AMARG: America's Strategic Military Aircraft Reserve

The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) facility in the Arizona desert stores over 4,000 aircraft, including F-15, F-16, F/A-18 fighters, aerial refuelling tankers, C-130 and C-5 transports, helicopters, and bombers. It also houses special use aircraft and celebrity aircraft, such as MiG killers, and provides a visual tour of the Boneyard with new images.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 96 pages
Publication date: 30 August 2022
Publisher: Key Publishing Ltd

The United States military maintains an extensive aircraft storage facility in the Arizona desert, known as the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG). This facility, commonly referred to as the "Boneyard," is far from a mere dumping ground for retired aerospace vehicles. Instead, it serves as a multifunctional hub where aircraft are maintained, stored, and repurposed. Some aircraft are kept in short-term storage for maintenance or repair, while others are held in long-term storage to preserve valuable spare parts. These parts are meticulously cataloged and stored in designated locations, making them easily accessible for harvesting, overhaul, and return to the fleet when needed.

Once an aircraft has exhausted its useful parts, its remains are eventually dismantled by skilled technicians using specialized equipment. The Boneyard houses a vast array of aircraft, including F-15, F-16, and F/A-18 fighters, aerial refuelling tankers, C-130 and C-5 transports, helicopters of various sizes, and bombers ranging from frontline B-1s to B-52s that are decades old. Among these aircraft are special-purpose planes such as AWACS, P-3 maritime patrol bombers, aeromedical evacuation aircraft, and reconnaissance planes that carry out diverse missions. Additionally, the Boneyard is home to iconic celebrity aircraft, including MiG killers that played pivotal roles in aerial combat during past conflicts.

This book offers a comprehensive update on recent activities at AMARG, encompassing the intake of new aircraft types, the regeneration of stored aircraft, and the return of previously in-storage aircraft to active service. It also presents a visual tour of the Boneyard through a collection of never-before-seen images, providing a glimpse into the vast array of aircraft and their unique stories. The Boneyard serves as a testament to the adaptability and resilience of the aerospace industry, where even the most obsolete aircraft can find new life and contribute to the nation's defense capabilities.

Weight: 286g
Dimension: 170 x 242 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913870614