boneyard bus tour

The "Boneyard" Of Davis-Monthan Air Force Base Is Open For Tours

For those who are interested in aviation history, it's worth visiting the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base for a tour of this plane 'boneyard.'

The Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is one of a kind and certainly a wonder to behold. It is a US Air Force base 5 miles southeast of downtown Tucson, Arizona, and is famous for its massive aircraft boneyard for storing American military aircraft. The Davis-Monthan Air Force Base is the destination for all American excess military and aerospace craft.

Tuscon is an interesting city, and there is plenty to keep one busy if coming to visit for the weekend. Incorporate the Air Force Base and museum into one's trip to Tuscon and one will have a very memorable time here . Another American (but top secret) base that we all wish we knew more of is the famed Area 51 - home to those crashed little green men .

About The Davis-Monthan Air Force Base

As the sole aircraft boneyard for excess military aircraft is full of thousands of military airplanes of every sort imaginable. It also stores other aerospace vehicles like ballistic missiles.

• 4,000: Number of Military Aircraft Parked on the Base

Tuscon's dry climate and alkali soil make it an ideal location to store and preserve unused aircraft.

The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) is responsible for reserving these excess aircraft was established in 1946. It occupies some 2,600 acres and houses every kind of American military aircraft one can think of. To name a few that one can see:

• B-52 Stratofortress Bombers
• F-16 Fighting Falcons
• A-10 Warthogs
• C-130 Hercules
• B-1B Lancers

Storage Categories

The boneyard has the following official categories for how it stores the aircraft:

• Type 1000: Long Term Storage, Maintained Until Recalled into Active Service, They Have a High Potential to Return To Flying Status And No Parts Are Removed
• Type 2000: Aircraft Available for Part As "Aircraft Storage Bins" To Keep Other Aircraft Flying
• Type 3000: "Flying Hold" Kept to Near Flyable Condition - In Temporary Storage Awaiting sale To Another Country or Transfer to Another Unit
• Type 4000: Excess Of Needs And Have Been Gutted And Every Usable Part Has Been Reclaimed. To Be Scrapped

It is the foremost facility for the maintenance, salvage, and storage of military aircraft in the world.

This is a very active site and not an abandoned site that one may be tempered to sneak into. It is very much guarded by armed security and airforce personal.

Related: Go UFO Hunting In Roswell, New Mexico, And Then Check Out Their UFO Museum

Davis-Month Air Force Base Tour

The Davis-Month Air Force Base offers a tour of their air force base (but not the neighboring boneyard.

The 355th Wing offers group tours with the aim of educating people about the US Air Force and its missions. They do not accommodate individuals or non-organized groups. But they do try to accommodate specific requests to visit a particular unit or learn about certain missions.

These tours are only provided to organized groups like civic organizations, schools, businesses, and reunion groups.

If one would like a tour, one must complete the " Community Relations Request Form " and e-mail it to [email protected] at least 4 weeks or more before the intended date.

• Organized Groups Only: No Private Tours
• Limit: Tours Are Limited to a Minimum of 20 People and a Max of 45 (or the Capability of One Commercial Bus)
• When: Tours Are Only Offered On Weekdays
• Duration: Tours Are Max 4 Hours
• Age Limit: Only 18 And Over (ID Is Required)
• Dining: There are Dining Options On The Bace Like Mirage Club andEagle's Nest Snack Bar & Grill

Related: This Is What Air Force One Serves As Its Halloween In-Flight Meal

Pima Air & Space Museum & Former Boneyard Tours

On-site is the impressive Pima Air & Space Museum . It offers some very impressive Air Force exhibits and until recently offered exclusive bus tours of the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (AMARG) - aka the 'boneyard'. It is located adjacent to the Museum at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

Admission to the museum itself includes access to the Main Hangar (3 hangars combined into 1: Hangar 1, Spirit of Freedom, & Flight Central), three World War II Hangars, the 390th Memorial Museum (a separate museum on our grounds), a collection of 400+ aircraft and 125,000+ artifacts, and more.

They offer a 45 minute Tram tour through the museum's 80 acres on a 1.5-mile circuit that views over 150 airplanes in their collection. The Tram Tours are narrated by experienced and friendly guides that explain the various highlights of the collections.

Narration may include the plane’s significance, and often times share their personal stories of service with many of the aircraft on display.

• Museum Admission: Adult (Age 13+) $18.50 - 1 Day or $24.00 2 Days

The Air Force 309th section of the base includes the massive boneyard. Unfortunately, they no longer provide tours of the 'Boneyard'. They did offer visitors for nearly 23 years but now tours are canceled. Perhaps they will offer them once again in the future. They recommend those interested in learning more about the Boneyard to visit their Facebook page .

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Visiting the Enormous Aircraft Boneyard and Pima Air and Space Museum

By: Author Corinne Vail

Posted on Published: 9 March 17  - Last updated: 17 August 22

Home » DIY Travel » Visiting the Enormous Aircraft Boneyard and Pima Air and Space Museum

Do you love airplanes? One of Arizona’s most mysterious and fantastic sights is the aircraft boneyard of the Pima Air and Space Museum. It’s huge; it’s fun; and you are going to love it.

I love airplanes! For a brief period, until my money ran out, I took flying lessons when I was 15 years old. I loved being in control, soaring through the air (C’mon I know you are surprised!) I loved the feeling that I could go anywhere. In fact, I clocked up a few hours on a small Piper Cub prop plane, but never soloed, maybe someday. To be honest, I was afraid of the landing part. Such a chicken!

However, I do have a love for all kinds of aircraft, and I love an air show, a transportation museum, all of it. So, on our Tucson itinerary, I was really excited to visit the Puma Air and Space Museum so I could check the rows and rows of retired military planes at the aircraft boneyard off of my bucket list.

Maybe because of my love of planes, I also have a long history with the United States Air Force. My dad was enlisted while I was growing up and we moved from base to base, always hearing the sounds of the jet engines overhead. Just like many folks, we used to head out to the airfield and watch them take off, scream by in high speed turns, or just practicing their touch and goes. I loved the Air Force life and enlisted myself not long after high school to become an aircraft electrician where I worked on helicopters, cargo planes, and jet fighters. That was fun!

A Visit to the Airplane Boneyard

So, last summer we were finally going to Tucson, Arizona. I’d never been before and had wanted to go ever since I first heard that there was a place that old, dead airplanes were laid to rest called, in Air Force slang, “the Boneyard.” As you drive through this part of Tucson, you can occasionally glimpse the tails of aircraft poking up above the earthen berm that lines the road. There are some places where you can actually see a part of the boneyard, rows upon rows, of plastic encapsulated planes. The boneyard seems to be a massive collection, hidden in plain view.

