"Gamecat235" (Gamecat235)
03/01/2014 at 18:20 • Filed to: Planelopnik, AMARG, Boneyard 5k
29
100|
"Gamecat235" (Gamecat235)
03/01/2014 at 18:20 • Filed to: Planelopnik, AMARG, Boneyard 5k | 29
| 100 |
Today was the Second Annual Desert Boneyard 5k at The Boneyard (309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group - AMARG) in Tucson, AZ. And I very nearly was !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! in it this year due to there being lightning and imminent rain at the start time. But weather and other conditions held steady, and we didn't see more than a light drizzle the entire race.
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!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , the 5k was held on a sunny very warm (nearly 90° F), so I was hoping for some clouds to have as a backdrop for the pictures I knew I would be taking. While I have run a good number of 5k's, I don't think I could be paid to run this one. I was there to see the planes that are off limits to civilians (other than a paid tram with tinted windows) the other 364 days of the year. There were a few new planes in the mix this year, and the course was changed as well.
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Though the majority of the pictures are from the "Celebrity Row" of displayed planes, there are quite a few pictures of other areas as well.
Wall to Wall C-130s
About to round the corner onto Celebrity Row
I've loved the YC-14 far more than is natural. It's such a wonderfully neat plane.
(yes, the F-117 was still there ;)
Someone thought it would be funny to put a C-5 next to a T-37.
Everyone needs a rest now and then.
The C-5 is so amazingly large.
(Texans are still represented)
vicariousILive
> Gamecat235
03/01/2014 at 18:24 |
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The F-117 is more stealthy than I thought.
crowmolly
> Gamecat235
03/01/2014 at 18:34 |
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Second to last one an F4?
FJ80WaitinForaLSV8
> Gamecat235
03/01/2014 at 18:35 |
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Another great set of pictures. Extremely jealous.
John Norris (AngryDrifter)
> Gamecat235
03/01/2014 at 18:36 |
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The E-2 with the 8 bladed prop is surprising. The 8 bladed prop hasn't been around too long on the E-2. I wonder why that aircraft went to storage after USN spent the money to upgrade the props.
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Gamecat235
> crowmolly
03/01/2014 at 18:40 |
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Yep. Actually the same plane as the one in the lede pic.
Slant6
> Gamecat235
03/01/2014 at 18:47 |
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Former Air Force One?
jy15btx
> Gamecat235
03/01/2014 at 19:17 |
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I would LOVE to spend an entire weekend in here just picking these apart :)
grom-commando
> Gamecat235
03/01/2014 at 20:24 |
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I wonder if this is the f-101 my dad flew to the yard in 1982?
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Gamecat235
> grom-commando
03/01/2014 at 20:29 |
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Know anything more about the tail number or other identifying service history? I took nearly 600 pictures this time and about 400 last year. I have other angles. I'll check and see if I got anything on it.
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grom-commando
> Gamecat235
03/01/2014 at 20:41 |
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He told me it would be a 325th FFW out of Tyndall AFB with red and white stripes with a bar of stars in front on the tail, the actual tail number he can't remember but the tail flash would be suffice to identify it.
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Gamecat235
> grom-commando
03/01/2014 at 21:18 |
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Here you go... the tail number is 70436.
cody
> Gamecat235
03/01/2014 at 21:32 |
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Props for sharing all these pics. Good stuff.
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grom-commando
> Gamecat235
03/01/2014 at 21:36 |
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He said he has flown a 336, but not a 436. He thinks this is a NY ANG aircraft.
Nevertheless thanks for the great pics.
Dusty Ventures
> Gamecat235
03/01/2014 at 22:11 |
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I LOVE THIS
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Dusty Ventures
> Gamecat235
03/01/2014 at 22:14 |
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They really are absurdly massive. Our local air wing has a squadron of C-5s, and during every air show they have one with the fore and aft ramps open for walking through. Awesome. They should have designed the plane in Agents of Shield to be based off one of these instead of a puny C-17
FelixScout
> Gamecat235
03/01/2014 at 22:53 |
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I love these old b-57's.
