UA Aircraft graveyards
 

Hi, can anyone please tell where good accessible aircraft storage/graveyards are in the southwest US specifically close to LA? I would like to visit them having been to Tucson and was totally impressed there. Somewhere were you aren’t going to be hassled or where access is denied? Are there any places were you can just wonder around or be shown around?

Thanks

Wander around?

Hardly.

Now then, many UA aircraft are stored ay KGYR and some at KVCV but access is restricted to those who have a valid reason...and proper indentification.

It ain't like a used car lot...to be sure.

I think he may have meant USA not specifically United (UA), but I could be wrong.

There's probably a sticky in the spotter's forum but here's my synopsis:

Mojave - ask at the airport office for a $10 tour.
Kingman - fairly quiet here, you may get escorted access.
Victorville - no airside access, but they are used to people peering throught the chainlink
Goodyear (Phoenix) - no airside access, visible from public roads but local cops patrol regularly and will move you on with/without hassle (depends on his mood).
Tucson you know about.
Marana - absolutely no access at all, the single road in has a guardhouse way before you even get close.
Las Vegas - very few stored here now, but all visible from public roads.

Like the man said, you ain't gonna just 'wander round' anywhere.

hth

Thanks PaperTiger, I did say and mean USA. Is Mojave worth a visit, I'll do a search anywy and see what I come up with. Thanks

Try maps.google.com to see the extent of these places on the satellite view - the US military one in Tuscon is by far the largest.

The interesting thing about Marana (Pinal) is that even if you fly in & park at the Evergreen FBO you are still met & escorted to the restroom! (No camera's aloud).

This is because Evergreen (and before them, Intermountain Air) has the master lease at the airfield, so they can do as they please.
It is a public airport of course, but you certainly cannot just walk around to your hearts content....just land and depart.
No restrictions on the latter...yet.:}

U(S)A Aircraft Graveyards
 

FYI,
Might to take a look at the following web-site:

http://www.airchive.com/SITE%20PAGES/VINTAGE.html

May be of interest!
Cheers
Thetexpat:ok:

Intermountain Air... who were a different kind of err.., Company. Nudge, nudge. :uhoh:

A lot of good information here:

http://www.cactuswings.com/

Rhys.

Marana
 

Marana used to be an excellent place to get around when Schnoz Meyer was there in the late 80's, early 90's, a letter in advance, he would send a confirmation reply and then drive you round when you went to visit. Photo's were allowed and he had loads of stories to tell ..... Nice bloke ... His office was full of all sorts of momento's and thank you's .......

Just charter a light aircraft like everyone else, fly in out & over but what watch you photograph as theres a secret squirrel location off the end of one of the runways.

Aah, good old Schnoz. I remember him fondly. The good old days at Marana :{

Coincidentally, there is a short article in this month's issue of Airliner World on the civil aviation graveyards Stateside and what you can reasonably expect to see at each.

I may be ignorant about the airplane graveyards, but it seems to me if they are good enough to fly to them, they are good enough to fly out of them -- initially.

I've seen a lot of photos of 747-100s and 200s just sitting there and deteriorating. After a while the engines disappear. Then the electronics, etc. But what is preventing an upstart cargo airline to buy these still functioning aircraft (before piracy) at a real cut-rate price?

I agree that there is not much call for the Convairs, but the 747 series is by no means dead to the world, especially when it comes to cargo.