What most people don’t know, is that you can visit the boneyard, even if you are just a regular civilian. In order to access the Boneyard, unless you have been granted access through military channels, you must go to the Pima Air & Space Museum, located on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and sign up for the tour. Then you can climb on the bus with 25 or so fellow enthusiasts and go for a cruise around the boneyard. Unfortunately, as it’s an active military area, you are not even allowed to get off the bus at all, but even still it’s an impressive sight.

The Aircraft Boneyard has approximately 5,000 planes and helicopters in its inventory which changes daily; it’s impossible not to be awestruck by the sheer size and numbers of the aircraft. As we were riding by the huge fields full of just about every kind of winged vehicle imaginable, I recognized some of my favorites like the huge C-5s as well as smaller jet fighters like the F-15s, all lined up wing to wing. I was wonderstruck, and a part of me, hearkening back to those flight line days, wanted to jump off the bus and go really explore.

The Pima Air & Space Museum

The tour over, the bus took us back to the main part of the museum which was impressive in its own right. Even though the main reason I was there was for the boneyard, I couldn’t help but love the five hangars full of historical and experimental aircraft, with two full hangars dedicated to World War II.

The exhibits were full of information; many were interactive, and you could even climb in some of the static displays. The outdoor area was just like walking among the aircraft as if they were still in commission. You could get up close, even touch them, and feel dwarfed by their immense sizes.

Pima Air and Space Museum – Practical Information

• Take exit 267, Valencia Rd, off I-10 and follow the brown signs to Pima Air and Space Museum.
• Sign up for the boneyard tour immediately after arrival, as seats are first come first served.
• Plan on 4 to 5 hours for your visit. This includes time to explore the hangars and grounds of the museum and the 1.5 hour long boneyard tour.
• Be mindful of the weather. In winter dress in layers including a light jacket. In summer, dress for the heat, wear a hat, and sunscreen. Wear comfortable shoes, you will be doing lots of walking.
• Plan your museum visit carefully, alternating between indoors and outdoors exhibits.
• The Flight Grill, located in the museum, is an excellent option for lunch or an early afternoon dinner.
• The Pima Air & Space Museum website has all the information you need.

It was easy to spend quite a few hours there, so we took advantage of the museum café and had some great burgers. We also couldn’t stop ourselves from buying a few souvenirs at the shop. If you plan to be in Tucson, not only do we highly recommend the Pima Space & Air Museum, but while you are there sign up for the bus tour of the Boneyard. You’ll love it.

Have you been to the Aircraft Boneyard or the Pima Air & Space Museum?

Author Bio: Corinne Vail is a travel photographer, food lover, and a perpetual traveler who has been travel writing for over 14 years. For many years she lived overseas in Germany, Japan, Turkey, South Korea, and the Netherlands teaching the children of the US. military. She’s visited over 90 countries, and she’s not stopping anytime soon.

Save the Aircraft Boneyard for later!

Brett Stratton

Wednesday 19th of June 2019

I remember my cousin telling me that he was taking several F15s to the boneyard. They had most of the electronics removed of course, but it always bothered me that such a beautiful bird was going to the boneyard to die. (Probably) Can you imagine all of our countries hero's who built, serviced flew these planes? My hats and hearts to them all. Thank you. Visiting the boneyard is #1 on my bucket list.

Thursday 20th of June 2019

I spent hundreds of hours prepping B52s for the boneyard, seeing those same tail numbers there on our visit was very powerful. Thanks for visiting our site!

Tuesday 22nd of January 2019

What a cool find! It would such a treat to see all the experimental aircraft the the rows and rows of aircraft outside, even if you can't get off the bus. I'm adding this to my to do list!

reflectiveponderer

Friday 17th of March 2017

How interesting! I have not visited this base but was intrigued when visiting the Airforce Museum in Linköping, Sweden. Love delving into history and facts!

Corinne Vail

Me too! Me too!

Monday 13th of March 2017

As a certified plane nut, this is my padded cell right here! I'll aim to be admitted next time I'm in Arizona - though that could be a while, given the fact that the SA government is now being run by a circus.

I've visited Seattle's Museum of Flight and of course the Smithsonian's amazing establishments, and the thought of five hangars full of historic old planes is exciting.

RAF Duxford near Cambridge is another place that has an awesome collection, including a hangar full of American aircraft that, like Pima, may be touched and photographed intimately.

Pete, Don't waste another minute...you have to go!

christine leger

the military service also goes back generations in my family, and my hubby's, so it's safe to say, I love this. Also, I've seen plenty of aerial photos of this place but never on the ground. Very cool.

Christine, I hope you get there one day. It is cool!

Davis-Monthan Air Force Base

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AIR & SPACE MAGAZINE

A tour of the boneyard.

The aircraft retirement home in Arizona is well worth a visit.

John Sotham

My son Ian and I had already spent two days at the Pima Air & Space Museum outside Tucson, Arizona, walking the hangars and the terrific collection of aircraft parked outside. Pima is adjacent to the fence line of Davis-Monthan AFB, home of the “Boneyard.” Its official name is the Air Force’s 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group—the caretakers of nearly 4,000 U.S. military aircraft headed for scrap, storage, or potential rebirth, all parked on 2,600 acres of Arizona desert.  

Boneyard tours are exclusively handled by the Pima museum. You can get tickets online or in person at the gift shop.

Buses to Davis-Monthan depart just outside the Pima main entrance. We queued up—after a check for identification and a cursory bag check—and got onboard to enter the base’s gate. I presented my military ID, and our tour guide, Bob Ratledge, waved us aboard the bus with a few questions (where was I stationed?) and a thanks for my service.  

We rolled toward the DM gate. Over the bus’s intercom, Ratledge began his tour and welcomed our international guests (I was amazed at how many were visiting this dusty corner of the U.S.), who came from Italy, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom. After we were inside the base, he gave us a plane-by-plane guide to “Celebrity Row,” a lineup of iconic aircraft retired here.

One of only two YC-14s entered our view—the Boeing counter to the requirement that resulted in the McDonnell-Douglas (ironically, now Boeing) C-17 Globemaster III that flew me to and from Afghanistan. A brooding F-4 came into view (Phantoms always look grumpy to me), the airplane I used to tend to as a young Senior Airman crew chief. There are still a good number of these iconic fighters here, still being converted into target drones, along with more modern, but still outmoded, early-model F-16s.

I grew tired of craning my neck to one side (if you’re into fighters, grab a seat on the left side of the bus). My other heartbreak as a former “Warthog” crew chief: Endless rows of deadly tank-busting A-10 Thunderbolt IIs.