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FelixScout
> Gamecat235
03/01/2014 at 23:01 |
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Though I also love these late model A-4s
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FelixScout
> John Norris (AngryDrifter)
03/01/2014 at 23:04 |
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Either airframe lifespan, test bed, or downsizing.
f86sabre
> jy15btx
03/02/2014 at 00:28 |
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It is amazing how little there is to most jet engines.
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f86sabre
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 00:29 |
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Will you be putting the rest of the pics up somewhere?
4thwall
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 00:36 |
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Great photos!
So haunting.
The weather just adds to it!
I could literally spend days, camping, exploring and sketching in there.
Somehow I take it one can't do that, huh.
Also being on the other side of the world to me doesn't help either, but hey.
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Gamecat235
> f86sabre
03/02/2014 at 00:42 |
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I have some multi pic stitches that I need to see how they came out. And I haven't done any post processing on the rest of the pictures. (Not that I did much on these, selective cropping and some slight exposure adjustments).
If you want em, I'll put them up somewhere. I'll post the stitches if they work out. There are a lot of slightly off angle shots (it was a 5k after all) and some that I'll need to throw away (blur from shooting in motion). But after I go through them, I'll do something with the rest. But... These were the best.
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jy15btx
> f86sabre
03/02/2014 at 02:56 |
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Exactly. Suck, squeeze, bang, blow. I do a little work on turbo shaft ;)
2012-Challenger-R-T
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 09:00 |
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When I was a child, I lived mere blocks from there. My Dad retired from the Air Force.
mandy's mimosaaaaaa
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 09:00 |
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Is that an A-4 in adversary colors?
That is such a bad ass little plane; I think it would of made a hell of a dog fighter in combat.
d3v
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 09:02 |
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In a perfect world, this would still be flying.
C-5M Load Smasher
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 09:04 |
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Makes me so sad that my C-5's are there. Shitty thing is they where found to have life span through 2040 which is why the B model got the M upgrade. Congress nixed the A models getting it to buy more C-17's. Cause we needed more of them when it is cheaper to just upgrade the plane we already have. I've got 2400+ hours on the C-5B and M combined Btw. Great airplane.
iFlyinHawaiian
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 09:17 |
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the F-14 is the plane that inspired me to become a pilot. So sad to see her wrapped up in the boneyard... Great pictures and thanks for sharing!
Rysho
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 09:20 |
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is this the boneyard outside of PIMA? if so i have been here and it's amazing
09GT - now boosted
> d3v
03/02/2014 at 09:44 |
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They fly over our house on a daily basis in spring through fall. Our local ANG (Indiana) unit still flies them - you really get to see them close as they fly low and (relatively) slow. Supposedly they are trying to get F-35's based here when the A-10 is finally retired, but I will be sad when that happens.
Matsayz
> Rysho
03/02/2014 at 09:45 |
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Pima is the county. The Pima Air and Space museum is in the South side of Davis-Monthan AFB. You have to buy your bus tour ticket through the museum and then they drive you through the boneyard.
Neutral President
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 09:52 |
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I wish you guys had a better gallery system. I'd love to be able to open an image full-screen and page through every image in the article, instead of having to click the "expand" target on each individual image.
Eric the RC guy
> Dusty Ventures
03/02/2014 at 09:54 |
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One was at our local airshow a few years ago and there's just no way you can ever realize how massive they are until you see one in real life and take the long walk through it. It is also astonishing to see one take off, especially when empty and demonstrating short take off. This unimaginably large plane that looks too big to fly in the first place uses what seems like 20 feet of runway before leaping into the sky, it was just jaw-dropping to see.
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Eric the RC guy
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 09:57 |
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Thank you for sharing these, it has been a lifelong dream of mine to visit AMARG.
TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 10:07 |
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Oh lord, is that a Blue Angel?
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TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 10:08 |
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Just did a little research on the YC-14. Seems like this is just 1 of 2.
