Tucson's Airplane Graveyard is a Trip Through Flying History

For aviation fanatics, there's nothing like the sight of thousands of derelict airplanes roasting in the desert sun. That's what makes the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group in Tucson, Ariz. one of the best stops in the world for plane spotters.

Formerly called the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center and most often known as The Boneyard, the AMARG takes advantage of the dry Arizona climate to preserve more than 4,000 military planes. Some will go back into service, while others will wind up under a recycler's blade. From modern fighters such as the F-16 to cargo-hauling C-130s, the inventory at the Boneyard spans generations of aviation history.

Start at the Pima Air & Space Museum

The Pima Air & Space Museum is a perfect place to start any exploration of the Boneyard. The museum has an enviable collection of aircraft. But it's the volunteers who elevate the place to more than a collection of planes. For instance, you may run into a crew member of the B-17 bomber The Squawkin' Chicken, which dropped bombs over Europe during World War II.

The hangers are filled with beautifully restored exhibits, from a B-17 Flying Fortress to an SR-71 Blackbird. Outside, visitors can find a pair of B-52 bombers, a Super Guppy and other huge tankers, bombers and transports. If you're going with an aviation buff, plan to spend a good chunk of the day.

Take a Driving Tour of the Boneyard

There's no better way to see the Boneyard than from the inside. Visitors can take a 90-minute ride through the rows of thousands of aircraft.

For some reason, the museum only offers the tours on weekdays. Also, you must stay onboard the bus at all times. There are even security restrictions that limit participants to just one carry-on bag per person. Photography is allowed, though.

This is clearly the way to see the Boneyard. You can see a lot from the perimeter fence (more on that later), but the inside tour will find its way into the more interesting stuff.

Outside the Fences

Got a nice digital SLR camera and some big lenses? In that case, you can still enjoy the Boneyard from the outside. In fact, no flying fan should do visit the musuem and do the inside tour without spending some time on the perimeter fences. If you're lucky enough to have some overcast and you get out early in the morning, you can come away with some incredible photos with that spooky, post-apocalyptic vibe. A 200-millimeter lens should be great for getting up close; landscape shots will do well with a 55-millimeter lens.

There are a variety of roads that follow the fences. Harrison and Valencia roads will shows you some great sights. Just follow them and see what other intersections might yield som good views. Kolb Road is also excellent.

Farming it Out

The volume of work for scrapping planes sometimes requires the AMARG to get a little help. Several civilian scrapyards operate in the area. The AMARC Experience Web site has a nice guide to these companies. In some cases, you'll be able to get some shots outside the fences. I'm not sure how open they are to airplane buffs stomping around, but it never hurts to ask (politely usually works better).

Remember that Tucson is also a University town. That means there's plenty to do after a day of plane spotting. Just be sure to bring good shoes, plenty of water and copious amounts of sunscreen so you're feeling up to a little nightlife.