bLast day in the wild wild west, and although the skies were grey and then the skies were leaking liquid, we were not content in staying inside on this final day of vacation. So, off to the Pima Air Museum. Except, when we got there, we found out that we could take a tour of the boneyard. As a little FYI, the boneyard is over 3800 airplanes that are either Navy, Air Force or any other branch of the armed forces and are placed there in the dry desert air to wait. Some wait to be recalled back into service, to fly once again and defend our country. Others wait to be cannibalized for parts. Some will fly again, others will never take flight. Access is through the Air Force Base so security is tight, ID's must be preset and checked, no big bags, backpacks or anything suspicious. You load while at the museum and then they take you on the bus. You MUST stay in your seat and you may NOT get off the bus. It was not ideal for this urban explorer, because I so wanted to be close to the planes, but it seems to be the closest we were going to get to the action, so it is what we did.
Loaded onto a fine looking bus, with comfy headrests, plugs for you phones, drink holders, etc...(I liked the bus, did you get that idea???), we headed to the base. No pictures going in or out, but we were able to take lots of pictures of all the planes. Our guide told us lots and lots of information, all very wonderful, and I do forget most of it because I was too in awe of the planes. They were left, right, in front of, behind and all around us. There were fighter jets, helicopters, passenger planes, all kinds of planes. It was mesmerizing, seeing the rows and rows of perfectly aligned machines. Some were so big you could have placed 10 of our buses inside it. I snapped away, trying to get as much detail as I could. The pictures do not do the place justice, but they are pretty and cool all the same.
And then the rain came. Desert rain??? Ugh! And rain, in buckets, cats and dogs, droves!! Windows fogged, beaded with droplets and so pictures were not happening. But, what I did see, and you will not unless you go, are planes, parted, missiles, wheels, cockpits, so much machinery, over 350 BILLION dollars worth of machinery all waiting, sitting patiently. Next time we come, we will be taking the tram tour. It is much more open and hopefully will not be on a rain soaked day. Until then, I can relish in the fact that I got on the boneyard property, I got to see the planes up close, and I am still in awe of this facility.
Loaded onto a fine looking bus, with comfy headrests, plugs for you phones, drink holders, etc...(I liked the bus, did you get that idea???), we headed to the base. No pictures going in or out, but we were able to take lots of pictures of all the planes. Our guide told us lots and lots of information, all very wonderful, and I do forget most of it because I was too in awe of the planes. They were left, right, in front of, behind and all around us. There were fighter jets, helicopters, passenger planes, all kinds of planes. It was mesmerizing, seeing the rows and rows of perfectly aligned machines. Some were so big you could have placed 10 of our buses inside it. I snapped away, trying to get as much detail as I could. The pictures do not do the place justice, but they are pretty and cool all the same.
And then the rain came. Desert rain??? Ugh! And rain, in buckets, cats and dogs, droves!! Windows fogged, beaded with droplets and so pictures were not happening. But, what I did see, and you will not unless you go, are planes, parted, missiles, wheels, cockpits, so much machinery, over 350 BILLION dollars worth of machinery all waiting, sitting patiently. Next time we come, we will be taking the tram tour. It is much more open and hopefully will not be on a rain soaked day. Until then, I can relish in the fact that I got on the boneyard property, I got to see the planes up close, and I am still in awe of this facility.