309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group 1039522 219481954 2008-06-15T13:02:23Z Brenont 4034676 copyedit {{otheruses|AMARC (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox Military Unit |unit_name=309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group |image= |caption= |dates= 2007-Present |country=[[United States]] |allegiance= |branch=[[United States Air Force|Air Force]] |type=Group |role=Equipment Support |size= |command_structure=[[Air Force Materiel Command]] |current_commander= Colonel Anthony A. Panek |garrison=[[Davis-Monthan Air Force Base]] |ceremonial_chief= |colonel_of_the_regiment= |nickname= |patron= |motto= |colors= |identification_symbol= |march= |mascot= |battles= |notable_commanders= |anniversaries= |decorations= |battle_honours= }} [[Image:Amarc-16may1992.jpg|thumb|250px|Aerial View of AMARG, 16 May 1992<BR>(Click on image to see high resolution)]] [[Image:Tucson05 AMARCWelcomeSign.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Welcome sign at AMARG before its 2007 name change.]] [[Image:Tucson05 AMARCTailsMissing.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Boeing 707]]s being used for salvage parts for the [[C-135]] airframe at AMARG.]] [[Image:Tucson05 AMARCHelicoptersFightersMountain.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Helicopters and Fighters at AMARG]] [[Image:AMARCB1.jpg|thumb|right|250px| B-1 Bombers in storage at AMARG]] [[Image:Tucson05 AMARCNoseToNose.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Navy [[F-4 Phantom II]] Fighters in storage at AMARG.]] The '''309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group''' ('''AMARG'''),<ref name="309AMRG">[http://www.dm.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123051831 Offical 309th AMRG Renaming Ceremony]</ref> often called '''The [[Aircraft boneyard|Boneyard]],''' is a [[United States Air Force]] aircraft storage and maintenance facility in [[Tucson, Arizona]] located on [[Davis-Monthan Air Force Base]]. '''AMARG''' was previously Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center, '''AMARC'''. It takes care of more than 4,400 aircraft, including 700 [[F-4 Phantom II]]s, whose total original purchase price is estimated at $27 billion. An [[Air Force Materiel Command]] unit, the group is under the command of the [[309th Maintenance Wing]] of [[Hill Air Force Base]], [[Utah]]. AMARG was originally meant to store excess [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] and [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] aircraft, but has in recent years been designated the sole respository of out-of-service aircraft from all branches of the US government. == History == AMARG was established in 1946,<ref>[http://www.dm.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5297 USAF AMARC Fact Sheet]</ref> shortly after [[World War II]] as the 4105th Army Air Force Unit to house [[B-29 Superfortress|B-29]] and [[C-47 Skytrain|C-47]] aircraft. [[Davis-Monthan Air Force Base]] was chosen because of [[Tucson, Arizona|Tucson's]] low humidity, infrequent rainfall, and alkaline soil. The hard soil makes it possible to move aircraft around without having to pave the storage areas. In 1948, after the Air Force's creation as a separate service, the unit was renamed the 3040th Aircraft Storage Depot. In 1965, the depot was renamed the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center (MASDC), and tasked with processing aircraft for all the US armed forces (not just the Air Force). In the 1980s, the center began processing [[ICBM]]s for dismantling or reuse in satellite launches, and was renamed the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARC) to reflect the expanded focus on all aerospace assets.<ref>[http://www.amarcexperience.com/AMARCHistory.asp AMARC Experience Story]</ref> In the 1990s, in accordance with the [[START I]] treaty, AMARG was tasked with eliminating 365 [[B-52 Stratofortress|B-52]] bombers. The progress of this task was to be verified by [[Russia]] via [[satellite]] and first-person inspection at the AMARG facility. Initially, the B-52s were chopped into pieces with a 13,000-pound [[guillotine]]. Later on, the tool of choice became K-12 rescue saws. This more precise technique afforded AMARG with salvageable spare parts. In May 2007, command of AMARC was transferred to the 309th Maintenance Wing, and the center was renamed the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group.<ref name="309AMRG"/> == Storage procedures == There are four categories of storage for planes at AMARG: * Long Term - Aircraft are kept intact for future use * Parts Reclamation - Aircraft are kept, picked apart and used for spare parts * Flying Hold - Aircraft are kept intact for shorter stays than Long Term * Excess of [[United States Department of Defense|DoD]] needs - Aircraft are sold off whole or in parts AMARG employs 550 people, almost all civilians. The {{convert|2600|acre|km2|0}} facility is adjacent to the [[Davis-Monthan Air Force Base|base]]. For every $1 the federal government spends operating the facility, it saves or produces $11 from harvesting spare parts and selling off inventory.<ref>[http://www.dm.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4383 Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group], [[Davis-Monthan Air Force Base]] (official website)</ref> Congressional oversight determines what kind of equipment may be sold to what kind of customer. An aircraft going into storage undergoes the following treatments: * All guns, ejection seat charges, or classified hardware are removed * The fuel system is protected by draining it, refilling it with lightweight oil, and then draining it again. This leaves a protective oil film. * The aircraft is sealed from dust, sunlight, and high temperatures. This is done using a variety of materials, ranging from a high tech vinyl plastic compound (spraylat) to simple garbage bags. The Group annually in-processes an undisclosed number of aircraft for storage and out-processes a number of aircraft for return to the active service, either as [[Unmanned aerial vehicle|remotely controlled drones]] or sold to friendly foreign governments. For instance, [[Turkey]] has purchased several [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]]-era jets in recent years that had been kept at AMARG. There is much scrutiny over who (civilians, companies, foreign governments) may buy what kind of parts. At times, these sales are canceled, the Air Force for example reclaimed several [[F-16]]s from AMARG for the [[United States Navy Fighter Weapons School|Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Courses]] and which were originally meant to be sold to [[Pakistan]], but were never delivered due to an embargo at that time. == Accessibility == AMARG is closely guarded, and is off limits to anyone not employed there. The only exception is a bus tour which is conducted by the nearby [[Pima Air & Space Museum]].<ref>[http://www.pimaair.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=232 Pima Air & Space Museum] Official Site</ref> == References == {{reflist}} === Book === ''Ladies in Waiting: A Pictorial Review of Davis-Monthan AFB'' ISBN 0897472691 ISBN 978-0897472692 == See also == * [[Aircraft boneyard]] * [[Pinal Airpark]] == External links == {{Commons|Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center}} * [http://www.dm.af.mil/units/amarc.asp AMARG at Davis-Monthan AFB] Official Site * [http://www.AMARCExperience.com/ AMARC Experience - An unofficial history and information site] * {{Geolinks-US-streetscale|32.170890|-110.855184}} [[Category:Groups of the United States Air Force|Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration 0309]] [[Category:Military in Arizona]] [[Category:Tucson, Arizona]] [[de:Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center]]