Hundreds of C-5s are stored here. For scale, a diminutive T-37 “Tweet” is parked next to the Celebrity Row Galaxy. After the bus passed acres of C-5s, followed by KC-135s, C-130s, HH-60s, and S-3-Vikings, the massive YAL-1 Airborne Laser—a Boeing 747-400 airframe fitted with a high-powered laser capable of downing an incoming missile—came into view. The YAL-1 sits forlorn, engineless and headed for scrap.

Soon it was time to turn around and head back to Pima, and Ratledge passed the return trip with an intercom quiz about aircraft and World War II history. (Ian shot his hand up to answer after nearly every question.)

If you’re near Tucson, don’t miss Pima or the Boneyard tour. Next stop on our tour: the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, where we’ve got space-available military lodging reservations.

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John Sotham | READ MORE

A former associate editor of Air & Space , John Sotham is a hopelessly nearsighted frequent flyer, with thousands of hours logged in exit rows worldwide. He is a retired U.S. Air Force Reserve colonel and a former crew chief on the F-4D Phantom II and A-10A “Warthog.” He started collecting aviation books when he was eight years old. Any opinions expressed are solely the author’s.

Pima Air and Space Museum – Best Museum Tours in Tucson

Insider Tips on Pima Air and Space Museum and Boneyard Tour

Pima Air and Space Museum is unique to Arizona’s the Sonoran Desert. It is the largest non-government funded aviation museum in the world. Visitors get up-close and personal with nearly 300 U.S. and world-wide historically important and technologically sophisticated aircraft at Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.

The museum and tour fees are easy on the wallet, accepting various discounts including American Automobile Association (AAA), Tucson Passport Book, Tucson Entertainment Book, and others. Visitors are welcome to bring their own food onto the grounds, also keeping it a budget travel friendly. The Thunderbird Grill outdoor café offers sandwiches, burgers, drinks, and snacks, on-site as well.

100 Years of Aircraft Technology

A day spent at the Pima Air and Space Museum is an inspiring walk through aviation technology. Allow at least three hours to complete this worthy adventure. The main museum ticket entitles guests to explore museum hangers, the Space Exploration Center, wander the grounds outside, and catch a free shuttle that may be scurrying around the aircraft grounds.

The hangers are filled with amazing one-of-a-kind aircraft from World War II, prototypes, hands-on aircraft action for the young and young-at-heart, aircraft engines, and other amazing air and space examples spanning over a hundred years of technology.

The Air Force One used by U.S. Presidents J.F. Kennedy and L.B. Johnson

Visitors board the last propeller-driven aircraft flown for primary U.S. Presidential transport. Climbing the stairs and stepping into the actual Air Force One used by U.S. Presidents J.F. Kennedy and Johnson is a surreal and reverent experience for every visitor. The 1962 Douglas VC-118A Liftmaster stands-out from the rest in the presidential aircraft circle on the Pima Air and Space grounds.

AMARG “Boneyard” Bus Tour

Guests may also purchase a special tour ticket for an exclusive bus tour from the Museum to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) also called the “Boneyard Tour” at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

AMARG Aircraft “At-the-Ready”

The bus weaves among the rows of military aircraft ready to fly at a moment’s notice. The docent carefully tells each aircraft’s tale, while guests try to wrap their minds around the reality that thousands of military aircraft surround them at-the-ready. Luckily, it is not unusual for a roadrunner or jack rabbit scurrying among them to offer a comic-relief photo opportunity, along with the stops for more serious photo moments, like the active force A-10 Thunderbolt “Warthog.”

ARMARG “Boneyard” Namesake

Half-way through the tour, guests learn how it became known as the “Boneyard” tour. Once across the bridge, the docent explains that the aircraft on that side never fly again. The boneyard is ever-changing. This summer a B52 Bomber is in three giant strategically placed pieces. Thanks to knowledgeable docents, like Bill M., visitors are quick to learn the pieces are there for Russian satellites acknowledgment, due to the 1993 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.

How to See the Pima Air and Space Museum and the AMARG “Boneyard” Tour

Aircraft historians, airplane hobbyists, and aviation enthusiasts flock to Tucson regularly to Pima Air and Space Museum to board the AMARG tour bus time and time again. New exhibits are always being added.

• Location: 6000 E. Valencia Rd. Tucson, Arizona 85706; Phone 520-574-0462
• Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Daily, Last admit 4:00 PM; Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas
• From November to May, reservations recommended for to ARMARG “Boneyard” Bus Tour.
• See the Pima Air and Space Museum website for more information.

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Attraction:

Aircraft Boneyard Tour (Closed)

Tucson, Arizona

The Aircraft Boneyard outside of Tucson is a legendary roadside destination: over 4,000 mothballed aircraft baking in the sun, stretched across four square miles of Arizona desert. It's open for public tours, and inspires all manner of fever-dream conjecturing. Do squatters live in the airplanes? Can the desert heat make aircraft explode? Could Zeppelins, biplanes, or flying saucers be half-buried and forgotten in a back corner? Can a visitor simply hop into a jet, turn a key, and fire it up?

The answer to all of these questions is No.

The Boneyard is on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and is run by the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) -- which doesn't like the name "Boneyard" (The preferred name is "Air Power Reservoir"). Although the popular image is of an Elephant Graveyard of airplanes, with rusty propellers creaking in the wind, the Boneyard is actually a busy place. Crews are constantly at work either sealing new arrivals against the elements, disassembling other planes for parts, or trucking gutted aircraft to an on-site smelter. Any old, historic aircraft have long-ago been hauled to the Pima Air & Space Museum across the street.

According to museum executive director Scott Marchand, the last time that civilians were able to freely wander the Boneyard was the early 1970s. Today, the public can only view the Boneyard through the windows of a tour bus that leaves the museum twice a day, Monday through Friday. The tour lasts 90 minutes, narrated by a museum guide. The bus does not stop and its passengers do not get out until they return to the museum. Tour-goers need to make their reservations at least ten business days in advance, and must bring along all of their supporting IDs and documents, or they don't get on the bus.

All of this, Scott said, dampens the appeal of the Boneyard for the average visitor. But for "real hardcore airplane nerds" the Boneyard remains a bucket-list destination, a chance to view mile after mile of ghost planes, cocooned as if by some aircraft-eating spider, while a tour guide calls out the names and service histories of the various jet fighters, tankers, cargo planes, helicopters, and bombers.

For such tourists -- and Scott counts himself one of them -- the Boneyard is, "one of the most amazing aerospace spectacles in the world." For everyone else, the museum -- which has 80 outdoor acres of old aircraft that visitors can actually touch -- is probably more satisfying.

