November 27, 2020 - Pinal Airpark Boneyard

Returning from Apache Trail, we decided to check out Pinal Airpark, which is just off Interstate 10 northwest of Tucson.  Pinal Airpark is sort of a commercial airline "boneyard" like Davis-Monthan.  I had seen it from the air on my Green River trip in 2014.

Pinal County Airpark is a non-towered, county-owned, public-use airport.  Its primary function is to serve as a boneyard for civilian commercial aircraft, where the area's dry desert climate mitigates corrosion of the aircraft. It is the largest commercial aircraft storage and heavy maintenance facility in the world.  Even so, many aircraft which are brought here wind up being scrapped. Nearby the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base provides the same service to the United States federal government.

Opened in March 1943, the facility was known as Marana Army Air Field. During World War II, the airfield was used as a training base, as part of the 50,000 Pilot Training Program.  Marana conducted basic flight training and the training of transport pilots in instrument flying and navigation.
   
Hundreds of jet airliners were parked on the airport grounds.
   
The Chinese Flu has been really hard on the commercial airlines; maybe that explains the large number of jets parked?
   
Spirit Airlines has taken a hit.
   
Driving back to the Interstate, we pass this derelict Boeing 747 fuselage.
   
Not something you see everyday.  A new 747 cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
   

I found a webpage called Phelps Boneyard Safari with excellent aerial pictures of Pinal Airport and the boneyard.

Look at all those jets!
   
This is a picture I took back in 2014.  Pinal Airport has expanded its parking areas for the boneyard jets.
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
These old Delta 747s have clearly been scavenged for parts.
   
We flew on Aer Lingus on our trip over to Ireland and Scotland.
   
 
   
I don't think these jets will fly again.  Stripped for parts.
   
Another look at the Spirit fleet.
   
 
   
Geat photography.
   
 
   
Trans World Airlines -- TWA -- they went out of business in 2001 and were acquired by American Airlines.
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
Thanks Phelps Boneyard Safari!  Great pics.
   
 
   
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