Massive Kansas civilian aircraft boneyard

You should also look at White Industries. Very similar. I don't know which one is bigger, but Dodson is certainly a big one.

Also look at Pinal Airpark in Marana, AZ.

 

Puzzled by the much larger nacelles on #1 and #4 engines. Also he shape of the horiz stabilizer, like you.

 

Here is an interesting story on Dodson, and tail numbers...https://narcosphere.narconews.com/notebook/bill-conroy/2009/01/cocaine-plane-trail-open-challenge-obama-administration

 

They have the elevators, and maybe the rudder, removed. Also, some of the engines are present and some are not.

 

They look like Canadair CL-44's recipe powered.

 

And ailerons. Yes, saw that... the center plane appears to have all 4 engines.

 

Fuse too short to be CL44 (from a former CL44 pilot)

 

Kingman Airport, Kingman AZ has a huge reclaim facility as well...

 

Odd planes I didn't know existed...

While looking at 4 engined aircraft to try to get an idea on those 3 planes, I found 2 I'd never heard of before. Search...

Beech Model 34... 4 engine, high wing, Vee tail.

Cessna 620... a 4 engined Cessna 310.

 

I think they're Vickers Viscounts...

 

I think that is a much better suggestion than the Lockheed L188 Electra I was going to put forward. I was not happy with my idea as the noses appear to be the wrong shape. Viscount is much better in that respect. I was working on the basis that they would be American!

 

Remember that Capital and later United flew Viscounts in the U.S. But to me those nacelles look too fat for Rolls-Royce Darts. Otherwise the dimensions look about right. And the wings are too long for Electras.

 

Viscount was my first thought, (I flew on one - Continental) but the engine nacelles are not even close. Viscount's Dart's are almost entirely underwing, Very little above.

So, no.

Even checked the Vickers Vanguard... nope.

 

I think they are DC-6/C-118 Here is an image showing a mix of DC-4's and 6's in that field.

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the DC-6 has a more tapered nose and rounded horizontal stab along with a unique shape at the tail. If the elevators were in place it would be more noticable.

 

That's probably it. The missing control surfaces in the overhead shot distorted the appearance of the aircraft.

 

Don't forget the DC-3....

 

Are airplane wrecking yards profitable? How would one get into such a business. Not that I would, but it' a curious business to me.

 

IIRC AMARG for every $ spent they save the taxpayers $4. I am sure that a civilian boneyard can be just as profitable as well. Not only are they parting out an aircraft but also recycling the metals and such that cannot be resold or refurbished. The biggest issue is the paperwork involved with salvaging parts IE time the part has in operation, time before next overhaul, Etc.

 

Cool video..

 

It sounds like the commentator should have some lessons in the way a gas turbine operates.

 

As someone who worked on the F-14 program three times during my time with Grumman, this one is painful to watch. Those machines almost seem like living creatures from the prehistoric era!

 

I always feel bad when I think of the B-17's and B-24's that were chopped up after the war when so many of them were living memorials of the brave souls and aircraft that did so much. I did a painting of " Ole' Miss Destry" that flew 138 missions without turning back. Then " Knockout Dropper", a B-17 F that survived the worst period , 1942-43 ,with a record number of flights. They were destroyed by the US after they couldn't be killed by the Luftwaffe.They should have been saved for all to see what the Air Force crews and airplanes accomplished.

 

My husband and I knew about the place in Ottawa, Kansas, because one of his friends had worked there for a while. But while on the way to the Lake Garnett Grand Prix Revival last fall, we actually drove past it. It was so very odd to see tail fins (that's probably not the right term?) of jets sticking up above the Kansas prairie!!