10-12-2006, 03:47 PM
Paul,
The main reason you'd see F-8s and B-52s and F-4s and such is so that serviceable parts could be pulled to support airframes still in service, not for potential reactivation. The French were the largest operator of F-8s other than the Navy and they retired their last Crusaders in 1999. There was a private yard here that had a bunch of 'em until fairly recently. The B-52s are gone now. The Germans still train in F-4s at Luke AFB (I think) and I see them over my house fairly often.
There were already many F-14s here prior to the retirement. Now I expect them to hit the scrapyards very soon. The F-14s will not be coming back.
The main reason you'd see F-8s and B-52s and F-4s and such is so that serviceable parts could be pulled to support airframes still in service, not for potential reactivation. The French were the largest operator of F-8s other than the Navy and they retired their last Crusaders in 1999. There was a private yard here that had a bunch of 'em until fairly recently. The B-52s are gone now. The Germans still train in F-4s at Luke AFB (I think) and I see them over my house fairly often.
There were already many F-14s here prior to the retirement. Now I expect them to hit the scrapyards very soon. The F-14s will not be coming back.