Aviation Warehouse

Welcome Aboard  :::::  2006  :::::  Douglas DC-6 filled with dirty rags and other junk.Welcome Aboard ::::: 2006 ::::: Douglas DC-6 filled with dirty rags and other junk.
Electra Short  :::::  2009  :::::  A wingless Beech 18 under encroaching winter storms.Electra Short ::::: 2009 ::::: A wingless Beech 18 under encroaching winter storms.
Flight to Jupiter  :::::  2014  :::::  Movie prop DC-3 cockpit.Flight to Jupiter ::::: 2014 ::::: Movie prop DC-3 cockpit.
Cockpit Heater  :::::  2012  :::::  Boeing 737.Cockpit Heater ::::: 2012 ::::: Boeing 737.
Dinosaur  :::::  2006  :::::  Husk of a Boeing 707, broken and painted flat black for use as a movie prop.Dinosaur ::::: 2006 ::::: Husk of a Boeing 707, broken and painted flat black for use as a movie prop.
Eject!  :::::  2006  :::::  1950s fighter jet ejection seat.Eject! ::::: 2006 ::::: 1950s fighter jet ejection seat.
Moonshot  :::::  2014Moonshot ::::: 2014
Earth Here  :::::  2014  :::::  Fighter jet fuselage and fuel tanks, sparkling in the sand.Earth Here ::::: 2014 ::::: Fighter jet fuselage and fuel tanks, sparkling in the sand.
Joshua Says GO!  :::::  2006  :::::  1940s-vintage Lockheed Harpoon.Joshua Says GO! ::::: 2006 ::::: 1940s-vintage Lockheed Harpoon.
Starslot  :::::  2014  :::::  C-118 fuselages.Starslot ::::: 2014 ::::: C-118 fuselages.
Jet Skulls  :::::  2009  :::::  Boeing and Lockheed airliner nose sections.Jet Skulls ::::: 2009 ::::: Boeing and Lockheed airliner nose sections.
The Purple Vestibule  :::::  2009  :::::  Boeing 737 and 727 fuselage sections.The Purple Vestibule ::::: 2009 ::::: Boeing 737 and 727 fuselage sections.
Exit Row  :::::  2009  :::::  Boeing 737 and 727 fuselage sections.Exit Row ::::: 2009 ::::: Boeing 737 and 727 fuselage sections.
The Golden Hind  :::::  2009  :::::  Russian Mi-24 Hind Helicopter nose turret.The Golden Hind ::::: 2009 ::::: Russian Mi-24 Hind Helicopter nose turret.
Inside the Cat's Head  :::::  2014  :::::  A DC-6 with all it's tailplanes removed.Inside the Cat's Head ::::: 2014 ::::: A DC-6 with all it's tailplanes removed.
Sherbet Boarding  :::::  2014  :::::  C-118 Liftmaster in the sand by the willows.Sherbet Boarding ::::: 2014 ::::: C-118 Liftmaster in the sand by the willows.
PRA  :::::  2006  :::::  A pair of movie prop aircraft in storage.PRA ::::: 2006 ::::: A pair of movie prop aircraft in storage.
The Point of No Return  :::::  2014  :::::  Movie prop cockpit.The Point of No Return ::::: 2014 ::::: Movie prop cockpit.
Patinateer  :::::  2009  :::::  Douglas DC-7.Patinateer ::::: 2009 ::::: Douglas DC-7.
Piasnakies  :::::  2009  :::::  Piasecki H-21 Shawnee helicopter with hoisting straps through its windows.Piasnakies ::::: 2009 ::::: Piasecki H-21 Shawnee helicopter with hoisting straps through its windows.
Big Gear  :::::  2007  :::::  Main landing gear from a wide-body airliner.Big Gear ::::: 2007 ::::: Main landing gear from a wide-body airliner.
EST  :::::  2007  :::::  Northwest Airlines 747 main Cabin Door clipped from the fuselage.EST ::::: 2007 ::::: Northwest Airlines 747 main Cabin Door clipped from the fuselage.
Apocalypse Now  :::::  2006  :::::  Viet Nam-era Huey.  Don't forget to sit on your helmet.Apocalypse Now ::::: 2006 ::::: Viet Nam-era Huey. Don't forget to sit on your helmet.
Flight Engineer  :::::  2007  :::::  The flight deck of a KC-97 Stratotanker coated with a layer of Mojave dust.Flight Engineer ::::: 2007 ::::: The flight deck of a KC-97 Stratotanker coated with a layer of Mojave dust.
The Golden Lear  :::::  2006  :::::  1960s Lear JetThe Golden Lear ::::: 2006 ::::: 1960s Lear Jet
Orbital Decay  :::::  2009  :::::  A derelict Boeing 737 cabin section hurtles through space.Orbital Decay ::::: 2009 ::::: A derelict Boeing 737 cabin section hurtles through space.
Destination Moon  :::::  2006  :::::  A dusty space-age propliner glows in the moonlight.Destination Moon ::::: 2006 ::::: A dusty space-age propliner glows in the moonlight.
