vast, an incredible collection of aircraft.
The place is vast, an incredible collection of aircraft.
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