I had seen photos from the visits people had made to the airport in California City that showed a lot of old business jet airframes in storage.  I was curious to see this place myself and so headed up there when I had some time one evening.  There is a local business that takes old jets – principally Gulfstreams – and strips them for any components that will be useful in the secondary market.  The owner of the place is welcoming to visitors and a friend was actually already there when I arrived.  A little while later after sorting out issues with the gate opening, I was inside and free to roam around.

There are so many jets, it is hard to know where to start.  Some of them are basically intact while others have had substantial elements removed.  Sides of the fuselage might be cut out, gear may have been removed and engines are definitely a valuable commodity.  Some of the control surfaces will have found a second life supporting an airworthy jet.  Older generation jets like the G-II and G-III are represented but the G-IV is now knocking on a bit and so there are quite a few of those too.  Some very old jets are scattered in amongst the carcasses including one that had been used as a military testbed.

The planes are squeezed in to all available spaces.  As you walk around, you have to pay a lot of attention to make sure you don’t trip over anything or smack your head on part of an airframe.  Also good to try and avoid getting in the shots of other photographers!  I didn’t see any hazardous wildlife which helped make the walking around a little easier.

While most airframes were Gulfstreams, there were occasional exceptions.  I came across a really old HS125.  It was from the days of Viper engines so definitely an old one.  It didn’t look to be in great condition but the dry desert air means that they survive pretty well for a long time.