Clipped and Headless  :::::  2006  :::::  A severed Delta 727 fuselage on its belly in the sand.Clipped and Headless ::::: 2006 ::::: A severed Delta 727 fuselage on its belly in the sand.
Robot Barf  :::::  2006  :::::  Miles of wiring hangs from the cockpit bulkhead of a junked 1960s airliner.Robot Barf ::::: 2006 ::::: Miles of wiring hangs from the cockpit bulkhead of a junked 1960s airliner.
Dream Decoder  :::::  2009  :::::  Fuselage fragments under a cold and rainy winter sky.Dream Decoder ::::: 2009 ::::: Fuselage fragments under a cold and rainy winter sky.
Crows Nest  :::::  2006  :::::  The spiral staircase to the first class lounge, sectioned out of a Boeing 747.Crows Nest ::::: 2006 ::::: The spiral staircase to the first class lounge, sectioned out of a Boeing 747.
Sahara  :::::  2006  :::::  1940s-vintage Lockheed Harpoon.Sahara ::::: 2006 ::::: 1940s-vintage Lockheed Harpoon.
Crash Simulation  :::::  2006  :::::  Shattered airliner remains.Crash Simulation ::::: 2006 ::::: Shattered airliner remains.
Black Windows  :::::  2014  :::::  Airliner parts under the full moon.Black Windows ::::: 2014 ::::: Airliner parts under the full moon.
Lawn Ornaments  :::::  2006  :::::  The nacelle garden.Lawn Ornaments ::::: 2006 ::::: The nacelle garden.
  • Welcome Aboard  :::::  2006  :::::  Douglas DC-6 filled with dirty rags and other junk.
  • Electra Short  :::::  2009  :::::  A wingless Beech 18 under encroaching winter storms.
  • Flight to Jupiter  :::::  2014  :::::  Movie prop DC-3 cockpit.
  • Cockpit Heater  :::::  2012  :::::  Boeing 737.
  • Dinosaur  :::::  2006  :::::  Husk of a Boeing 707, broken and painted flat black for use as a movie prop.
  • Eject!  :::::  2006  :::::  1950s fighter jet ejection seat.
  • Moonshot  :::::  2014
  • Earth Here  :::::  2014  :::::  Fighter jet fuselage and fuel tanks, sparkling in the sand.
  • Joshua Says GO!  :::::  2006  :::::  1940s-vintage Lockheed Harpoon.
  • Starslot  :::::  2014  :::::  C-118 fuselages.
  • Jet Skulls  :::::  2009  :::::  Boeing and Lockheed airliner nose sections.
  • The Purple Vestibule  :::::  2009  :::::  Boeing 737 and 727 fuselage sections.
  • Exit Row  :::::  2009  :::::  Boeing 737 and 727 fuselage sections.
  • The Golden Hind  :::::  2009  :::::  Russian Mi-24 Hind Helicopter nose turret.
  • Inside the Cat's Head  :::::  2014  :::::  A DC-6 with all it's tailplanes removed.
  • Sherbet Boarding  :::::  2014  :::::  C-118 Liftmaster in the sand by the willows.
  • PRA  :::::  2006  :::::  A pair of movie prop aircraft in storage.
  • The Point of No Return  :::::  2014  :::::  Movie prop cockpit.
  • Patinateer  :::::  2009  :::::  Douglas DC-7.
  • Piasnakies  :::::  2009  :::::  Piasecki H-21 Shawnee helicopter with hoisting straps through its windows.
  • Big Gear  :::::  2007  :::::  Main landing gear from a wide-body airliner.
  • EST  :::::  2007  :::::  Northwest Airlines 747 main Cabin Door clipped from the fuselage.
  • Apocalypse Now  :::::  2006  :::::  Viet Nam-era Huey.  Don't forget to sit on your helmet.
  • Flight Engineer  :::::  2007  :::::  The flight deck of a KC-97 Stratotanker coated with a layer of Mojave dust.
  • The Golden Lear  :::::  2006  :::::  1960s Lear Jet
  • Orbital Decay  :::::  2009  :::::  A derelict Boeing 737 cabin section hurtles through space.
  • Destination Moon  :::::  2006  :::::  A dusty space-age propliner glows in the moonlight.
  • Clipped and Headless  :::::  2006  :::::  A severed Delta 727 fuselage on its belly in the sand.
  • Robot Barf  :::::  2006  :::::  Miles of wiring hangs from the cockpit bulkhead of a junked 1960s airliner.
  • Dream Decoder  :::::  2009  :::::  Fuselage fragments under a cold and rainy winter sky.
  • Crows Nest  :::::  2006  :::::  The spiral staircase to the first class lounge, sectioned out of a Boeing 747.
  • Sahara  :::::  2006  :::::  1940s-vintage Lockheed Harpoon.
  • Crash Simulation  :::::  2006  :::::  Shattered airliner remains.
  • Black Windows  :::::  2014  :::::  Airliner parts under the full moon.
  • Lawn Ornaments  :::::  2006  :::::  The nacelle garden.

