Victorville in California is perhaps most famous for its airliner storage and recycling businesses. Photographically, the airfield is a fairly tough nut to crack from the outside, so the best way to see it is from the air, as Paul Dunn found out.
The airport at Victorville is now known as Southern California Logistics Airport (SCLA), having once been George AFB, latterly a base for F-4G Phantoms of the 35th FW. The military left in 1992, and since then the airfield has been in civilian hands. A good deal of money has been invested in facilities to encourage air transport carriers to take advantage of its good road and rail links to the San Bernardino and Los Angeles area, but the airport is most famous as a site of airliner storage and reclamation.
The main company involved in that line of work is Southern California Aviation, who look after the majority of the stored aircraft. Some of the aircraft are in temporary storage, often at the end of a lease period, and will eventually pass to other operators for further use. Some have reached the end of their careers and will eventually be ‘parted out’; picked clean of reusable spare parts and the remains sold for scrap.
Most of the stored machines retain the colours of their last operator, and some airlines can be sensitive about “their” aircraft being photographed in a state of some disrepair, so photography is not encouraged on the airfield, and in any case, most of the storage area is somewhat distant from the road. This means the best way of viewing the stored aircraft begins at nearby Apple Valley Airport…
Apple Valley is the home of Midfield Aviation, a typically friendly FBO (Fixed Base Operator) who offer a variety of aviation services including flying instruction. With Victorville lying approximately 10 minutes’ flight time away, it is easy to take a trial lesson and head over for a few circuits, and take some photos in the process!
I made my way to Apple Valley on a Sunday afternoon back in January, and Midfield Aviation were able to supply an aircraft and instructor at short notice; happily the Cessna 172 had windows which could be opened fully to allow unrestricted photography!
Despite not having flown a light aircraft for around about 10 years, I was able to perform the take off and departure, which went OK, especially when I remembered to use the rudder to coordinate turns – I think I’d forgotten that the 172 doesn’t have a yaw damper…
After a short transit, Victorville came into view on the nose. The storage area is not quite as busy as it was a few years ago, when the airline industry was in the depths of its recession, but it still makes for an impressive sight from the air.
We started out by performing two touch and go landings on runway 21, the shorter of the two runways. The views from this runway are somewhat limited, with the main storage area being to the north, adjacent to the longer runway 17/35, but good views of the ramp and some of the storage areas were still possible.
Of note were a couple of interesting DC-10 conversions. Tanker 911 is one of a pair of DC-10s operated by 10 Tanker Air Carrier as a firefighting aircraft, one of the largest such aircraft in service.
The other was the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital aircraft, a very early DC-10, which is apparently due to be replaced in the near future with an updated MD-10.
A smaller number of aircraft are stored on the west side of the airfield. These include a number of ex-QANTAS 747-400s, a type which is dwindling in service with the airline, having been largely replaced by the Airbus A380.
It was also sad to see a couple of ex-KLM MD-11s, a type which I’ve alway had a soft spot for. KLM is the last operator of the type in scheduled passenger service, with retirement now well underway. In the same area were several Lockheed Tristars and a former South African Air Force Boeing 707.
After our two touch and goes we requested an approach to runway 35, which was approved by ATC. This runway passes alongside the storage area, and gives great views of the aircraft contained within. The late afternoon sunlight meant great conditions for photography.
The aircraft in storage are primarily former airline machines, but come from a huge variety of backgrounds. The majority are actually freighters, with most being ex-FedEx A310s, 727s and DC-10s. Each of these fleets is being run down to a varying degree, as more modern types are delivered.
Other freighters included 747s from Cathay Pacific, Singapore and Dragonair, a mix of 747-400s and older -200 series jets.
Passenger 747-400s in storage included a single United Airlines example and three from British Airways; during the height of the financial crisis in 2008-9, there were more BA jets present, but these have now returned to service. With the airline anticipated to begin retirement of its large 747 fleet shortly, the aircraft at Victorville would seem unlikely to fly for BA again.
The remainder of the stored aircraft are made up of a mix of single aisle and widebody types, primary of American origin, such as 737s, 757s, MD-80s and MD-11s. There are a significant number of former Delta Airlines Tristars still in storage; the airline was the last major US carrier to operate Lockheed’s sole widebody airliner, retiring its last example in 2001. Scrapping of the remaining examples has started, although one is believed to be earmarked for preservation at the Joe Davis Heritage Airpark in Palmdale.
