Bruno Pugh
A sunlit desert full of silent aircraft might sound like the aftermath of a sci-fi film, but it’s actually a working archive of aviation. Airplane boneyards aren’t just for scrapping jets; they store history and sometimes resurrect aircraft for new missions. Let’s look at the biggest boneyards keeping aviation’s past within reach.
Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Boneyard, Arizona
Sprawled across Tucson’s arid plains, this boneyard is more than a resting place; it’s a tactical archive with over 4,000 crafts. Here, nothing is truly left behind. Rows of bombers and fighter jets rest under watchful eyes, waiting to be harvested for parts or even brought back to life.
Mojave Air & Space Port, California
With turbine hum replaced by desert winds, Mojave holds hundreds of airliners retired from global fleets. Its high elevation and low humidity make it ideal for long-term storage. Engineers test prototypes here, too, placing them at the intersection of preservation and innovation without fanfare or flourishing.
Pinal Airpark, Arizona
Ever seen a lineup of jets that feels like a vintage airshow in the making? That’s Pinal. Once tied to secretive CIA missions, this desert airpark now houses retired commercial aircraft—each one waiting for its next role, whether it’s a final scrapping or a second life under a different flag.
Alice Springs Storage Facility, Australia
Alice Springs functions like a hotel for aircraft on extended layovers. Jets from Asia-Pacific carriers fill the site, protected from corrosion by dry heat. It’s the only facility of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, giving it strategic and geographic distinction.
Southern California Logistics Airport, California
Runways stretch into the dust like old film reels. Wide-body aircraft stand shoulder to shoulder, their logos fading under the relentless sun. This former military base turned storage giant now holds fleets of passenger jets and cargo planes destined for disassembly or resurrection.
Roswell International Air Center, New Mexico
Alien myths aside, Roswell is grounded in one thing: plane storage. Known for housing surplus jets, the site sprawls with decommissioned airliners from multiple continents. Commercial giants rest side by side, forming a quiet skyline that stretches across the New Mexican desert.
Teruel Airport, Spain
Wingtip to wingtip, these grounded aircraft tell stories of long-haul flights and transatlantic crossings. Teruel is Europe’s premier storage site, housing carriers from around the world. It blends state-of-the-art maintenance with solemn retirement, offering jets one final runway surrounded by hills instead of hangars.
Goodyear Airport, Arizona
Legacy fleets and retired workhorses lie still under Goodyear’s sunbaked skies. The dry desert air keeps them well-preserved, whether they’re destined for dismantling or a second chance in the sky. From 737s to DC-10s and the odd cargo hauler, these grounded giants may be still—but their parts live on in flights yet to come.
Chateauroux-Deols Air Base, France
At Chateauroux-Deols, jets facing uncertain futures find quiet refuge. It’s a place of reflection and repurposing. Whether disassembled, maintained, or left intact, each airplane here suggests the complicated emotions tied to aviation’s end-of-service decisions.
Marana Regional Airport, Arizona
Imagine a playground for grounded aircraft. That’s Marana, an organized sprawl of jets too young to junk but too outdated to serve. Some still sport logos from defunct airlines, while others wear primer gray-like armor. It’s part relic museum, part waiting room for the aviation world.