Dead Airplanes: What to do with them?

[GTaudiophile]

I like to browse the pics over at www.airliners.net and I am seeing a lot of shots taken at Victorville - Southern California Logistics (International) (George AFB). This is a place where planes go to die.

Example

I mean, is this the best we can do with such junk? Put them in the desert? I mean, why not recycle any of them?

I am also surprised to see a lot of "newer" aircraft like 747-400s, A340s, etc. Just seems like such a waste. Even desert is a limited resource.

 

[KillerCharlie]

A few of the aircraft, though they look bad, are actually in a good enough condition to put back into service if needed. We just took out an old 747-400 a couple years ago and did a couple flight tests with it.

I believe most of the airplanes do eventually get recycled.

 

[ProfJohn]

Poor economy + less flying = extra planes sitting around with nothing to do.

Not much different that the pics of all those ships in Asia sitting around doing nothing because there is no cargo for them.

 

[SonicIce]

Also Davis Monthon AFB

 

[LTC8K6]

Many are in storage, actually. Not destined to die at all. They are rotated in and out.

 

[AreaCode707]

http://images.google.com/images?q=airplane graveyard

 

[Bignate603]

Many are being mothballed and may fly again. Others are in the equivalent of a car junkyard, where they'll pull parts off as needed to keep the rest of their fleet working. The best way to store the parts is just to leave them on the plane until they're needed. As soon as they've stripped most of the usable stuff off the plane the rest is scrapped and recycled.

 

[Ksyder]

Since these are airplane boneyards they can pull parts and recycle them. The Arizona and SoCal desert are good places since they don't rust or get exposed to extreme elements usually other than heat.

 

[ahenkel]

Shoot 'em in the head. I don't need no zombie airplanes flyin' around eatin' brains.

 

[Red Squirrel]

http://images.google.com/images?q=airplane graveyard

Woah that is actually quite impressive to see. I never even considered what happens to old planes. It's probably not easy picking one out and syaing "hey lets go get that one!" only to find out you have to move like 10 of them just to get it out lol.

Wonder if people have ever tried to hot wire one lol. I'm sure it's much much harder then a car. I'm guessing this must be a rather secure location.

But, isint there snakes in the desert? And if you put planes where there are snakes... isin't that, a danger? :awe:

 

[Iron Woode]

Air Canada Flight 143 was sent to the Mojave boneyard on its final flight after 25 years of service.

 

[ProfJohn]

http://images.google.com/images?q=airplane graveyard

The planes with their wings chopped off are there because of a arms treaty we signed with the Russians. We destroy the planes in the open so the Russian satellites can photograph them being destroyed. After a certain period they are then taken and turned into scrap.

 

[alphatarget1]

United no longer flies any 737s... They're old and crappy without IFE. Their airbus narrowbody fleet is much better.

 

[JasonSix78]

Also Davis Monthon AFB

I love looking around there with Google Earth.

 

[mugs]

Air Canada Flight 143 was sent to the Mojave boneyard on its final flight after 25 years of service.

A.k.a. the Gimli Glider. Imagine what would happen if the US ever switched to the metric system! My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead and that's the way I like it.

 

[coxmaster]

Wonder if people have ever tried to hot wire one lol. I'm sure it's much much harder then a car. I'm guessing this must be a rather secure location.

There is 1 big problem.. Fuel. There is none in the planes.

Also, no need for hot wiring. Assuming you know what you are doing, its literally just pushing some buttons.

 

[Colt45]

assuming the batteries and whatnot aren't dead too.

 

[Rubycon]

There is 1 big problem.. Fuel. There is none in the planes.

Also, no need for hot wiring. Assuming you know what you are doing, its literally just pushing some buttons.

What no cash for clunkers program?

They did not have people throwing frozen turkeys into the engines while running to destroy them?

 

[biggestmuff]

assuming the batteries and whatnot aren't dead too.

and a connection to ground power

 

[Iron Woode]

A.k.a. the Gimli Glider. Imagine what would happen if the US ever switched to the metric system! My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead and that's the way I like it.

I was wondering if someone would recognize that plane.

 

[biggestmuff]

A.k.a. the Gimli Glider. Imagine what would happen if the US ever switched to the metric system! My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead and that's the way I like it.

Back when I was into flight sims, I ran the same scenario with FS2000 and 767 PIC. It was difficult, but I did it.

 

[Sea Moose]

There is 1 big problem.. Fuel. There is none in the planes.

Also, no need for hot wiring. Assuming you know what you are doing, its literally just pushing some buttons.

and winding up the rubber band

 

[lxskllr]

The planes with their wings chopped off are there because of a arms treaty we signed with the Russians. We destroy the planes in the open so the Russian satellites can photograph them being destroyed. After a certain period they are then taken and turned into scrap.

That's interesting. I didn't know we decommissioned planes as a part of de-arming. I'd have thought it would be all missiles, or possibly tactical subs.

 

[SooperDave]

I've passed by there many times and would love to spend a day esplorin' but I regularly work at airports and I know better than to go over an FAA fence. Thats federal felony right there.

 

[skyking]

Davis Monthan is cool. Across the street is Pima County Aircraft Museum.
Somebody realized that Air Force boneyard was a great resource, so they built a museum cross the street.
The boneyard donates a plane to the museum, or loans it. They take down two chain link fences and roll the plane across the county road. Instant museum display.
http://www.pimaair.org/

When I was flying down there I found a big commercial aircraft boneyard between Phoenix and Tuscon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinal_Airpark


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