Sevenforeseven From France, joined Nov 2005, 164 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 2184 times:
Hi fellow a/netters please can someone advise me if it is possible to visit Mojave aircraft graveyard as I would love to go there and pay my respects.
I thank you all for your input.
B742 From UK - England, joined Mar 2005, 3760 posts, RR: 21 Reply 1, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 2148 times:
Yep its possible to visit the Mojave Aircraft graveyard, but you cannot get into the actual airport
I visited Mojave last summer, it was great
You can drive around the airport, but cannot access where the aircraft are kept.
If you want to do photography then you must have a long range lense (300mm+) as the aircraft can be far away!
There is a cafe where you can stand on the apron and take shots, but the aircraft are quite a way away!
If I was you I would either rent an airplane and see Mojave from above or just take a car and drive around the airport!
It is possible at some places to get quite close to the aircraft!
If you cross the railroad then you can get quite close to some of the larger aircraft such as the VS 742's
There are more topics on Mojave in the past, take a look
Have fun!
Also if you are in the area you could also visit Kingman (AZ) where some aircraft are stored such as TWA L1011's
You should also take a look at Tuscon (AZ), there is a military graveyard with bus tours and a museum with civil and military aircraft including the Air Force One 707 and Blackbird http://www.pimaair.org/
SK601 From Belgium, joined Jun 2005, 975 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 2133 times:
Quoting B742 (Reply 1): but you cannot get into the actual airport
I have been to MHV last year, and you CAN get in. We just went to the administrative office next to the ATC tower and asked about it. For $5,- p.p. we got a 1,5 hour tour with a minivan.
B742 From UK - England, joined Mar 2005, 3760 posts, RR: 21 Reply 3, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 2118 times:
Quoting SK601 (Reply 2):
I have been to MHV last year, and you CAN get in. We just went to the administrative office next to the ATC tower and asked about it. For $5,- p.p. we got a 1,5 hour tour with a minivan.
I couldn't get in when I went Although that was 2 yrs ago
Leelaw From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 2107 times:
I understand that airport management is no longer encouraging the practice of the fuelers giving tours in their "spare time." I'd call ahead before making the trip up there.
Jumbojet From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 1159 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1956 times:
I had gone a year or so ago. The staff at Mojave were very friendly and I got a guided tour of the facility in a van. No charge. Took me around in a van, lasted about an hour or so. Check it out, call ahead or just show up. good luck
MakeMinesLAX From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 516 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1946 times:
I had no problem getting a van tour (two adults, two kids) this past September. It is subject to the fueler's availability, so be prepared to wait. Having a bite to eat in the Voyager Restaurant is highly recommended.
Vegasplanes From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 778 posts, RR: 2 Reply 7, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1942 times:
Quoting Jumbojet (Reply 5): Check it out, call ahead or just show up. good luck
Do you have the phone number for MHV to post, it would be great to call ahead and make reservations.
EMBQA From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 9286 posts, RR: 13 Reply 8, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1940 times:
As has been said, most all of the aircraft storage facilities are restricted access and do not allow you on the grounds. If you look at nearly all the photos in the data base they are either taken from great distance, or from a fly over. Some lucky few have gain access, but that seems to be few are far between. But of all of them, I think MHV is the only place that does allow tours, but as has been said it sounds like they are getting away from doing them. Even with the van tour last I remembered reading you are not allowed off the van. Recently a few members of the company I work for had to go out to the Mojave on business and even then they were restriced to where they could go... and they held SIDA badges..!!
[Edited 2005-12-05 21:24:29]
"It's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog"
ALB2ATL From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 88 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1880 times:
I visited Mohave July 04. I was in LA for the Airliners Int'l (?) convention and toured Mohave (up close and personal). It was a good time, but we kept getting in trouble for getting too close to the a/c. There were a lot of US, KLM & Hawaiin a/c.
United_fan From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 7160 posts, RR: 8 Reply 10, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1850 times:
When I went in Dec 03 I was taken around by security . Even got to go up in the tower.
'Empathy was yesterday...Today, you're wasting my Mother-F'ing time' - Heat.
BigOrange From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 2358 posts, RR: 3 Reply 11, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1843 times:
I got a tour in July when I was there. Just stopped by the admin office and some guy took me out in a van.
The charge was $5 and took you all round the airport. Unfortunately they no longer allow the drivers to go off the taxiways, so you can't get up close to the aircraft any more.
Tours of the main flight line are periodically available. Reservations in advance are required, and may be made by calling the airport administration office (661-824-2433) or by email tours@mojaveairport.com.
Leelaw From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (7 years 5 months 3 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 1748 times:
Quoting BigOrange (Reply 11): Tours of the main flight line are periodically available. Reservations in advance are required, and may be made by calling the airport administration office (661-824-2433) or by email tours@mojaveairport.com.
Out of curiosity, I just called the phone number and was told the procedure remains the same despite what's indicated above:
-No advance reservations are accepted, tours are still conducted on an ad hoc basis, dependent on the availability of the staff. Those seeking a tour should check in at the administration office upon arrival and be prepared to wait until staff (most likely an aircraft fueler) is available to conduct a tour in an airport vehicle.
-Hours are approximately 8:00AM to 3:30PM 7 days a week. (Lunch is 12:00PM to 1:00PM).
-Charge is $5 per person payable to the staff member conducting the tour (a nice gratuity will probably enhance your experience ).
BigOrange From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 2358 posts, RR: 3 Reply 14, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 1582 times:
Quoting Leelaw (Reply 13): Out of curiosity, I just called the phone number and was told the procedure remains the same despite what's indicated above:
Maybe the airport manager realized it wasn't working that way and backed down on it.
-Charge is $5 per person payable to the staff member conducting the tour (a nice gratuity will probably enhance your experience
You pay for the tour at the end, so the gratuity doesn't make any difference.
The drivers have to take a set route, because of insurance reasons, but it's still worth doing. I gave the driver a tip equal to the tour cost, because I felt that if this ever became a commercial tour the cost would probably increase to 4 times that amount, plus the fuelers don't get paid that much anyway!
Leelaw From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1520 times:
Quoting BigOrange (Reply 14): You pay for the tour at the end, so the gratuity doesn't make any difference.
The drivers have to take a set route, because of insurance reasons, but it's still worth doing. I gave the driver a tip equal to the tour cost, because I felt that if this ever became a commercial tour the cost would probably increase to 4 times that amount, plus the fuelers don't get paid that much anyway!
I gave the driver a twenty upon entering the van and indicated no change would be necessary (he was elated), we got off the taxiways onto the paved and gravel roads close to the aircraft parking areas, but that was in September 2004 and the drivers may no longer have as much flexibility as to which areas are accessible for tours.
Pgtravel From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 445 posts, RR: 3 Reply 16, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days ago) and read 1482 times:
I was there a couple of weeks ago with a friend (flew in from VNY) and we had no trouble getting a tour. On the east side of the airport, the guy apologized for not being able to take us closer because of some military training exercises going on that day. But he made up for it on the west side by cutting down through the aircraft and giving us an up close view of the AA F100s and a couple of Zip 732s. So they still do have some leeway.
Brett
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Although that was 2 yrs ago 
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