For many avgeeks, a visit to tour the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ, is a must do at some point in their lives. Known as the boneyard, it’s where it’s where all excess military and government aircraft go at the end of their lives.
Some become spare parts, while others serve for other needs and possible future use, such as turning old fighter jets (such as the F-4 Phantom II and F-16) into aerial target drones.
With close to 5000 planes, it is the largest aircraft storage and preservation facility in the world, and the nearby Pima Air and Space Museum is where to go if you want to tour this incredible place.
But it’s always been on a first come, first serve basis. That’s about to change starting November 1, 2017, when tours of the Boneyard will require reservations. The museum states the reason is due to new security measures put in place, but could not elaborate more.
“All guests interested in taking this tour must have made a reservation and received a security clearance in advance,” says the museum.
“The security clearance will be given by Davis-Monthan Air Force Base from information collected at the time of reservation,” they added. “We will begin taking reservations for November 1, 2017 on August 10, 2017. Reservations must be made 10 business days in advance of the desired tour date, and can be made up to 90 days in advance.”
The Boneyard holds so many planes it would be considered the second largest Air Force in the world if they were operational.
Reservations requests can be made by calling 520-618-4805 or emailing boneyardtour@pimaair.org.
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