Aircraft Boneyard Tour

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Biggest aircraft boneyards in the world

Any aircraft, whether it is a commercial airliner or military cargo plane has a limited lifespan. The retirement of the civil aircraft usually turns into a celebration before their final flight. The airlines often put their final aircraft on a tour around the country or initiate the farewell international flight. It gives people the final opportunity to see the iconic aircraft in its authentic airline colors. But when the old machine’s engines stop and cool down for the last time, what happens next?

There are two ways of how airlines utilize retired planes. In case of a positive outcome, the old plane is put into the open air aviation museum, like the famous Concorde or Tupolev Tu-144. However, most of the retired planes spend their last days in so-called boneyards or graveyards.

The purpose of the aircraft boneyards and their location

An aircraft graveyard or boneyard is the place where planes go to rest after their service comes to an end. Sometimes the retired machines can get a second life under another airline name. However, most of the aircraft spend their last days in graveyards forever. The majority of the aircraft boneyards are used to store retired airplanes before their parts are removed for reuse or resale. Usually the disassembled airplanes are scrapped after such a procedure. The retired planes are crashed with excavators that can demolish a small plane like Boeing 737 in a couple of days. The bigger models might need a month of work.

Most of the graveyards are located in deserts, far outside people’s settlements. Dry air conditions and baking sun help to hold the corrosion of planes and the hard ground does not need to be paved. Most of the graveyards are closed for visitors and do not provide any tours.

Most of the biggest aircraft boneyards are found in the United States. There might be a few reasons why. First of all, even retired planes require a lot of work, time and, what is more crucial, space. There are acres of free open space in the south-western U.S. This region, with its dry climate, low humidity, and little rain, provides the perfect conditions for the old planes’ storage.

1. Davis-Monthan located nearby the Arizona city of Tucson.

This graveyard stores around 4,400 aircraft, arranged over nearly 2,600 acres (10.5 sq km). The facility workers call it simply Boneyard. The location is run by the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (309 AMARG). The graveyard gave shelter to different kinds of airplanes, including broken or retired B-52 bombers, B-29 Superfortresses, C-47 Skytrains, United Airlines Boeing 727-100, and many more. The majority of the preserved aircraft in the Davis-Monthan belongs to military aviation. The facility has controlled access, not permitted for visitors. The only access to the boneyard is via a bus tour. The tour begins nearby Pima Air and Space Museum and lasts about an hour. The bus stops at different locations of the Davis-Monthan, but no one is allowed off the bus.

2. S outhern California Logistics Airport / Victorville (VCV)

The boneyard is located in the city of Victorville in San Bernardino County, in the Mojave Desert. A warm and dry climate here made it the perfect place to keep aging airplanes for extended periods. The airport’s longest runway is more than 15,000 feet long, capable of handling fully loaded 747s.

The Victorville graveyard is currently storing around 275 passenger and cargo aircraft. Numerous large ex-Orient Thai and British Airways Boeing 747, Singapore Airlines ( SIA1 ) ( SINGY ) , Air New Zealand, and Cathay Pacific planes, older McDonnell Douglas DC/MD-10 and MD-11 freighters, Lockheed, and Airbus aircraft owned by major airlines are currently kept at Victorville.

3. Phoenix Goodyear Airport (GYR)

Following the end of World War II, the primary role of the GYR was to store and preserve U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard aircraft. At some point, the facility stored more than 5,000 aircraft. By early 1958, the numbers decreased to 2,500 aircraft.

After the closure of NAS Litchfield Park in 1967, the City of Phoenix purchased the airport for a general aviation facility. Today, the airport offers aircraft maintenance, pilot training and stores such commercial planes like Boeing 737, Airbus A340 and Boeing 747s.

4. Tarmac aircraft boneyard, Teruel Airport, Spain

The Teruel Airport is located about 100 miles south of Zaragoza, Eastern Spain. Its location 1,000 meters above sea level and a cold, dry plain climate provide perfect conditions for the retired passenger airliners storage.

It was initially constructed to house commercial aircraft, including Boeing, Airbus, and Bombardier. Opened in 2013, the facility nowadays offers long-term aircraft parking, recycling, aircraft painting, aircraft assembly, and fitting-out services.

It is the biggest aircraft boneyard in Europe, designed to handle 250 large planes. After the air travel was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, different European carriers, including British Airways, sent some of their Boeing 747s to Teruel for storage.

5. Khodynka Field, Domodedovo Airport, Russia

Initially built to service commercial flights, the airfield became one of the most popular aircraft boneyards in Russia. The last plane took off from here in 2003. Nowadays part of the aircraft has been scrapped. The machines that were better preserved are now in the Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology. The vast territory of the aircraft boneyard on the Khodynka field is surrounded by barbed wire and guarded.

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Boneyard Safari Preserving Aviation HIstory

Hands on tour, once a month the boneyard safari provides a hands on tour in conjunction with aircraft restoration management in tucson.  .

Take a unique tour and see a side of aviation with an exclusive look through aircraft in their different conditions at Aircraft Restoration Marketing, which is one of the last regeneration facilities in Tucson.  Boneyard Safari Docents will guide 10 guests through a C-130, DC-3/C-47, Boeing 727, and walk around various other aircraft including a C-27A, T-37, C-131F, and P-3.  It is limited to 3 hours due to weather conditions.  Bring your cameras because this is a unique opportunity to go inside of aircraft as they are being regenerated or seeing their final days.  Be prepared for hot weather, so bring a hat, sunscreen, good hiking shoes (lots of critters), and water!  Please note this is not a tour of AMARG (The Boneyard) on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

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Place was a blast tour was great and I learned a lot

Things to do & places to stay

Check in with us for a list of places to eat and stay in Tucson as well as fun places to visit.

How to See the Remarkable Arizona Plane Graveyard (Tucson Boneyard) – Updated for 2024

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Last Updated on May 17, 2024

INSIDE: The Arizona Plane Graveyard (Tucson Boneyard) no longer offers on-base tours. How to see the planes using nearby roads – NEW for 2024!

A few years ago we took a tour of the Arizona airplane graveyard–also known as the Tucson “Boneyard.” It was an awesome way to see the place where over 3,000 surplus military aircraft are stored. Then in early 2020 COVID hit and tours were stopped. We waited, and waited, and waited for tours to resume . . . but 4 years later it looks like it’s not gonna happen. 🙁

Fortunately there are still ways to see the planes without going onto the military base where they’re located.

You just have to know where to look . . .

. . . And you’ve come to the right place. We’ll tell you all about it.

