On the southeast side of Tucson, off I-10 at the Kolb Road exit, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base holds one of the very strangest sights in the entire Southwest desert: rows and rows and rows of surplus military aircraft, lined up for what seems like miles. The official name for this desert facility is the “Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center” (AMARC), but it’s best known as “The Boneyard” because of its role as a salvage yard for aircraft long past their production era. You can glimpse dozens of the planes from the highway, but for the full experience you have to sign up for one of the very popular tours (hours vary; $6; 520/618-4800). The tours are offered by the Pima Air and Space Museum, which has another extensive exhibit of aircraft, including JFK’s Air Force One, near the Boneyard. They also operate the unique Titan Missile Museum south of Tucson.
