Running in a Desert Boneyard

by Airman Basic Nathan H. Barbour
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

10/31/2015 - DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz.  -- 

The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group "Boneyard"  held the third annual Desert Boneyard 10K Run & 5K Run/Walk today.

The courses navigated through hundreds of historic military aircraft stored and maintained by the 309th AMARG. The more than 2,600 acre facility provides depot-level maintenance, aircraft regeneration, storage and preservation, aircraft parts reclamation and disposal for nearly 4,000 aircraft in support of the U.S. Department of Defense, allied war-fighters and other government agencies.

This event gave the general public a rare opportunity to access a site usually only available for authorized personnel and guided bus tours.

"Doing this exclusive event where people can really explore and see the boneyard in a way that they can't do at any other time, makes it a very special event," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Jonathan Paz, 355th Civil Engineer Squadron engineering flight chief.

Participants experienced many improvements to the run this year including a new course and professional timing.

"We created a new 5K and 10K course that allowed the participants to see more planes than they've ever seen before," Paz said. "This year in particular the 10K runners zigzagged and went in and out of a very up close and personal experience with all the airplanes."

The event concluded with an awards ceremony where participants received medals for different age groups. 

"This is the first year where everyone was chipped and timed," Paz said. "All those results will be populated into the event website; where it can be used and shared with people."

With nearly twice the turnout of last year this event had more than 1,000 people register. The 309th AMARG plans to continue to host the event annually.

"It's one thing to drive by, but it's another to actually (run) up and down and see all the history," said Matt Cobb, Tucson resident.

All of the event proceeds go to the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base morale, welfare and recreation fund that directly support service members and their families.