The Arizona plane graveyard is a must-visit site for anyone who loves aircraft (that’s us! ✋). Learn about this amazing place, and how you can see “the Boneyard,” as it’s unofficially known− even if you can’t get on base . Visiting the Boneyard is one of the truly unique things to do in Tucson -there’s nothing else like it. Anywhere.

Click Here to see Table of Contents ➤

What, exactly, IS the Arizona Plane Graveyard?

“The Boneyard” is officially known as the 309th AMARG Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (military-speak for a really cool airplane junkyard Tucson Az).

It’s located at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base , on the southeastern edge of Tucson, where it is the final resting place of more than 3,000 aircraft.

AMARG is the world’s largest salvage yard (minus the snarling dogs). And, since those planes−and their respective parts−still have some use, don’t call it an “airplane JUNKyard Tucson AZ.” ‘Cause that would be just plain disrespectful to those retired sunbathing beauties.

The aircraft are lined up in rows set up with military precision, stacked so closely together that from above their wings look like they are holding hands with each other, a sharp contrast to their former roles.

It’s a starkly beautiful setting as, throughout the day, the silver fuselages reflect changing colors of the Rincon Mountains to the east.

Why is there a Plane Graveyard Arizona in Tucson?

The military has a problem. It has thousands of aircraft that are no longer being used, but they don’t want to just send them to the scrapyard like a used ’92 Chevy. So what to do?

It would be impractical to build giant hangars for 3,000+ aircraft, especially when many of them are no longer operational. How about sending them into semi-permanent outdoor storage?

The Sonoran Desert of Arizona provides the perfect location, where the arid climate prevents rust . So now theres a Tucson Arizona aircraft graveyard.

Despite its moniker, the “Boneyard” is not a place merely to stockpile airplanes in eternal rest. Some have been mothballed for spare parts and potential future activation.

In 2015 a B-52 bomber old enough to qualify for AARP membership was restored and returned to flying condition (those things are solid ! 💪).

Though the Cold War may have ended, the men and women deployed at the Arizona plane graveyard are on constant alert for any future chills in relations between the superpowers.

Can you tour the Tucson Airplane Graveyard?

Unfortunately, NO . Due to their placement on an active military base, tours are not offered of the airplane Boneyard Arizona. (They once were, it’s true, but those days are past, and we civilians have to accept that. 🫤)

BUT . . . it’s kind of difficult to tuck 3,000+ aircraft out of sight, so you CAN see them. You just have to know where to look.

The amount of hardware on display is striking. Some of the planes look ready to take off while others are partially salvaged, as if turkey vultures soaring overhead have been picking them clean.

Where is the Airplane Boneyard Arizona?

Fear not, we’ll give you a rundown below. But first, we’ll start with a general overview map:

In the map above shows the Arizona plane graveyard at a high-level view. This gives you some context of where the Boneyard is with respect to downtown Tucson (which is to the northwest).

Also note Tucson International Airport to the southwest. You can see that commercial airport is less than half the size of the aviation graveyard Arizona! (You need a LOT of space to store over 3,000 planes! ✈️✈️✈️)

Best Places for Planespotting at the Airplane Boneyard Arizona

The best place to see planes is on the northern perimeter of the Tucson airplane graveyard. Additionally, there are a few other places you can spot the aircraft, however they may be little more than fleeting glimpses.

Here’s a more detailed map showing the best viewing spots:

1. Escalante Road (northern perimeter): Viewing rating-10/10; Photo rating 10/10

There are a few reasons the viewing the aviation graveyard Arizona from Escalante Road is so good:

• You’re as close to the aircraft as you might be driving on base (which I remember from my on-base tour years back)
• There’s plenty of room to park, so you can take your time and ogle to your heart’s content. (Yeah, so I totally did that.)
• You are level with the planes, with no obstructions to viewing
• Lots of time to take all the photos you want

NOTE: You do need to be strategic with your camera lens, so you don’t see chain link fencing in your shot−unless you want to get “artsy.” 🤔

In the photo above, I put my camera lens (from my iPhone) in juuuuuust the right spot, up against the fence. So it looks like I’m standing smack-dab on base of the airplane boneyard Arizona.

Then, I opted for the artsy bit, with the chain-link fencing in the foreground. This demostrates just how close you can actually get to the planes! Plus I think it’s kind of cool the way the fencing creates its own frame.

As I mentioned above, there’s plenty of parking along the fence here, so you’ll be able to take all the time you like ogling the aircraft. Here’s a panoramic view of what the road/parking area/boneyard looks like:

2. E. Irvington Road (northern perimeter): Viewing rating: 8/10; Photo rating: 9/10

Slightly farther east, and a little to the south, you’ll find the northern perimeter of the aviation graveyard Arizona along East Irvington Road. Viewing is very good here, although not quite as good as Escalante Rd (above).

A few points to consider when viewing planes along E. Irvington Rd:

• The aircraft are fairly close
• There is an ample parking area
• You can take as much time as you like looking at (and photographing) the aircraft
• There is a small berm , partially obstructing the aircraft

This last point is why I only give the viewing here an 8/10 instead of 10/10. There is one area where there’s a break in the berm, however this also coincides with a wash. So if it has rained recently (such was the case when I last visited) you’ll be trudging through a big ol’ mud puddle at this spot.

All of that being said, there are still some darned good views along this area, including this one (below), where there’s a slight rise above the berm: 👇👇👇

I love this view of the tail fins all lined up, with the Santa Rita Mountains in the background. It’s hard to imagine these beauties are part of any type of aviation graveyard Arizona! (And isn’t that lone plane in U.S. Coast Guard red livery just stunning ?!)

Here’s a view along the E. Irvington Rd. fence line, to give you an idea of the terrain. You can see the berm (through the fence) as well as the slight incline on the left of the photo. This is where you can get a better view of those gorgeous tailfins 😊.

3. East Valencia Road (southern perimeter): Viewing: 3/10; Photos 3/10

The aircraft of the Arizona plane graveyard are not stored as near to the southern perimeter as they are on the northern side. A few things to keep in mind when driving along the southern side of the boneyard:

• The planes are a farther distance from the perimeter than the northern side
• Much of the roadway has creosote bushes and other vegetation obstructing your view
• There is nowhere to park

This last issue is perhaps the most critical. Unless you have someone else driving, it will be difficult to crane your neck to see the planes. (And probably unsafe as well.) It will also be impossible to photograph anything.

However, if you DO have someone else driving, here’s a map showing where you can see the planes:

Since my husband was doing the driving, I was, fortunately able to get a photo from E. Valencia Road. I’ll let you be the judge of whether it’s worth heading over to the southern perimeter. If you’re a completist, you may want to do it anyway. (Which I totally get 🤩.)