GARedE34
> Slant6
03/02/2014 at 10:10 |
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The Air Force has quite a few passenger jets with this paint scheme. The VP usually rides on a modified 757 with that look. I've actually seen one of those and a much smaller jet painted the same way in the Delta hanger in Atlanta undergoing work before. Apparently maintenance gets contracted out from time to time...
KingBeevr
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 10:11 |
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Born and raised in Tucson, I lived most of my childhood practically across the street from this awesome spectacle. I loved it and appreciated it every day. It does look so much better with the clouds framing the shots, too. Excellent photographs.
ex.saint
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 10:11 |
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Can someone tell me what all the white is on the planes? At first I thought it was primer, but it seems to be some kind of sealant.
(Awesome pics, btw. Oddly, I've never cared much for flying planes; just derelict ones).
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Gamecat235
> Rysho
03/02/2014 at 10:12 |
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Yeah. They almost never open it up for visitors so I was rather slow on foot.
whoarder is tellurium
> jy15btx
03/02/2014 at 10:16 |
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tiem for some J79 pr0n
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Rysho
> Matsayz
03/02/2014 at 10:22 |
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cool, i thought that F-117 display looked familiar
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Doug Nash
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 10:33 |
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You know, they should try and make an actual marathon out of this, and they'd get an influx of people from around the world to attend. The 26.2 crowd takes their run locations seriously. It would be a blast.
KnifeKnut
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 10:40 |
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Interesting that they mothballed it with what looks like drop tank and a luggage pod. Luggage pod for the accessories on the aircraft?
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KnifeKnut
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 10:43 |
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Did'nt know this existed. From this view you can definitely see the family resemblance to the A-10
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KnifeKnut
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 10:46 |
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IF THAT IS WHAT I THINK IT IS WHY IS IT NOT IN A MUSEUM! Seriously I have goosebumps in exasperation.
Zoom
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 10:46 |
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Rows and rows of....engines. Cool.
Great pics, 'Cat.
alpineflier
> John Norris (AngryDrifter)
03/02/2014 at 10:51 |
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Seeing that angers me a little, but for a much different reason. The Air Force has tested the same prop on the C-130, but hasn't bought any more for the rest of the fleet because of...cost.
WarShrike
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 10:55 |
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"The Bone" in the boneyard. Awesome bombers, such a sight to behold when they fly over you at low altitude and full thrust!
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KnifeKnut
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 10:58 |
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Out back behind Watto's shop?
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WarShrike
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 10:58 |
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As a kid, I always thought it'd be cool to have one of these as a personal plane.
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WarShrike
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 11:00 |
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I wonder what the F-14 would be capable of with some of the newer materials available, new avionics and more efficient yet more powerful engines? That was one fast fighter for its time.
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KnifeKnut
> ex.saint
03/02/2014 at 11:01 |
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Protective wrap. These are not just abandoned in the desert, some can be easily put back into service if needed.
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Matsayz
> Rysho
03/02/2014 at 11:04 |
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Yeah it's pretty funny. Of course there is no way they'd store one out there but I like how they applied the "stealth" technology. I was stationed there for 5 years and drove by the boneyard everyday, always cool to see those C-130's just packed in there like giants
Leadbull
> Slant6
03/02/2014 at 11:07 |
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Probably a C-32, used for carrying other VIPs like cabinet members.
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Leadbull
> Neutral President
03/02/2014 at 11:08 |
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PSA:
There's always the option to imbed an imgur gallery, although I've never done that myself.
ki-ki-ki-kia
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 11:13 |
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I didn't realize they ever opened it up to foot traffic (5K) I will have to look into this one year as I have always wanted to visit!
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Dusty Ventures
> Eric the RC guy
03/02/2014 at 11:16 |
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I love when they're on approach to land, powered down and full flaps. They almost look like they're hovering
Axel-Ripper
> KnifeKnut
03/02/2014 at 11:27 |
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I cant figure out what particular rocket this would be from, but seriously why is there a freaking early spacecraft in the middle of the desert....
