PERSONFU//ARIZONA PUBLIC INTEL WIKI

Summary

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, located in Tucson, Arizona, is home to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) — colloquially known as "The Boneyard." It is the largest aircraft storage and preservation facility in the world, holding over 4,400 retired military and government aircraft across 2,600 acres of desert.

AMARG — The Boneyard

Arizona's dry climate, low humidity, hard alkaline soil, and high altitude make it ideal for aircraft preservation. Metal corrodes slowly. The hard ground eliminates the need for paving.

By The Numbers

• 4,400+ aircraft in storage
• 2,600 acres of desert storage area
• $35 billion+ estimated asset value
• 80+ types of aircraft represented
• Aircraft from all branches: USAF, Navy, Marines, Army, Coast Guard, NASA, and allied nations

Storage Categories

• Type 1000 — Long-term storage, intact, ready for potential reactivation
• Type 2000 — Parts reclamation: aircraft mined for components to keep active fleet flying
• Type 3000 — Flying hold: maintained in flyable condition
• Type 4000 — Excess disposal: beyond economic repair

355th Wing — Active Mission

Davis-Monthan is also an active USAF base, home to the 355th Wing operating the A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog) for close air support. The wing also hosts various special operations and rescue units.

Notable Aircraft in Storage

• B-52 Stratofortress — Cold War strategic bombers
• F-14 Tomcat — Iconic Navy fighters (shredded under treaty obligations)
• C-130 Hercules variants — tactical transports
• NASA research aircraft
• Presidential helicopters (retired Marine One fleet)
• Classified/redacted entries — some aircraft types are not publicly identified

Why It Matters

AMARG is both a strategic reserve (aircraft can be reactivated during conflicts) and a $35+ billion asset for parts reclamation. It saves the DoD billions annually by harvesting components from stored aircraft. The facility also raises questions about classified airframes and experimental aircraft stored in less publicly accessible areas.