The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group , often called The Boneyard, are United States Air Force aircraft and missile storage and maintenance facilities at Tucson, Arizona, located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. AMARG was previously the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center, AMARC , Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center, MASDC , and established after World War II as 3040 Airplane Storage Group .
AMARG handles nearly 4,000 aircraft, making it the largest storage and preservation facility for aircraft in the world. Air Force Command Unit, this group is under the command of the Ogden Air Logistics Complex at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. AMARG was originally intended to store the excess of the Defense and Coast Guard aircraft, but in recent years has been established as the only non-operating aircraft repository of all branches of the US government. The dry climate in this region makes AMARG an ideal location for storing aircraft, because very little moisture in the air will corrode metal.
Video 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group
Histori
AMARG was founded in 1946 as a 4105th Air Force Air Force Unit to house Boeing B-29 Superfortress and Douglas C-47 Skytrain aircraft. Davis-Monthan Air Force Base was chosen because of Tucson's low humidity, rare rainfall, alkaline earth and a height of 2,550 feet (780 m), I reduced rust and corrosion. The hard ground makes it possible to move the aircraft around without having to open the storage area.
In 1948, after the creation of the Air Force as a separate service, the unit was renamed 3040th Aircraft Storage Depot. In 1965, the depot was renamed the Center for Military Storage and Disposition (MASDC), and was in charge of processing aircraft for all US forces (not just the Air Force). The US Navy has operated its own boneyard at Naval Air Station Litchfield Park in Goodyear, Arizona, for Navy, Marine and Coast Guard aircraft. In February 1965, about 500 aircraft were moved from Litchfield Park to Davis-Monthan AFB. NAS Litchfield Park finally closed in 1968.
In the 1980s, the center began processing intercontinental ballistic missiles for dismantling or reuse in satellite launches, and was named the Center for Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration (AMARC) to reflect an extended focus on all aerospace assets.
In the 1990s, in accordance with the START I agreement, the center was tasked with removing the 365 B-52 bomber. The progress of this task must be verified by Russia via satellite and first person inspection at the facility. Initially, the B-52 was cut into pieces with a 13,000-pound guillotine stolen by a steel cable supported by a crane. Then, the tool of choice becomes a K-12 savior. This more precise technique provides AMARG with spare parts that can be saved.
In May 2007, the AMARG command was transferred to 309 Wing Maintenance, and the center was renamed 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group.
Lineage
- Stipulated on 7 October 1964 as Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center
- Enabled on February 1, 1965
- Designing Aerospace & amp; Regeneration Center c. October 1, 1985
- Redesign Aerospace Maintenance 309 & amp; Group Regeneration on May 2, 2007
Predecessor
- Appointed as 4105th Air Force Air Force Unit and organized on 15 November 1945
- Redesigned 4105th Air Force Base Unit (Aircraft Storage) on September 26, 1947
- Designed 3040 Aircraft Storage Depot on August 28, 1948
- Design 3040 Aircraft Squadron
- Stopped on June 1, 1956
- Appointed as Arizona Aircraft Storage Squadron and organized on June 1, 1956
- Discontinued on August 1, 1959
- Appointed as 2704 Aircraft Storage and Disposition Group and organized on 1st August 1959
- Discontinued on February 1, 1965
Task
- Air Force Logistics Command, October 7, 1964;
- Air Force Command, July 1, 1992;
- 309 Wing Maintenance, May 2, 2007 (attached to Ogden Air Logistics Complex on July 12, 2012)
- Ogden Air Logistics Complex, October 1, 2012 -.
Maps 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group
Storage procedure
There are four categories of storage for aircraft in AMARG:
- Long Term - The aircraft is kept intact for future use
- Reclamation Parts - Aircraft maintained, separated and used for spare parts
- Flying Hold - The aircraft remains intact for stays shorter than Long Term
- Excess DoD requirements - Aircraft sold entirely or partially
AMARG employs 700 people (about 500 DoD civil servants, and 200 contractors). The 2,600-acre facility (11Ã, km 2 ) is close to the base. On average, AMARG returns about $ 500 million worth of spare parts to the military, government and allied customers. Congressional oversight determines what equipment can be sold to which customers.
An incoming plane into storage undergoes the following maintenance:
- The cost of the Ejection seat, and the classified hardware is removed.
- All aircraft are washed carefully with clean water, to remove environmental residues, and then allowed to dry.
- The fuel system is protected by exhausting it, filling it with light oil, running the engine to coat the pipe system and fuel engine, and then draining it again. This leaves a protective oil film.
- The aircraft is sealed from dust, sunshine, and high temperatures. This is done using a variety of materials, including high-tech vinyl plastic compounds that are sprayed onto the aircraft. This compound is called spraylat after the manufacturer is Spraylat Corporation, and is applied in two layers, a black sealing coat and a white coat that reflects sunlight and helps keep the internal temperature low. The plane is then pulled by a pull to the prescribed "storage" position.
The Group Average annually receives 300 planes for storage and processes around the same amount (with 50 to 100 of those returning to the flight service). Returning aircraft either return to US Military service, US government agencies (such as US Coast Guard, U.S. Forest Service, and NASA) or sold to allied governments under the Foreign Military Sales program.
Accessibility
AMARG is a controlled access site, and is forbidden for anyone not working there without proper permission. The only access for individuals not cleared is through a bus tour conducted by Pima Air & amp; Space Museum. The tour bus is on Monday to Friday. From April 2013 onwards, the base also organizes an annual 10K/5K travel/walk that is open to the general public.
Use in movie and TV production
AMARG has been the scene for scenes in several film and television productions, despite AMARG's security and base in general. The most recent and important of these is Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen . The outside scene of the Smithsonian set was actually filmed in Boneyard.
The 1986 The Wraith film starring Charlie Sheen has some scenes taken at 309 AMARG
309 AMARG is featured in TNT episode The Great Escape .
See also
- Pinal Airpark
References
Further reading
- Boneyard Almanac: History and Collection of America's Largest Aircraft ISBNÃ, 1489533117 ISBNÃ, 978-1489533111
- Ladies in Waiting: Davis-Monthan AFB Image Views ISBNÃ, 0-89747-269-1 ISBNÃ, 978-0-89747-269-2
External links
- AMARG on Davis-Monthan AFB Official Website
- AMARC Experience - Historical site and unofficial information
- The Boneyard: the world's largest 'fun' airplane from close range, satellite view
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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