Jayhawk Jake
> KnifeKnut
03/02/2014 at 11:29 |
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There's a reason the Air Force stores stuff out there, it's probably safer there than in a normal museum
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crowmolly
> KnifeKnut
03/02/2014 at 11:35 |
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You should go to the Udvar-Hazy museum if you haven't been. I think I ran around like an 8 year old for a good two hours when I was there.
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Leadbull
> KnifeKnut
03/02/2014 at 11:36 |
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ex.saint
> KnifeKnut
03/02/2014 at 11:39 |
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I had heard that some could be pressed back into service, so that makes sense
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John Norris (AngryDrifter)
> alpineflier
03/02/2014 at 12:06 |
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I looked into it a little more. That particular Bureau Number, 164110, was actually designated TE-2C, so it was a bit of a test mule / training work horse. At one point back in the 1990's it had a prototype refueling probe installed over the cockpit. They later stripped it of the mission equipment and used it for pilot training in VAW-120. I'm guessing the pilot training wore it out.
Having trouble posting photo, you can see it here with fuel probe:
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KnifeKnut
> Leadbull
03/02/2014 at 12:07 |
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That is what I figured also!
Axial
> Jayhawk Jake
03/02/2014 at 12:08 |
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Actually, it's just because it's cheap and easy to do.
Scrape
> Leadbull
03/02/2014 at 12:28 |
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Looks like a C-137 (Boeing 707) with an electronics package (antennae on the wing) and a big cargo door. Not likely a VIP transport plane, but a support aircraft for cargo and communications.
It certainly is not a C-32, as those are still in service.
ScreenShot
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 12:33 |
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Perhaps a better way to see the aircraft there is via Google Maps. .. Use Satellite view and move to a close-up view to see the parked airplanes or use the thumbnails across the bottom.
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CALUSA
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 12:59 |
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Just a question (because I'm not used to this): why don't they fix them or really destroy them?
CombatSquash
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 13:08 |
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WANT
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Blown2K2S2K
> WarShrike
03/02/2014 at 13:16 |
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Probably longer range, but not more speed as that was more of an airframe limitation.
The D model is shown, which has the better F110 engines, with ~30K pounds of thrust each (the old ones did ~20K). The A-model, aka the Top Gun early model, had the TF30...and the F-14A was always regarded as a poor performer as it was "under-powered" for its day. The reason the plane is so large is due to the radar and avionics.
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Blown2K2S2K
> CALUSA
03/02/2014 at 13:18 |
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Many have reached the limits of the airframes, or due to cuts were removed from service.
They do get around to cutting them up eventually.
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Jayhawk Jake
> Axial
03/02/2014 at 13:26 |
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Not just. In the desert planes don't really corrode. Cover up parts you care about (note all the white wrapping) and you can leave them out there with little concern. If you need planes or parts, it wouldn't take much to get them.
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Axial
> Jayhawk Jake
03/02/2014 at 13:33 |
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And it's cheaper and easier to do that than it is to store the planes in a controlled environment elsewhere.
It's actually very efficient of them, though I think it would be even more efficient to actually reuse the material from many of the oldest examples to build the new planes.
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Jayhawk Jake
> Axial
03/02/2014 at 13:52 |
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Cutting up and melting down the old planes would be more labor intensive and more expensive than using new material.
As far as components are concerned, technology progresses quickly so reusing them is not always a good option, and all airplane parts have service lives, so older components are probably pretty useless without a full refurbish
Cantalk
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 13:57 |
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Aside from the Warthog, the F4 is probably my favourite jet
OkCars- 22k Crossroads
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 14:11 |
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I like days with these clouds
VirgilMungo
> Slant6
03/02/2014 at 14:20 |
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Such beautiful livery- might be perfect for my Vanagon!
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VirgilMungo
> KingBeevr
03/02/2014 at 14:23 |
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These are amazing!
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Axial
> Jayhawk Jake
03/02/2014 at 14:32 |
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I guess "efficient" can't be used without qualifiers. It would be more material-efficient of them to reuse the old material, but not monetarily efficient. Being monetarily efficient the way they are now serves the short-term at the cost of the long-term.
