309th AMARG
Ex-British Harrier jets head to be scrapped after 11 years in the Boneyard
Dino van Doorn witnesses the final departure of the UK’s Joint Force Harrier fleet from the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona
USAF retires final ‘Big Safari’ NC-135W to the Boneyard
The USAF recently retired its last Pratt & Whitney TF33 turbofan-powered NC-135W Stratolifter test aircraft after more than 50 years of operational service
Tinker AFB bids farewell to more E-3 Sentry AWACS
A further two E-3B/G Sentry aircraft have taken off from Tinker AFB for the final time, having been flown from the Oklahoma base to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, to be placed in long-term storage as the USAF continues to drawdown its ageing AWACS fleet
US Navy’s VP-30 sends last P-3C Orion to the Boneyard
The US Navy’s Patrol Squadron 30 (VP-30) ‘The Pro’s Nest’ hosted a sundown ceremony to bid farewell to its final Lockheed P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft at NAS Jacksonville in Florida on June 23, bringing to an end more than 60 years of operations with the type
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst bids fond farewell to KC-10A fleet
The departure of McDonnell Douglas KC-10A Extender (serial 84-0188) from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on June 22 marked not only the end of KC-10 operations for the USAF’s 305th and 514th Air Mobility Wings, but also the type’s 33-year mission at the New Jersey base
AFSOC has retired its last MC-130H Combat Talon II
The USAF’s sole remaining Lockheed MC-130H Combat Talon II departed its home base at Hurlburt Field, Florida, for the last time on April 2, when it was flown to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, where it will be placed in long-term storage in the famous Boneyard with the 309th AMARG
USAF retires first A-10C to the boneyard, with more set to follow
After the US Congress relented in its stance on blocking the USAF’s long-standing desire to axe its fleet of A-10C Thunderbolt II close air support aircraft last year, the air arm retired the first of 21 ‘Warthogs’ that it was authorised to divest under the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act on April 5
USAF retires first active-duty E-3B Sentry from service
Tinker Air Force Base (AFB) in Oklahoma bid farewell to its first Boeing E-3B Sentry on March 31 as the airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft was flown to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, where it will be placed into long-term storage with the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG).
USAF divests last of 17 B-1Bs as it prepares for B-21
US Air Force Global Strike Command has concluded the divesture of 17 Rockwell B-1B Lancer strategic supersonic bombers as the final example departed Edwards AFB, California, for the ‘Boneyard’ at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona, on September 23
New life for former US Army C-23B+ Sherpas
Three former US Army Short C-23B+ Sherpas have recently departed from storage with the 309th AMARG at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. Destined for a new life in civilian hands, the aircraft follow four others that left this year