A 53-year-old Stratofortress nicknamed "Ghost Rider" takes off from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, bound for Louisiana, on February 13 after seven years in long-term storage. After upgrades are completed next year, Ghost Rider will be the first B-52 bomber to be returned to service from the so-called Boneyard outside Tucson.
A 53-year-old Stratofortress nicknamed "Ghost Rider" takes off from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, bound for Louisiana, on February 13 after seven years in long-term storage. After upgrades are completed next year, Ghost Rider will be the first B-52 bomber to be returned to service from the so-called Boneyard outside Tucson.
Master Sgt. Greg Steele/U.S. Air Force
Crew members arrive to perform a taxi test on Ghost Rider at the Boneyard (formally the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group) at Davis-Monthan AFB on February 12.
Crew members arrive to perform a taxi test on Ghost Rider at the Boneyard (formally the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group) at Davis-Monthan AFB on February 12.
Master Sgt. Greg Steele/U.S. Air Force
Ghost Rider is prepared for an early morning taxi test on February 12. The plane, out of service since 2008, was restored to flying condition to replace a B-52 that was damaged by fire at <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barksdale.af.mil%2Fnews%2Fstory.asp%3Fid%3D123439607" target="_blank" target="_blank">Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, Louisiana</a>.
Ghost Rider is prepared for an early morning taxi test on February 12. The plane, out of service since 2008, was restored to flying condition to replace a B-52 that was damaged by fire at Barksdale Air Force Base in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Master Sgt. Greg Steele/U.S. Air Force
The plane is towed from a maintenance area at the Boneyard on February 11. Ghost Rider's fuel lines and fuel bladders had to be completely replaced before testing on its eight engines.
The plane is towed from a maintenance area at the Boneyard on February 11. Ghost Rider's fuel lines and fuel bladders had to be completely replaced before testing on its eight engines.
Master Sgt. Greg Steele/U.S. Air Force
A C-5 Galaxy and other planes glitter in the light of the setting sun at the Boneyard. Thousands of aircraft are stored at the sprawling Air Force facility outside Tucson, where the dry desert air helps preserve them. Some planes are scavenged to supply parts to their counterparts still in the fleet, while others are restored or upgraded to be returned to service.
A C-5 Galaxy and other planes glitter in the light of the setting sun at the Boneyard. Thousands of aircraft are stored at the sprawling Air Force facility outside Tucson, where the dry desert air helps preserve them. Some planes are scavenged to supply parts to their counterparts still in the fleet, while others are restored or upgraded to be returned to service.
Val Gempis/U.S. Air Force