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CALUSA
> Blown2K2S2K
03/02/2014 at 14:35 |
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Ah, thanks!
SpeedSix
> cody
03/02/2014 at 14:38 |
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Mad props, in fact.
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jy15btx
> whoarder is tellurium
03/02/2014 at 14:58 |
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That compressor section alone is bigger than majority of what I work on -_-
Thanks for the vids! Im drooling.
quarterlifecrisis
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 15:21 |
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Any chance you'll host the other several hundred pictures somewhere? Would love a link if that ends up happening.
Chaos-cascade
> d3v
03/02/2014 at 15:47 |
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In a perfect world it wouldn't have been created in the first place.
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Gamecat235
> Leadbull
03/02/2014 at 15:57 |
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I debated doing that, but wanted to get the post up yesterday and only had a limited amount of time. If I post a more complete version of the pictures, I might do it on Flickr and embed a gallery.
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Jayhawk Jake
> Axial
03/02/2014 at 15:58 |
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Material efficient, maybe. Labor efficient? Not at all.
Monetarily it would be more expensive because of the added labor. On a larger scale, the amount of material that would go into setting up a system and supporting the labor required to recycle the material might not actually come out as material efficient as one would like.
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Gamecat235
> ScreenShot
03/02/2014 at 15:59 |
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Many of us have done that. And I've driven and walked the perimeter more than a few times. The opportunity to actually enter the gates was amazing and I'm quite grateful for it.
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whoarder is tellurium
> jy15btx
03/02/2014 at 16:00 |
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Cool, no problem... youtube is awesome sometimes.
What, if you dont mind, type of gas turbines do you work with?
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Axial
> Jayhawk Jake
03/02/2014 at 16:00 |
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Well no, because the entire economy is not geared for that. But that's not to say the entire economy is right, either.
Yay systems.
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Gamecat235
> ScreenShot
03/02/2014 at 16:00 |
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Many of us have done that. And I've driven and walked the perimeter more than a few times. The opportunity to actually enter the gates was amazing and I'm quite grateful for it.
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Gamecat235
> ki-ki-ki-kia
03/02/2014 at 16:04 |
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This is only the second time they've done this, I'll keep showing up if they keep doing this. =)
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Gamecat235
> Eric the RC guy
03/02/2014 at 16:18 |
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As a native Tucsonan, I have shared your dream and finally been able to get there both last year and this one. It's an awesome experience.
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Gamecat235
> KingBeevr
03/02/2014 at 16:28 |
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I'm a second generation native Tucsonan, I've worked not far from the boneyard for a decent part of my adult life and always fantasized about walking the planes (and not just the perimeter fencing). If they do this again, you should, if you can, come and walk the course. It's really pretty awesome to be able to do so.
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Gamecat235
> quarterlifecrisis
03/02/2014 at 16:37 |
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I'll let you know if/when I post them. I may post the stitched ones here, but I may create a new Flickr page with shots from this year and last.
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Gamecat235
> OkCars- 22k Crossroads
03/02/2014 at 16:39 |
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It really made the shots "pop", but I was really worried that the lightning in the distance and heavy rain (that ended up happening later in the day, and was occurring during the race in other parts of the city) would make it so that I couldn't get any shots. (don't have any "pro" camera bodies that I would be willing to use in the rain).
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Gamecat235
> TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
03/02/2014 at 16:40 |
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Yeah, and the other one is at the Pima Air and Space Museum just a couple of miles away. They are fantastic looking airframes.
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Remarkably-Average-Avalon
> Gamecat235
03/02/2014 at 16:44 |
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Sweet YC-14 which is one of two made.
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ScreenShot
> Neutral President
03/02/2014 at 16:44 |
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Perhaps a better way to see the aircraft there is via Google Maps. .. Use Satellite view and move to a close-up view to see the parked airplanes or use the thumbnails across the bottom.
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Gamecat235
> Remarkably-Average-Avalon
03/02/2014 at 16:47 |
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Yup. Both of em in town. (The other is at the Pima Air and Space Museum a couple of miles away from it's sibling).