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Slight · 11-07-2001, 03:16 AM

The planes in the first picture look like toys to me.

This picture reminds me of the mothballed B-52's in the Beastie Boys video Something's Got to Give. They are part of the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at the Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson put there because of the STrategic Arms Reduction Treaty and the end of WWII. According to the START each B-52 is classified as 10 or 20 warheads (depending on who you ask) and is legaly destroyed when the tail is cut off. They used to be destroyed with a giant razor blade (no joke.) The destroyed plane must be left on the ground for 90 days so that Russian satallites have a chance to verify the destruction! The deadline for destruction is 2001.

Planes mothballed there are sprayed with a strechy substance called spraylat which protects the sensitive parts (windows, engines) and helps keep out little creatures. The fuel tanks are filled with oil. The desert is ideal because of little rain, the soil is alkaline and hard, so no concrete needs to be poured. Planes are tested every 4 years and planes have been returned to service after as long as 15 years. There are different classifications ranging from "scrap" to "keep functional."

Cool Link

Good Info on AMARC and START

Good article on CNN

11-07-2001, 03:16 AM	#7
Slight Semi-Evil Genius Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Boulder CO Posts: 195	The planes in the first picture look like toys to me. This picture reminds me of the mothballed B-52's in the Beastie Boys video Something's Got to Give. They are part of the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center at the Davis Monthan AFB in Tucson put there because of the STrategic Arms Reduction Treaty and the end of WWII. According to the START each B-52 is classified as 10 or 20 warheads (depending on who you ask) and is legaly destroyed when the tail is cut off. They used to be destroyed with a giant razor blade (no joke.) The destroyed plane must be left on the ground for 90 days so that Russian satallites have a chance to verify the destruction! The deadline for destruction is 2001. Planes mothballed there are sprayed with a strechy substance called spraylat which protects the sensitive parts (windows, engines) and helps keep out little creatures. The fuel tanks are filled with oil. The desert is ideal because of little rain, the soil is alkaline and hard, so no concrete needs to be poured. Planes are tested every 4 years and planes have been returned to service after as long as 15 years. There are different classifications ranging from "scrap" to "keep functional." Cool Link Good Info on AMARC and START Good article on CNN