18 Comments
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Jeff Quiggle's avatar

I've always wanted to poke around the Davis-Monthan boneyard! Also, great to see these assets put to *very* good use by the Ukrainians.

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Robot Bender's avatar

Same here.

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Canadian Returnee's avatar

This is good news

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Wes O'Donnell's avatar

Absolutely

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Doug Hiller's avatar

Wes,

Tried twice to report comment by Tim Vulker as troll garbage, but wouldn’t go.

Flew F-16s 1981-1991. Must wonder if any parts I drove around in are serving in Ukraine…!!

Very minor; From my experience; a “Frankenstein” product comes from adapting components from items not originally designed to work together, so that they do, even if in a degraded way. Like putting a Chevy Blazer fuel tank in a Ford Bronco with duct tape and garden hose. If you install genuine F-16 components into another F-16, that’s just cannibalized reuse…

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Wes O'Donnell's avatar

Just saw it and permanently banned from the publication. I also removed his previous comments. Thanks Doug.

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Free Radical's avatar

" ... conservative conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer was the first to post about it on X."

Loony Loomer breaks the news? That's concerning.

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Ricardo Castillo's avatar

💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

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Rob's avatar

Amazing OSINT!

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David Hawkes's avatar

As a retired engine/airframe guy I can assure you the benefit to an inexperienced pair of hands of learning on an old engine at the back of a hangar or training school is priceless.

Slava Ukraine!

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Conor Gallogly's avatar

How often are planes in the boneyard used by the US military itself?

Like is this use by Ukraine “free” in the sense that these parts were just going to be baking in Arizona forever?

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J. Butler's avatar

How does the shipment take place? Is the jet is disassembled at the USAF base? Just guessing a contractor is involved in the disassembly process. You are 100% correct about appropriators on Capitol Hill and contractors having power in this situation.

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Peter Nicoll's avatar

And they’re being transported in an Antonov — UKR — cargo plane. Among the largest in the world.

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LaurenAZGoodGirl's avatar

Outstanding news! Thank you! Slava Ukraini!🇺🇦

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Robert Honeyman's avatar

Ukraine is being charged more than $300 million for F16 parts. How much of that is being allocated to inventory with damn near close to zero book value? Is there any way to get a breakdown on the total purchase? And, is this a cash deal, or is the mineral pillaging ... um, "deal" going to that this as a first draw?

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Chris Gorman's avatar

Thank God the USAF is complicit in continuing a doomed war and helping to remove more lives from the planet. Great job everybody!

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Hans Torvatn's avatar

A sort of FrankenSpare?

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Gloria Watanabe's avatar

It’s so enlightening to learn that the boneyard is actually a beneficial part of our military readiness and not just a graveyard for used equipment. Thank you for educating us.

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