JamesAA

The boneyards in our SW deserts are home to planes still in use: F/A-18s, 737s, etc. Why did some of these types of aircraft have the unfortunate fate of ending up in the boneyards?

I could only speculate that perhaps the metal fatigue was an issue. Possibly too many T/O and Landings?

Another reason I thought was that particular airlines or the military were scaling back on a type of aircraft, thus having more, say F/A-18s than they need?

I'm curious as to know why.

Thanks in advanced

andrewtac

Some of it is the airframea have reached the end of their life, cheaper to park than rework.

JohnBurke

"Boneyards" is a misnomer. Storage facilities might be a better choice. "Boneyard" suggests that it's a place the aircraft go to die or be stripped for parts; that does happen to aircraft which have reached the end of their economic or legal service life, but most of the facilities you'll see are for long term storage.

Some of the facilities, such as AMARC in Tucson (at Davis-Monthan), where you'll find the military aircraft, is both long term storage and a facility that's used for other purposes, such as obtaining parts. Many aircraft that get placed in storage may be capable, useful aircraft that are simply in transition. Some get used by foreign militaries. Some may be part of a fleet reduction or retirement. AMARC had a lot of B52's that were dismantled or chopped up as part of the SALT (strategic arms limitations treaty) agreements.

Airlines park aircraft when reducing or changing fleets, and sometimes aircraft get parked when they the buyer or leaser can't afford the payments. A few years ago Northwest parked a number of 747-200's when they shelved their cargo program and merged, and Kalitta Air bought the airplanes for parts, and for use in the field. In the meantime, the aircraft were parked in Marana, AZ. It's not uncommon to see fleets parked as they become obsolete; that doesn't mean there's no service life, but it means that the user has changed to something else. Many 747-400's have been parked, for example, as the users moved to 777's. The 747's have a lot of life left, and many get repurposed as Boeing Conversion Freighters or sold to foreign airlines, but for their original duties, they had become economically obsolete as they were replaced.

JamesNoBrakes

IDK, I've been to many of those boneyards, not just Tucson, it sure seems like the vast majority of aircraft are left to rot in place.

DC8DRIVER

Storage areas is more correct. Once in a blue moon they bring one out for a museum or to replace a line aircraft.

'Ghost Rider' B-52 rises from Boneyard - CNN.com

Twin Wasp

And sometimes you just need to park the plane somewhere.

Boeing parking jets around Puget Sound, the desert as buyers struggle | The Seattle Times

jungle

Some get worn out, but most of the parking is purely for economic reasons.

Some military aircraft have low life cycle times and some are kept alive through programs that would bankrupt a commercial operator.

Commercial aircraft have to be run on a logical and cost effective basis.

METO Guido

"Commercial aircraft have to be run on a logical and cost effective basis."

You're blowing what's left of my mind dude.

"And then???"

JohnBurke

You completely missed the point of his post. Read again.

METO Guido

And then???