Can you get into an airplane Boneyard like Pinal Airpark?
It isn’t easy getting into an airplane boneyard like Pinal Airpark, and they don’t let just anyone wander among the 150 or so aircraft there. But we got in and had a look around... Save this story for later. Noah Landis, Brandi Whitley and writer Alan Devenish walk through a field of decommissioned 747s. Save this story for later.
Where is the world's largest civilian aircraft boneyard?
Noah Landis, Brandi Whitley and writer Alan Devenish walk through a field of decommissioned 747s. Save this story for later. The world’s largest civilian aircraft boneyard sits in the shadow of the Catalina Mountains, about 30 miles outside of Tucson.
What happened to the Boneyard after WW2?
Between 1945 and 1953 it would serve as a boneyard for thousands of surplus World War II era military aircraft. About 2,500 aircraft were stored, sold or scrapped there after WWII, including B-17, B-24, B-25, P-38, P-40, P-51 and P-47 aircraft.
What is Marana Aerospace Solutions doing at Boneyard?
Right in the middle of the boneyard sits Marana Aerospace Solutions. It covers 400 acres, making it, by area, the largest aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) outfit in the world. Some of the aircraft have been slathered in a fresh coat of white paint, awaiting the livery of new owners.
How much does it cost to buy a scrap airplane?
Once a jet has been stripped bare of usable parts, its metal frame is redeemed for scrap value. A 747 can fetch up to $55,000 for its scrap alone.
Can you buy airplanes from airplane boneyard?
We do not own or operate an airplane boneyard, or have an affiliation with any boneyard, the Department of Defense, Davis-Monthan AMARG, or any aviation museum. We do not offer tours, and we do not own aircraft, sell aircraft, or maintain a parts inventory.
Can you buy a decommissioned airplane?
That's right, just like a used car, you can buy your very own Soviet military aircraft, a staple of the Russian and Soviet air forces, sold to militaries within its communist sphere of influence including China, North Korea, and North Vietnam and used in aerial confrontations with American and allied forces.
Can I buy an old 747?
As long as you follow the proper regulations for private jets, there is no reason why you couldn't buy and fly a 747. The oldest 747-8 is only ~8 years old. It's not that second hand ones aren't occasionally offered up for sale, but if you're restricting yourself to the -8, don't expect a lot of great deals.
How much does a used 747 cost?
Depending on numerous factors, the average price for a pre-owned BOEING 747-400 is $20,000,000.00. A $10,000,000.00 loan over 120 months including $41666.67 per month in interest equates to a $501,437.15 per-period payment.
Can I buy a ww2 plane?
Yes it is possible to buy old military aircraft; they are frequently listed in the pages of aircraft sales periodicals like Controller, Trade-A-Plane, Barnstormers, etc. Popular piston engine military aircraft include the P-51 Mustang, AT-6 Harvard and T-28 Trojan.
Can a civilian buy an F 16?
The answer is a surprising 'yes! '. As soon as an airplane is demilitarized it can be bought by members of the general public.
How much does an old plane cost?
Depending on the place, condition, and age of the aircraft, customers are able to buy them from $10,000 to $30,000. Generally modern airliners are around 100 feet (30 m) long and the wing span is about the same. That means that there is a minimum land requirement of about one acre (4,000 m2).
How much is a Boeing 747 cost?
Boeing 747's are very expensive planes, with the latest variant, the 747-8, costing around $450 million, but older discontinued models, like the Boeing 747-400, can cost as little as $10 million.
How much does it cost to land an airplane at an airport?
Landing fees vary by airport and usually depend on the size and weight of the aircraft. Expect fees to be in the $100 to $500 range. Sometimes these fees are waived if your aircraft is refueling at the airport. The fees are used to maintain runways and airport buildings.
How much does 737 cost?
Each 737 Max 7 carries a list price of $99.7 million, but jets usually sell for less than half their official value with typical market discounts, aircraft industry sources say. Boeing has had a strong year of 737 Max sales, seizing on pent-up demand after a nearly two-year safety ban following fatal crashes.
Can you own a Boeing?
Boeing offers a choice of its own Boeing Business Jets or the more typical MAX aircraft, 787, 777 and 747s. What's the alternative? Charter a jet or kit your garden shed out like a plane, buckle up, stow your tray table and prepare to pretend to take off.
Is it rare for Air Force One to be escorted by fighter jets?
Kenneth Walsh: No, it is actually very unusual for Air Force One to be escorted by fighter jets. On 9/11 there were fighter escorts almost all day — especially after the initial hour or two, but it is rare. The reason is that it is considered too hazardous to fly fighter jets through heavily trafficked American skies.
