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2008_AMARG_Boneyard_107

McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle is a twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter designed by McDonnell Douglas to gain and maintain air superiority in aerial combat. It is considered among the most successful modern fighters, with over 100 aerial combat victories with no losses in dogfights. Following reviews of proposals, the United States Air Force selected McDonnell Douglas' design in 1967 to meet the service's need for a dedicated air superiority fighter. The Eagle first flew in July 1972, and entered service in 1976. Since the 1970s, the Eagle has been exported to Israel, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and other nations. The F-15 was originally envisioned as a pure air superiority aircraft. Its design included a secondary ground-attack capability that was largely unused. The design proved flexible enough that an all-weather strike derivative, the F-15E Strike Eagle, was later developed, and entered service in 1989. The F-15 Eagle is expected to be in service with the U.S. Air Force past 2025. F-15 versions are still being produced for foreign users, with the F-15 production line set to end in 2019, 47 years after the type's first flight.

 

AMARG (or the Boneyard) is the world's largest aircraft and missile storage and maintenance facility in Tucson, Arizona. I took these pictures during a bus tour in June 2008.

 

A világ legnagyobb repülőgép és rakéta tároló és karbantartó létesítménye az Arizona állambeli Tucson-ban. A hely csak idegenvezetett autóbuszos túrán tekinthető meg, mi is így jártunk itt 2008. júniusban.

 

The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG), often called The Boneyard, is a United States Air Force aircraft and missile storage and maintenance facility in Tucson, Arizona, located on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. AMARG takes care of more than 4,400 aircraft on 11 km2, which makes it the largest aircraft storage and preservation facility in the world. AMARG holds aircarft for future use, sales to friendly governments, or parts reclamation. Stored aircraft go through the following treatments: removing guns, ejection seat charges, or classified hardware. Draining its fuel system. Sealing it from dust, sunlight, and high temperatures by using high tech vinyl plastic compounds, Spraying an opaque white color on it, or using simple garbage bags. AMARG is a controlled-access site, and is off-limits to anyone not employed there without the proper clearance. The only access to AMARG for non-cleared individuals is via a bus tour.

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Uploaded on September 1, 2008
Taken on June 19, 2008