4. Kolb Road (N/S through the center): Viewing 7/10 & 0/10 (zero) ; Photos 4/10 & 0/10

Kolb Road runs north-south and slices right through the center of the Arizona plane graveyard–it essentially bisects it. So you may be thinking, “awesome! We can drive right between all the planes.” And you can . . . sort of.

There are some spots were viewing is pretty good, other areas where it is totally nonexistent. Some things to consider when driving along the Kolb Road portion of the Arizona airplane graveyard:

• Kolb Rd. is a busy road with a lot of cars
• There is nowhere to pull over along the road
• The road is below grade through much of the boneyard; you can’t see any planes.

There is a massive overpass crossing Kolb Road for the Air Force to transport aircraft from one section of the boneyard to the other. Therefore road is actually recessed for much of the distance through the boneyard.

As a result, visibility of planes is ZERO through this portion of Kolb Road. Take a look at this photo to see what I mean:

The above photo is us driving north through the boneyard. You can see the aircraft overpass in the distance. You can also see the how the road is recessed, with no planes visible here. And how there’s not much room on the shoulders to pull over.

And although you can’t see it in this photo, there are “No Parking” signs all along this portion of the road. So you can’t exactly stop for a quick scramble up the slope for a photo-op.

But the viewing does get better as you progress north of the overpass.

The road begins to gradually slope upward, until you are once again level with the planes, near the northern perimeter (where we began our planespotting journey.) The best area for viewing is the western side of Kolb Rd. , between E. Irvington Road and Escalante Road.

PRO TIP: There is no stopping on Kolb Rd, so be sure to have someone else take photos (or have someone else drive and take photos yourself).

Viewing is best while driving north : even though they will be on the opposite side of the planes, you will be driving toward them, instead of away from them.

Here are 2 quick videos I took (while my husband was driving!) heading north on Kolb Road:

And this one is in Slo-Mo, so you can see a bit more:

Also, this is the only place you’ll be to see the front of any of the aircraft. From all other viewpoints you’ll be looking at the back or sides of the planes.

From this viewpoint you can see how the aircraft windshields have been prepped for their long stay in the desert. And how the propellers have been stabilized. They kind of look blindfolded . . . or like they’re wearing masks. 😷

NOTE: Remember, there is nowhere to stop along Kolb Rd. to take photos. And it’s a fairly busy road with a speed limit of 40mph, so no slowing down for a quick “snap.” Be sure to have a “designated photographer” in the car with you (or let someone else do the driving!)

The Stealth Fighter at the Aviation Graveyard Arizona???

Maybe not, but then again, maybe . . . ???

I couldn’t finish this post without sharing a cute anecdote from our experience back in the days when tours were still offered.

As the tour bus drove through the rows of aircraft the driver stopped outside one special spot.

A lone ladder waiting for a pilot to climb into the cockpit angled ten feet into the air, hovering over a set of landing gear and . . . nothing else. A sign in front of it says that this is an F-117 Stealth Fighter.

It made the grizzled tour guide’s day when a few young kids exclamed, “Wow! You really can’t see it!”

Just a little Air Force humor there . . . 😉

It’s disappointing that tours of the Tucson airplane graveyard are no longer offered. However with a little careful planning (and a designated driver while you photograph), you can still see much of this incredible sight.

Even if it has to be through the fence.

Viewing the Arizona Plane Graveyard from the Air

This is one you’ll have to do through the magic of YouTube 😊. Below are two of the best videos I’ve found from years gone by:

Like Aircraft? More in the Tucson Area:

Afterwards, the Pima Air & Space Museum offers a fine collection of more than 350 aircraft including a B-24 Liberator, Sikorsky Skycrane helicopter, Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the unique Aero Spacelines 377-SG “Super Guppy” cargo plane that is cobbled together from parts of a retired U.S. Air Force C-97 Stratofreighter and a former Pan American Boeing 377 Stratocruiser.

Fast facts about the Tucson Airplane Graveyard, aka “The Boneyard”

Can anyone visit the tucson boneyard.

NO. Tours were stopped in 2020 with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Pima Air & Space Museum (who organized the tours) “t he bus tours to Davis-Monthan AFB of the  309 th  AMARG  (AKA “The Boneyard”) have permanently ended. This tour is no longer offered and will not be coming back due to changes in U.S. Air Force security considerations.” 

How many planes are in the Tucson Boneyard?

According to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base , “AMARG is responsible for the storage of nearly 3,200 aircraft and more than 6,300 engines from the five Department of Defense services.”

Where is the best place to see the Boneyard in Tucson?

There are multiple viewing spots along the northern perimeter of the Boneyard, on Escalante and East Irvington Road, where you can park and take photos. These areas have places to park. Other roads nearby offer views, but you cannot stop, so views are “fleeting.”

For another Cold War relic head nearby to the Titan Missile Museum , home of the last of the 54 Titan II missile sites that were on alert from 1963 through 1987.

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List and Map of Active and Post-WWII Aircraft Boneyards and Storage Facilities

Military aircraft boneyards.

The United States manufactured about 294,000 aircraft for WWII, and once peace was assured the military found itself with a huge surplus of aircraft.

Within a year of the end of the war, about 34,000 airplanes had been moved to 30 sales-storage depots, or " aircraft boneyards ".

It was estimated a total of 117,210 aircraft would be declared surplus. 

If a plane was not sold at boneyards such as those at Kingman AAF, Cal-Aero Field, and Walnut Ridge AAF, it was stripped of classified information, sliced up with guillotines, and melted in smelters into ingots.

Today, as Air Force, Navy and Marine planes become obsolete and need to be disposed of, or saved for future return to service, they are stored in the Arizona desert.

The Air Force Materiel Command's 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) operates the world's largest boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona.

Airliner Boneyards, Storage and Parts Reclamation Facilities

Commercial airliners have limited lifespans. Some are temporarily taken off flying status, and must be stored in a environment that is conducive to preservation. Others are kept for spare parts for flying aircraft.

To protect airliners during their storage from wind and sun damage, engines and windows are tightly covered with white, reflective materials. A sealed airliner can thus be stored safely, for years, until the time comes to return it to active duty, or salvage.

Eventually, all airliners are removed permanently from service and must be "disposed" of.

Airliner "boneyards" in the western United States serve several functions: temporary storage, maintenance, parts reclamation, and scrapping.

Airliner Storage During the COVID-19 Outbreak in 2020

As anyone that flies, has ties to the aviation industry, or watches TV knows, the worldwide outbreak of the Corona Virus has had a major negative impact on airlines and their fleets, worldwide. Hundreds of planes were being put into temporary storage.

