[AT] O/T Trying to find a good used backhoe

[Cecil Monson]

> I am trying very hard NOT to turn this one into scrap. <vbg>
> 
> 
>>         Looked to me like they were a part of the program at or near
>> Davis Monthan and they were both scrapping and salvaging military
>> aircraft - lots of them.
> 
> 
> Someday I just have to see that place.  Probably make me sad, though.  I like old equipment of all kinds.
> 
> Ron Cook
> Salix, IA 


	Like Karl says, these places make you sad. The first one I
ever saw was the large one at Ponca City, OK just after WWII. I was
able to wander that one at will for hours. Sat in the pilot's seat
of quite a few nice aircraft that day as they were all open and
easy to get to. Piper Aircraft had a factory there making small
observation aircraft and we had hoped to get jobs. This was in the
fall of 1947. No luck with the jobs but the place was sure
interesting.

	Davis Monthan is in a class by itself. According to the TV
show, they are using it as a big parts depot and stripping aircraft
of parts as needed for those still in service. They say they are
saving the government big money but I'd bet on it being a money
making opportunity.

	The first time I was at the Marine Corps fighter base at
Cherry Point, NC, I watched them drop a helluva big round weight
on a WWII fighter and smash it to the ground in a scrapping program.
Geez, that really got me. I have to say it did the trick. That is
one aircraft that never flew again.....

Cecil