Can AMARG sell aircraft?
Unfortunately AMARG cannot sell or donate aircraft for two reasons: government rules on sales and donation of government property do not permit such direct sales, and AMARG does not actually “own” the aircraft and aerospace vehicles stored at the Center.
How many aircraft were stored in the Boneyard?
Between 1945 and 1953 it would serve as a boneyard for thousands of surplus World War II era military aircraft. About 2,500 aircraft were stored, sold or scrapped there after WWII, including B-17, B-24, B-25, P-38, P-40, P-51 and P-47 aircraft.
What planes were considered obsolete during the jet revolution?
The jet revolution made many aircraft obsolete, including the P-38, B-17 and B-24, among others, while planes like the B-29, A-26 Invader, and C-47 were destined for the reserve.
What aircraft did Oxnard Field receive?
The field received over 1,500 old aircraft onto its unpaved runways, such as obsolete B-24 Liberator and B-17 Flying Fortress bombers, as well as P-38 and P-51 fighters and other aircraft.
What was the name of the organization that handled the disposal of surplus aircraft?
The War Assets Administration (WAA) and the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC) handled the disposal of these aircraft. The RFC established depots around the country to store and sell surplus aircraft. By the summer of 1945, at least 30 sales-storage depots and 23 sales centers were in operation.
What metal was used to build airplanes?
Aluminum was the prime metal sought after, melted and poured into ingots for sale and shipping. Airlines procured a number of transport planes, primarily DC-3 and C-54 aircraft, for building up their post-war inventories of commercial airliners.
What happened to military aircraft?
military aircraft overseas were not worth the time or money to bring back to the States, and were consequently buried, bulldozed or sunk at sea. Most, however, were returned home for storage, sale or scrapping.
How many airplanes were flown to Kingman in 1945?
It is estimated that about 5,500 airplanes were flown to Kingman in 1945 and 1946 for sale and disposal. Among the Kingman inventory were B-17, B-24, B-25, B-26, Consolidated B-32, P-38, P-63 and A-20 aircraft.
Why is there an Airplane Graveyard in Tucson?
The military has a problem. It has thousands of aircraft that are no longer being used, but they don’t want to just send them to the scrapyard like a used ’92 Chevy. So what to do? It would be impractical to build giant hangars for 3,000+ aircraft, especially when many of them are no longer operational.
What can you see at the Tucson Airplane Graveyard?
Despite their placement on an active military base, tours are offered of the Boneyard. Visitors board air-conditioned buses at the adjacent Pima Air & Space Museum for a tour through the Boneyard of stored aircraft inside Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to see the world’s largest collection of military aircraft.
Where is the largest civilian aircraft boneyard in the world?
The world’s largest civilian aircraft boneyard sits in the shadow of the Catalina Mountains, about 30 miles outside of Tucson. It’s a hot, dusty place where military personnel carriers drove past our car and signs at the entrance warn ...
How long does an airplane stay in the park?
Just how long an airplane stays at the park varies. Although it isn’t uncommon to see an airplane remain there for years, a small crew of about four can pick a plane clean in two or three months. The airframe is then broken down and rolled into what resemble giant hay bales and sold for scrap.
Why were the windows on the 747 covered with aluminum?
On others, the windows, like the propellers, engines and other vital parts, were covered with thin aluminum to protect them from dust, dirt and animals. Noah Landis looks around as he climbs into the first class section of one of the decommissioned 747s at Pinal Airpark. Photo: Jarod Opperman/WIRED.
How many Dodson aircraft are decommissioned each year?
There’s a reliable supply of parts for most customers. Of the 300,000 or so aircraft in service in the United States, Dodson estimates hundreds are decommissioned each year.
What type of jet did Landis use?
Landis is, of course, an outlier in this world. He wasn’t looking for a gently used 767 or a Pratt & Whitney PW4000 turbojet. The most outlandish thing he considered was a nose cowl ($1,600), and he did give a long look to a yoke in the cockpit ($300.)
What airline did Landis fly with?
Eventually, though, Landis found Logistic Air and an invitation to check out a 747-100 from Aer Lingus, another from All Nippon Airways and a 747-SR from the late, great Trans World Airways. Pulling a wing or engine was not really feasible, even if there was an engine lying on the ground like an enormous boulder.
Does Marana Aerospace do engine overhauls?
Some of the aircraft have been slathered in a fresh coat of white paint, awaiting the livery of new owners. Marana Aerospace doesn’t perform engine overhauls, but it can perform the range of standard aircraft maintenance letter checks.
