boneyard

A boneyard is a colloquial term for a location where discarded or obsolete aircraft, vehicles, or other large equipment are stored, often for salvage or eventual disposal. These sites are typically vast outdoor areas where the items are lined up in rows. The most common association with the term "boneyard" is the military aircraft boneyard, such as the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. Here, retired military aircraft are preserved, maintained, and eventually cannibalized for spare parts, or prepared for sale or scrapping.

The practice of establishing boneyards dates back to at least World War I, when surplus aircraft needed to be stored. Over time, these locations evolved from simple storage depots to complex operations involving maintenance, preservation, and salvage. The arid climates of many boneyard locations, like those in the southwestern United States, are ideal for preserving aircraft as they minimize corrosion and degradation.

Beyond aircraft, the term can also be applied to yards where old ships are dismantled (shipbreaking yards) or where surplus or damaged vehicles are kept. The primary purpose is often to reclaim valuable materials or components before the remaining structure is scrapped. These sites can be important for historical research, providing access to aging military hardware for study and preservation.