Video creator visits two aircraft boneyards in the US desert and shows what really happens in the place aircraft go to die
- An American YouTuber has visited the aircraft boneyards of Arizona
- The boneyards are full of old airliners waiting to be cut up
- A handful of the aircraft will fly again, as they are temporarily stored
Published on Feb 14, 2025 at 11:00 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Feb 13, 2025 at 7:01 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
An American YouTuber has visited a couple of aircraft boneyards located in Arizona to investigate what aircraft lie at these scrapyards.
Arizona is famous for its boneyards, most notably the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, where masses of military aircraft are stored.
However, these boneyards are full of old airliners and cargo aircraft, some of which are approaching over 60 years old.
A handful on show are just in temporary storage, while the majority will be broken up for spares and eventually scrapped.
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Many aircraft finish their lives in Arizona boneyards
Arizona is well known for its boneyards, where civilian and military aircraft finish their lives.
YouTuber Ice711 used this video to focus on the civilian airplanes in the yards, which include various Boeing, Airbus, and Douglas aircraft.
While starting at Pinal Airpark, we can see a Boeing 747 with no wings or tailplane and various other airliners awaiting their fate.
The YouTuber then moved on to another boneyard, located at the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport.
With less security, the YouTuber can have a better look around without being disturbed.
This allows us to get up close to aircraft such as an 18-year-old Airbus A320 in the Aruba Airlines livery.
As the video says, not everything here is earmarked for scrap.
Some aircraft are temporarily stored and will fly out again.
Others are put down for scrap, but like with the military boneyard, they are stored so they can fly again.
If ever needed, they can be recalled back for flight.
An over 60-year-old Douglas DC-7 is a boneyard highlight
Some of the aircraft have visibly seen better today.
For example, an old McDonnell Douglas MD-82 has had its engines removed and its interior stripped out.
The shell of the aircraft is now an elaborate home for pigeons.
The oldest aircraft stored in the yard is a Douglas DC-7, which is over 60 years old.
What this is doing in the boneyard isn’t revealed, yet it is in remarkably good condition despite its age.
The most unusual sight is a row of Spirit Airlines Airbus A320s temporarily stored due to engine issues.
With so many aircraft sitting in the yard, it’s difficult to work out where to look next.
Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
