B-1 returns to flight after restoration, surviving the ‘boneyard’
By Cristina Stassis
May 8, 2026, 12:44 PM
After time in storage and two years of “intensive” maintenance efforts, a B-1B Lancer is back in action, deemed combat capable.
The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex at Tinker Air Force Base regenerated the aircraft following its time in the “boneyard,” according to a Thursday Air Force release.
The “boneyard,” held at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, refers to Type 2000 storage that keeps aircrafts available to reclaim certain parts for active fleets.
As the Air Force works to modernize its bomber fleet and nurture legacy platforms considered significant to current operations, this revival highlights the necessity of depot maintenance in extending an aircraft’s service life.
https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/05/08/b-1-returns-to-flight-after-restoration-surviving-the-boneyard/
