Phoenix Goodyear Airport (GYR) in Arizona
Brief History and Background
This facility in Phoenix, Arizona was originally constructed during World War II as a naval air facility known as NAF Litchfield Park, and later renamed Naval Air Station Litchfield Park.
 Sign at the entrance to Phoenix Goodyear Airport
(Photo by the AirplaneBoneyards Staff) |
In 1941, the Goodyear Aerospace Corporation offered land to the U.S. Defense Plant Corporation. The U.S. Navy used the land to build aircraft flight decks and established a U.S. Naval Air Facility to test fly and deliver aircraft. This necessitated the construction of a landing field, hangar and runway.
The Goodyear facility was used to modify AAF twin-tail Consolidated B-24 Liberators for use as Navy PB4Y-1 aircraft, and to accept delivery of Navy single-tail PB4Y-2 Privateers.
Its primary role following the end of World War II was that of storage and preservation of obsolete or excess U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard aircraft. Its location in the dry desert was an ideal location for long-term aircraft storage.
At one point, more than 5,000 aircraft were in storage. The Korean Conflict brought the airfield back to active duty in the 1950s. By early 1958 the inventory was down to about 2,500 aircraft. In 1965, the Defense Department decided to consolidate military aircraft storage. Thus, 800 aircraft at Litchfield were moved to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson either by air or by truck for storage, and another 1,000 were salvaged.
Airliner storage area at Phoenix Goodyear Airport in Arizona |
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Phoenix Goodyear Airport Today
Following the closure of NAS Litchfield Park in 1967, the City of Phoenix purchased the airport for a general aviation facility. Today, the airport is home to several private companies offering aircraft maintenance, storage, and commercial pilot training.
It also serves as a general-aviation reliever airport, meaning it is designated by the Federal Aviation Administration to relieve congestion at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and provide access for private planes. While the airport’s single 8,500-foot runway is large enough to accommodate aircraft as big as a Boeing 747, there is no commercial passenger or charter service, and none is planned.
Based in the United Kingdom, CTC Aviation Group has invested about $7 million in its new pilot training program at Goodyear. CTC works with more than 50 major airlines worldwide and is cooperating with Lufthansa Flight Training who already has a pilot training program underway at the Goodyear Airport.
One tenant, AeroTurbine, provides aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities. It offers services related to modifications, avionics installs, repainting, aircraft storage, logistics and disassembly. It can service these types of aircraft: Airbus: A319, A320 Boeing: B707, B727, B737-300 to - 900, B757, B767, B747, B777, MD11/DC10, MD80 series and MD 90/95.
The Goodyear Airport currently has a total economic impact of $138 million a year.
When we last visited the airport in May of 2015, there were dozens of jetliners in storage at the facility.
Variety of Boeing and Airbus jet airliners in storage at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport |
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Panoramic view of jetliners in storage at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport |
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Touring the Phoenix Goodyear Airport Area
The airport is about 20 miles west of downtown Phoenix, and south of Interstate Highway I-10. The main entrance to the airport is from South Litchfield Road (exit 128 I-10). Highway 85 (Main Street) runs along the south portion of the airport property.
The best viewing of the jetliners stored there is from South Bullard Avenue, which runs along the west side of the airport. As always, we recommend obeying all warning signs and avoiding restricted areas.
For driving directions to the Phoenix Goodyear Airport, see the interactive map at the bottom of this page.
How Airliners Are Disassembled and Scrapped
Aerial View of Phoenix Goodyear Airport
Aerial view of the Phoenix Goodyear Airport with airliners in storage |
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Photos of the Phoenix Goodyear Airport (May, 2015)
Phoenix Goodyear Airport aircraft storage facility and boneyard, with Airbus A321-200, TC-FBT, to the left |
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Boeing 747-312, registration F-GSKY, of Corsair Airlines parked at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport |
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Tail section of East Air EY-622, an Airbus A320-212, parked at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport |
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Fuselage view of East Air Airbus A320-212, registration EY-622, at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport in Arizona |
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Boeing 747-312, engines removed, at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport in the Arizona desert |
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Airbus A340-300 of Aerolineas Argentinas, registration LV-BIT, in desert storage at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport |
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Boeing 757-200, registration N523UA, in Continental Airlines livery at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport |
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Cockpit view of a Boeing 757 in Continental Airlines livery at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport |
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C&T Charters Boeing 737-4QB, registration N916SK, parked at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport in Arizona |
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Panoramic view of jetliners being stored at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport |
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Boeing 747 (R) and SkyTeam Boeing 777 (L) airliners in storage at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport |
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China Southern Airlines Boeing 777 being scrapped at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport |
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Airbus A340-300, registration EC-KOU, in Iberia Airline livery in storage at the Phoenix Goodyear Airport |
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YouTube Video of Airliners Stored at Phoenix Goodyear Airport in Arizona (May 2015)
Interactive Map of the Phoenix Goodyear Airport Area
Do you Like Spotting Airliners?
With the wide variety of narrow and wide body jet airliners serving the airline travel market toda,y and in storage at Phoenix-Goodyear, identification of individual aircraft can be a difficult task.
We have launched a new website highlighting the common jetliners in service today, and have prepared a series of quick and easy spotting guides.
The website details differences and spotting tips for airliners from Airbus, Boeing, Embraer and Bombardier.