After a touch and go on runway 35, we made a left turn out and then departed back to the east, taking in one final pass over the storage area. The slightly higher altitude gave a different perspective on the stored aircraft, which stretched out beneath us. An impressive sight, but one which is rather sad, as most of the aircraft present will never fly again.
After landing back at Apple Valley, I took the opportunity to photograph the preserved F-86H Sabre on display at the airport, before driving back to Victorville to try my luck shooting over the fence.
From the airport area, opportunities were very limited, with only one of the BA 747-400s being parked close enough to the fence to allow a decent view.
However, the western edge of the airfield presented better views, particularly of the QANTAS 744s and a rather nice lineup of trijets, including a Tristar, DC-10 and two former KLM MD-11s.
A large mound of earth helped to get me above the level of the fence, and that elevation, combined with some rather nice late afternoon sunlight gave some very pleasing shots.
All in all a very satisfying day, although tinged with sadness, to see so many forlorn looking aircraft living out their final days under the desert sun. In particular, with the 747 disappearing from service at an alarming rate, it would appear that Boeing’s Queen of the Skies is in terminal decline! As modern, purpose built and fuel efficient cargo aircraft such as the 777F find favour with operators, it would appear that there is little appetite for converting retired airliners into freighters; better for the planet perhaps, but certainly not as photogenic! TTFN
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Great photos and story. I was just out there taking the ground tour of the place in July attending the World Airline Historical Society’s annual “Airliners International” convention. Great time & wonderful visit.
“JET” Is this the one from SFO UAL?
I flew B-24’s out of VAAF, Victorville Army Airfield in 1945. I’m 94 yo now.
Flew 911 for Western. The money we are looking at is amazing!
Really takes me back.
Was stationed at George on 7/56 after completing a tour in Japan in a C-124A Sqdn 22nd TC. as a flight mechanic. The Sqdn was a B-26 Tow target Sqdn whose purpose was to tow a target sleeve around for the F100s, to shoot at. When I arrived at George they had just fazed out the last P-51. After the 4th Tow was phased out took over the recip. engine shop, and the base flying club. Base ops had a C-47 And two C-119s, and a C-126. In the summer there were days when the air density was so low every thing was grounded after 10am until about 4pm – couldn’t get enough thrust to get off the ground.
If you get on map Quest or better yet,Flight Radar 24. The satalite view gets you down low to see more detail. There is an older F-4C or D still in camo paint off to the east in a small yard with three or four other stored jets.
Was stationed at George Air Plane Patch after Tech School. 1970-71. Was with the 4452 CCTS. We crewed the F-4Cs and F-4Ds. The F-104 markers were still painted everywhere.I got my first ride in a C model 64-0823 that was in one of our sister Squadrons. After 40 plus years I find myself still crewing ole 823 as she is now in our local air museum. ( The Pacific Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa, Calif. I Do have some good pictures of my time at George if anyone is interested.
Tony
Great photo’s Paul.
I hope to visit Victorville later this year. I was there many years ago when it was George AFB.
Sad to see the KL MD’s there. I have very happy memories of them.
Hope to see you again in the near future
It’s really sad to see GAFB converted into a graveyard for so many proud birds. I didn’t see any comments on one of the great military birds that used to fly out of George: the F-104. I served at George from 1962 to 1964 as a squadron intelligence officer with the 479th TFW – the only WAF intell officer in TAC at the time. The F-104s were in the front line during the Cuban Crisis – when we were deployed to Boca Chica Naval Air Station in the Florida Keys. Twelve days after we returned from 39 days in Florida, our squadron, the 435th, left on a three month rotation to Moron Air Base in Spain. We earned our pay, and then some.