Grounded airliners in storage in 2020

Large Boneyards & Storage Facilities in the Western U.S.

Located in Arizona, California and New Mexico are seven major airplane boneyards, each located in dry, low-humidity desert environments and offering long runways and extensive storage areas. Shown below is a list of these boneyard facilities.

List of Aircraft Storage Facilities and Parts Reclamation Sites in the United States (By State)

Other inactive or abandoned u.s. aircraft boneyards, major airplane boneyards around the world.

Huge fleets of surplus aircraft are stored in boneyards in the United States, but also around the world in England, Australia, Spain, France, Russia, South Africa and elsewhere.

Storage facilities such as the apron Aerosave operation at the Teruel Airport in Eastern Spain and Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage (APAS) at Alice Springs in Australia are designed to store and salvage large numbers of airliners.

... about boneyards in Europe    and   boneyards around the world

Map of locations of active and post-WWII airplane boneyards and plane storage facilities in the United States and around the world

Where airliners go to die ... and be recycled.

Airplane Boneyard Tours in the U.S.

Virtually all airplane boneyards and storage facilities are limited access sites and do not allow visitors. We encourage potential visitors to check with individual sites to learn about access policies and tours.

The largest boneyard in the world, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, previously allowed tours of its Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) facility.

In the past, AMARG bus tours have originated at the nearby Pima Air and Space Museum , phone 520.574.0462

At the present time the tour has been indefinitely suspended by request of the U.S. Air Force.

Click here for more information about airplane boneyard tours

List of Post-WWII Military Aircraft Boneyards, Sales Depots and Disposal Facilities in the U.S.

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Copyright © 2024 AirplaneBoneyards.com  All Rights Reserved. An online resource about facilities engaged in the storage, reclamation & disassembly of aircraft ... we do not own or operate a boneyard, or have an affiliation with any boneyard, the Department of Defense, or any aviation museum or tour group.

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One of the largest non-government funded aviation & space museums in the world!

Featuring about 400 historic aircraft, from a Wright Flyer to a 787 Dreamliner. Sitting on 80 acres the museum opened its doors to the public in May of 1976. Over the past forty years, the museum has grown immensely and today encompasses six indoor exhibit hangars (three dedicated to WWII).

Hours of Operation

REGULAR HOURS (October – May)

7 Days a Week 9 AM – 5 PM Last Admission at 3 PM

Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas Day

SUMMER HOURS (June – September)

7 Days a Week 9 AM – 3 PM Last Admission at 1:30 PM

(2-day tickets do not have to be used on consecutive days)

Leashed pets are welcome at Pima Air & Space Museum!

From Interstate-10 take Valencia Rd. (exit 267) east 2 miles to the museum entrance.

From northeast Tucson, take Kolb Rd. south to Valencia Rd. and turn west on Valencia to the museum entrance.

The closest public airport is Tucson International Airport (5.5 miles away). Phoenix International Airport is approximately 2 hours from the Pima Air & Space grounds. Private pilots may also consider flying into Ryan Field.

View hangar and grounds maps of the Pima Air & Space Museum. The museum has grown immensely and today encompasses six indoor exhibit hangars (three dedicated to WWII) across over 300,000 square feet of indoor display space. It also spans across 80 acres and has over 425 aircraft on display.

All of the museum buildings are accessible. The floors are poured cement. Accessible parking spaces (handicapped permit required) are located near the entrance to the museum. A paved walkway connects the Main Hangar, Hangar 3, 4 and 5 while the remainder of the outdoor acreage is generally hard-packed dirt. It can be difficult for a thin-wheeled vehicle to move easily in the areas with loose sand when viewing the 150 aircraft outdoors.

Pima Air & Space Museum does not have wheelchairs available.

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As, we cannot guarantee that the group shall be able to travel together as one group, therefore we will reduce the group size down to 4-5 smaller groups per ticket (depending upon group size).

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The City Sightseeing at Moscow begins at Bolotnaya Square with Hop-on-Hop-off bus service. The bus operates on the Red, Green and Orange lines. If you have limited time in Moscow, start your trip on the Redline and get yourself acquainted with the city’s 16 best attractions. The green line, however, covers 26 amazing spots so if you are staying for an extended period catch the green line.

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Moscow Tourist Bus

Discover the different routes and stops of Moscow's tourist bus and explore the city comfortably enjoying panoramic views of its main monuments.

Routes & stops

The Moscow sightseeing bus has two routes with 46 stops around the main tourist areas of the Russian capital , throughout which you can enjoy recorded commentary in English about the places you are passing through and the city's history .

Some of the unmissable stops for the Moscow bus are: Kropotkinskaya metro station, the  Pushkin Fine Art Museum , the Red October factory and the Alexander Gardens. And of course, no trip to Moscow would be complete without getting off at Red Square to explore the heart of Moscow, admire the Kremlin , St Basil's Cathedral , and the Moscow River.

You can check out the route with all the stops by clicking on the following link:

• Routes and stops on the Moscow bus .
• The ticket with 2-day validity costs € 33 ( US$ 35.50) for adults and € 30 ( US$ 32.30) for children between 7 and 13 years old. The bus ticket for children under 7 years old costs € 16 ( US$ 17.20).

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• Red line : from 10 am to 6 pm, every 20 minutes. The whole route lasts an hour.
• Green line : from 10 am to 6 pm, every 40 minutes. The whole route lasts two hours.

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Moscow Metro

Opened in 1935 under Stalin, the Moscow Metro is one of the largest networks in the world and a tourist attraction in itself. Discover how to get around on it!

While Moscow has an efficient public transport system, you may sometimes find it more convenient to travel by taxi and prices are usually affordable. Find fares and top tips here!

A comedy bus wants to take people around Newport. One councilor says it's no laughing matter

Members of Newport City Council are pushing back against the presence of a comedy tour bus that hopes to bring its business to Newport this summer.

“They act like there’s some kind of public conveyance that people can get around downtown and all, no, it's for them to make money, period, end of story, and all these people that, you know, you go out and have a cookout in your yard or something, and they can’t enjoy their family out there without a bus going by and narrating god knows what, so that’s what its about,” Councilor Jeanne Marie Napolitano said.

Comedy Bus City Tours , going under the business name Comedy Bus LLC, currently operates its 90-minute bus tours around Providence. The usual tours start at Brass Monkey Bar and Grill and make one short stop at a local restaurant or brewery. Guests can bring alcohol, although not hard liquor, onto the bus and sip while listening to a local comic acting as the tour guide. The company also hosts brunch tours, which stop at two restaurants, and private tours.

