For most of us an aircraft is just a means of transportation – we fly, we land and we get to our next destination. But what happens when a plane has reached the end of its flying days? Well, there’s a secret world that few get to see: aircraft graveyards where retired planes go to rest.
Spread across the globe, these massive storage facilities hold thousands of retired aircraft, serving as eerie museums of aviation history, sources for spare parts, and sometimes even movie sets. But these “boneyards” aren’t just junkyards; they’re essential to aviation sustainability, safety and even the future of air travel.
A Second Life: How Planes Are Reborn
It’s called a boneyard but that doesn’t mean the planes are left to rust. In fact, up to 85 percent of a retired aircraft can be recycled. Old fuselages are stripped for reusable parts—engines, landing gear, avionics and even passenger seats—while the aluminum and titanium from the body can be reused for future aircraft or even cars.
Some aircraft, like old Boeing 747s, have been turned into hotels, restaurants or training centres for emergency drills. Others, like the Concorde, have found permanent homes in museums.
Some retired planes are even converted into firefighting aircraft to help battle wildfires around the world. These modified tankers, such as the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 Air Tanker, can carry thousands of gallons of water or fire retardant, making them invaluable during wildfire season.
The Secret World of Aircraft Graveyards
While these facilities are highly restricted, some offer public tours so aviation enthusiasts can get a peek into this world.
- Mojave Air and Space Port (USA) – One of the biggest aircraft storage sites in the world, this California based facility holds commercial jets and military aircraft. Some are for sale, others are being slowly dismantled for parts.
- Teruel Airport (Spain) – Europe’s biggest aircraft storage facility, home to hundreds of parked planes, including former Emirates A380s.
- Alice Springs Boneyard (Australia) – The world’s first large scale aircraft storage facility in the Southern Hemisphere, used heavily during the pandemic to store grounded planes.
- Pinal Airpark (USA) – A former secret CIA facility, this Arizona boneyard has a mysterious past.
Why Aircraft Graveyards Matter More Than You Think
The aviation industry is working towards sustainability and aircraft graveyards are a big part of that. By salvaging parts, reducing waste and finding new uses for old aircraft, these sites extend the life of materials and reduce the industry’s environmental footprint.
Many planes are stored temporarily during industry downturns like the COVID-19 pandemic when thousands of aircraft were parked in the desert to prevent corrosion. Some of these planes will return to service after undergoing full maintenance and refurbishment before being reintroduced into airline fleets. This is what happened to many Airbus A380s which were initially retired but then re-activated as travel demand picked up.
With advancements in technology, these graveyards will become even more relevant—especially as hydrogen and electric aircraft enter the market. One day, today’s planes will be museum pieces, preserved in boneyards as a testament to the evolution of aviation.
Would you visit one of these storage facilities if you had the chance? Let us know in the comments below!