I was stationed at George AFB in 1965 with the 8th armament and electronics sqd. prior to shipping out for SE Asia with the F4Cs. Really enjoyed that aircraft. I worked in the field shop on the nose package. (radar and weapons systems)
Great photos, wondered where the big commerical aircraft retired to. Thought it was somewhere in Southern Arizona. Never been to George but glad to see it is being put to good use. Always sad to see aircraft retired but at least commerical aircraft get worn out before they are retired, not so much with military aircraft. In many cases, except the KC135 and B52, the aircraft get retired due to being replaced with more modern technically more capable to maintain our edge over foreign military aircraft. Our fleet of F4 Phantoms is dwindling, Germany retired their F4F Phantoms in June, Greece is struggling to maintain their fleet with a national debt crumbling which leaves South Korea and Japan still under the GE TIGERS technical support umberella. Turkey is trying to fly their Phantoms on their own but the jury is still out on if they can do this without technical support. Most of the foreign military is waiting for their opertunity to have and fly the F35 aircraft but I think they will still be waiting in 2020 and some still flying the F4 Phantoms. The RF4C Phantoms in South Korea will retire in 2014 making an end to the flying of the World’s last mission flights of the RF4C Phantoms.
Thanks for posting these photos of the George AFB storage area, great photos for sure. Like to see one of AMARG as it shrinks in storage of cold war era aircraft.
what a shame all of these articles will be eventually scrapped.
Carl – we’ll never scrap them, they’ll be put in a museum!
I was wondering why there are no DC-8s, I believe the most functional airliner ever built. Then the answer came to me, the DC-8s are still flying. Douglas makes things that last. Look at the number of DC-3s still in service. My second thought is, who lost the most money purchasing these aircraft, leasing them, flying them, and disposing of them. If you do the math, considering the initial cost and operational expenses, it’s hard to believe that any airliner earned it’s purchase price.
Bob – According to the Wikipedia page dedicated to the type, only 19 DC-8s remained in service as of last December.
There are quite a few stored around the world but a significant number have, sadly, already been scrapped.
Are you the same Bob Raab that flew with me to Lihue back in 1986?
And who lived on the Palos Verdes Peninsula? Have lived at 4013 Via Canpesina,
Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274 for 52 years.
Brings back lots of memories–Left the 526th FIS at Ramstein in ’64 to join the 68th TFS at GAFB–checked out in late ’64 in the F4 at DMAFB–The 68th TFS/8th TFW was combat ready in Sept’65–took our birds over with tankers and landed at Korat RTAFB on 23 Sept ’65, and were the first to go North at night–returned in late Dec to GAFB, and started the RTU @ GAFB–flew many sorties to Cuddeback & Leach Lake as an IP in the RTU, until escape was made from the RTU to USAFA in ’67, where I worked for Robin Olds as a Tac Off for a Cadet Squadron–great memories from time at GAFB, but was scared more there than my first tour in ‘Nam by ex Goonybird students in the RTU.
Enjoyed the Pics. Was TDY to George AFB while participating in the A-Bomb test in Nevada in March 1955. The 511th FBS out of Langley AFB..Nuclear delivery fighters. Ah…what great memories.
I also remember at America West Airine pulling the sister ships for the Aloha Aircraft, as QC doing the NDT ibspections and finding cracks and corrosion, and re-skinning them….
Brian Vietri
I worked as QC Inspector in Phx at the old Hughes Airweat Hangar at Dynair Tech, my love was the FED EX DC-10 Test contract, the test flights, hanging on to the 9G net at max take off, and #2 engine changes. Hated the fuel tank inspections in the summer….Loved the reps, and taxiing, tainiung in Memphis for thirty days…..
We also had the MD-11/KC-10 military contract too. Out of all I miss DC-10 growl/whine at takeoff!!!!
Brian Vietri
As a C124 navigator flying back from CA to DAFB,NC in 1957/58 We flew right over DMAFB in Tucson,AZ. Much tom our surprise and delight we saw SAC’s entiren fleet of B36 parked nose to nose for miles. what mappeared to be a fence around the entire fleet of B36’s were the props with one end stuck in the ground.
What a trip – filled with nostalgic sadness and pride. Having begun my flying career at the beginning of the jet-transport age, it was especially painful to see all those aircraft, many of which I’d logged hours on similar airframes. I guess I am a lucky bastard to have had all that experience. (I flew all pistons in the USAF and “World Airways Oakland,” and jets with Pan Am, over a thirty-six year career). It got me to exotic places, and every continent except that icy one down south. Thanks for the memories.
[T-34, T-28, TB-25, C-124, L-1049, L-1649, B-707, B-727, B-747, A-300, A-310. And Ce-310, Ce-500, for ATP training.] Just another bragging pilot, yeah, I know, BFD.