It applied for an addition to its current jitney license from the state Division of Public Utilities and Water Carriers to start offering tours in Newport, although the hearing on the license for May 9 was rescheduled. Due to this schedule change, Napolitano withdrew the resolution opposing the comedy bus tour from the council’s May 8 meeting agenda.

Although Napolitano’s resolution was withdrawn, she plans on bringing it back to the council docket with stronger language recommended by City Solicitor Christopher Behan.

The original resolution noted the company would have to request both an entertainment license and liquor license from the City of Newport before it begins operations. It also noted that the city has an ordinance on the books explicitly against “pub crawls,” which the code defines as the organized, commercial travel of a large group of individuals for which the primary purpose is to consume alcohol at more than one premises.

It stems from an incident in May 2004, although the resolution stated it was in 2002, where a fight between a Fairfield University student and a University of Rhode Island student attending a pub crawl ended with the Fairfield student falling backward, getting crushed underneath the wheels of the bus carrying the students around on their pub crawl tour.

Napolitano had been the councilor to introduce that ordinance banning pub crawls back then.

Beyond her general objections to the idea of a bus tour pub crawl, Napolitano also has concerns over the noise generated by the comedy bus tour. The buses Comedy Bus LLC uses for its tours are old school buses that have had the windows removed and replaced with clear vinyl siding that can be opened. With the addition of the comedian using a microphone, and the company’s promise of R-rated shows, Napolitano said she was concerned about how the tour might impact local residents.

“Can you imagine somebody standing around with their kids and all of a sudden hear ‘F this’ or something,” Napolitano said. “That doesn’t work for me or anybody else.”

She noted that, although she was concerned about R-rated material being heard by passersby, she did not include it as a part of the resolution language, because the material would be free speech protected by the First Amendment.

The new resolution, which she provided to the Newport Daily News, focuses on the possible noise issues instead, highlighting that the proposed bus routes snake through a couple of residential streets in the city and that could pose noise issues for those residents.

The resolution also objects to the jitney license on the grounds that it neither addresses the needs of the public nor serves a public convenience. One of the requirements for a jitney license is that the applicant prove the public convenience and necessity of a new jitney service.

After multiple attempts, the Newport Daily News was unable to reach Comedy Bus LLC for comment at the time of reporting.

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Ketchikan tourist sues borough after scooter tips over on public bus

A 91-year-old cruise-ship tourist is suing the Ketchikan Gateway Borough for negligence after his mobility scooter tipped over on a public bus. 

The complaint  was filed in federal court in Alaska on May 8. It says that Donald Gillingham of Montana and his wife were on a cruise that docked in Ketchikan in September. Gillingham has limited mobility, so they rented a motorized scooter and boarded a public bus. 

The complaint states that the elderly man’s mobility scooter tipped over when the bus made a left turn. It also says that Gillingham sustained serious injuries from the fall, though he wasn’t aware of the severity at the time. It wasn’t until he returned to the cruise ship and was later evaluated at Bartlett Regional Hospital in Juneau that he found he’d allegedly sustained three broken ribs and a punctured lung. 

Ketchikan’s public buses have internal straps to secure mobility scooters. Gillingham’s attorneys claim that because the straps aren’t mandatory, the driver didn’t require him to use them. The complaint claims the borough owes a duty of care to its passengers, which it neglected by not transporting Gillingham safely.

Gillinghams’ attorneys, Mark and Jon Choate declined to comment on the case in an email.

Ketchikan Borough Manager Ruben Duran also stated in an email that he’s aware of a potential lawsuit, but hadn’t been served any notice.

The complaint accuses the borough of one count of negligence and one count of loss of consortium. The loss of consortium is a charge filed on behalf of Gillingham’s wife, Patricia Gillingham, and alleges that the physical and emotional trauma her husband suffered has eroded the quality of their marriage.

Jack Darrell, KRBD - Ketchikan

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Person killed near front gate of Valhalla Golf Club was vendor employee, PGA says

The person who died after being struck by a shuttle bus early Friday morning near the front gate of Valhalla Golf Club ahead of round 2 of the PGA Championship was a vendor employee, according to the PGA of America.

"This morning we were devastated to learn that a worker with one of our vendors was tragically struck and killed by a shuttle bus outside Valhalla Golf Club. This is heartbreaking to all of us involved with the PGA Championship. We extend our sincere condolences to their family and loved ones," the organization said in a post on X , formerly Twitter.

Officials have yet to identify the person.

Louisville Metro Police Department spokesperson Dwight Mitchell said officers received a call to the 15500 block of Shelbyville Road around 5 a.m. regarding a collision between a bus and a person, according to the Louisville Courier Journal, part of the USA TODAY network.

A preliminary investigation found a man was struck by a shuttle bus traveling eastbound in the center lane dedicated to buses. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky is the site of this week's 2024 PGA Championship , which runs through Sunday.

PGA Championship 2024 live updates: Why Scottie Scheffler was arrested, tee times, forecast

Scottie Scheffler arrested, released from jail, tees off in round 2 of PGA Championship

In a separate incident, world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested and booked into a Louisville jail Friday morning after a situation with police near the entrance of Valhalla Golf Club.

Scheffler, 27, is facing four criminal charges  − including second degree assault on a police officer, which is a felony − after an encounter with a Louisville police officer who was directing traffic in front of the golf course, following the fatal collision in the area.

In a criminal complaint obtained by USA TODAY Sports, the officer wrote that Scheffler disregarded his verbal instructions, accelerated his car forward and dragged the officer to the ground, causing pain and swelling to his left knee and wrist. 

Scheffler said in a statement  that he was "proceeding as directed" by officers and called the incident "a big misunderstanding."

Scottie Scheffler arrested: Scottie Scheffler arrested before start of Round 2 of the PGA Championship

"It was a very chaotic situation, understandably so considering the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, and there was a big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do," he wrote in the statement. "I never intended to disregard any of the instructions. I’m hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today." 

Scheffler was arrested just before 6:30 a.m. and booked into jail roughly an hour later, according to online records published by the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections.  He is also being charged  with criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic.

By 9:15 a.m., Scheffler had been released from jail and arrived at Valhalla. He teed off less than an hour later and birdied the first hole. (Tee times were delayed by almost 90 minutes Friday due to the traffic accident.)

Louisville police did not immediately reply to messages from USA TODAY Sports seeking comment and more information on the circumstances surrounding Scheffler's arrest. His arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Contributing: Gentry Estes & Tom Schad, USA TODAY; USA TODAY Network staff

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X  @GabeHauari  or email him at [email protected].