Thank you for these photos. I went through F-4E (Phantom II) and F-4G (Wild Weasel) training at then-George AFB in 1990-91. A lot has changed since then, but it’s good to see the airfield still stands, albeit with a different mission, today.
Thank you Paul for these pics. I visited Victorville in June 2010 and was so suprised to see the great aircrafts of the last few years there in pretty good shape. I felt sad also to see them on the ground instead in the air; a little teardrop in my eye! As I was ouside there was little chance to make good picts, love yours. All the best from Munich, Germany.
That was verry interesting and a job well done.
Drove through Victorville years ago, Magnificent Site to see…sad, but interesting,
how these beautiful planes are well preserved…been in some of them over the years.
Yes it is sad to see these majestic aircraft living their last days on the ground.I worked for TWA 35 years and many of these AC were like seeing old friends again.I worked at JFK/Hgr 12 running the stockroom.The bays were HOME. Many times i would cut through a bau under the wing if a 747.It was like walking thru a short dark tunnel.Really miss being around those BIG BABYS.Living near JFK there are flight plans over my house.and i never cease to gaze up and rekindle MEMORIES…35 GREAT YEARS WORKIN FOR A GREAT AIRLINE FOR SO MANY GREAT AIRCRAFT….Now not possible..But my wish for them all is ” UP UP AND AWAY “
Life is short, but shorter for airframes.
It is sad to see all those jets grounded never to fly again
I drove thru Victorville last year on route to Vegas.
There was a Qantas 744 up against the fence completely stipped of every consumable part.
It made me tear up to see the Queen of the sky this way.
RIP.
Makes me terribly sad as well.
As an old DL ramp rat I’m sure that my fingerprints are still on those L-1011s. I loved working these planes and flying them too! Makes me remember my ’47 chevy, ’61 A/H Sprite and ’64 1/2 Mustang God love them all!!! The future stands on these as a strong foundation!
Thanks for those pictures Paul. Brought a lot of memories for me too. I spent most of 2010 and 11 down there flight testing the 787 and got to wander around some of that old iron and watch them pulling some of them apart too. What really struck me most was coming across an old 737-300 that I was part of the receiving inspection team for when it delivered to us at Continental in 1987! Wow! I’m getting old too…
Makes me sad looking at the FedEx aircraft, remembering I flew everyone of the 727’s & DC-10’s. I guess I am like the planes pictured, I am heading for the bone yard.
Hey Don, Glad to see and hear your still around! Where are you and what are you doing? I get to see some other Gray Falcons ever so often… You should attend once in a while if you are still in the Memphis area!
I C-check inspected just about every Fdx 727 and DC/MD-10 sitting there. Sad but evolution taking its toll.
I was right there with you my friend. I remember doing the 20 year aging at TAP Air Portugal in Lisbon.
Cheers.
Got to drop a few old B-737’s there and what a site. It is just breath taking. Lots of aluminum laying aroujnd huh.
Is this the Harold Burton that I flew with at Orion Air?
Rand Peck
Really nice pictorial view of what is going on now at George AFB. Used to fly C-141’s as FE out of Norton AFB. Did MANY touch and goes there, and once went through the altitude chamber course there as well. Seems to me, as I remember, Fox Field, is not too far away and is another storage area for retired aircraft as well… Tell you what, flying to me was always fun, NEVER looked at it as a job, and get paid for it as well… Those were the days…
Geoffrey Berens
C-121A, C-121C, C-124C, C-141A Flight Engineer
Enjoyed looking at your phabulous shots from VCV & APV.
Helluva note to have to look at something some enterprising genius has done
right in my own back yard when I did not even think of it!
I’m jealous !
Thanks again,
Chuck
Great pictures Paul. Myself and a friend did exactly the same thing as you in fact in the same C172 in March. As you say so sad to see all these airliners in storage and definetly the best way to see them is from above. We also did Kingman and Marana from above as well a few days later.
Ian haskell – why don’t you put some of the Kingman & Marana pictures here on a site like this – we would like to see them as well. They keep trying to make so many of those places “Top Secret” seems like!!
Excellent article . Brought back happy memories of my trip to California last year , driving past Victorville en route to Chino
Stephen Stead