(Updated March 2015)
El Mirage dry lake is a sleepy, windblown spot, lost in an isolated corner of Southern California’s high desert. Its six mile long patch of smooth, hard-packed surface make it a perfect natural runway. Consequently, it was used as an auxiliary airfield for nearby Victorville AFB during WWII. After the war it was turned over for civilian use and, aside from hot rodders using the lakebed for a few high-speed events each year, it has remained obscure and little used.

Today, this quiet backwater is the locale for Mark Thomson’s busy Aviation Warehouse, a provider of aviation-related material for the film and TV industry. Thomson started out flying charter and camera planes in the ’60s, eventually moving into buying and selling aircraft parts for film props. It started modestly; in the early ’70s he supplied a crashed airframe for the TV show Emergency!, and from this he forged lifelong contacts with Hollywood art directors and set designers. Before he knew it, Thomson had become the foremost supplier of aeronautical props to the television and movie industry.

In 1980, Thomson bought the airport at El Mirage and moved his operation from Hawthorne in the Los Angeles metro area to the desert, where land was cheap and he could spread out. Over the years, he has amassed a tremendous stockpile of worn-out and junk aircraft, from tiny Cessnas to wide-body airliners, as well as military transports and fighters. Many of these airframes are carefully broken and smashed to simulate fiery crash scenes, their fuselages torn and painted flat black. Thomson has supplied planes and parts for over three hundred movies and TV shows, including True Lies, Top Gear, War of the Worlds, Mission Impossible, and Con Air. If a movie has a plane crash in it, the airframe probably came from Aviation Warehouse.

Closed to the public, quiet and deserted, the sprawling Aviation Warehouse yard is an overwhelming sight. It’s easy to get lost wandering the winding sandy trails that separate the different types of planes and parts. One way to navigate the yard is to follow the landmarks—make a left at the mountain of airliner seats, walk past the row of massive landing gear, and you’ll find the Lockheed Harpoon, next to the garden of engine nacelles.

Thomson is well aware of the history and romance of his collection. The smashed and shredded debris is arranged around the twisted Joshua trees in strangely artistic piles. Thomson tries to keep it this way to help producers and art directors visualize the potential of his best pieces, but it’s a constant battle to keep the yard from slipping into jumbled anarchy. He clearly loves what he’s doing, creating a space that is part junkyard, part prop-house, and part museum.

Poking through this boneyard at night is an unforgettable experience. Thick with atmosphere, it’s a Disneyland for urban explorers and junk geeks. Most people view airliners as permanent, a constant in their lives.  They prefer not to envision aircraft wearing out, but the reality is that they will eventually reach a point where they are destined for the scrap heap, just like cars or refrigerators. It’s an unsettling experience to see these icons of everyday technology smashed and broken, disappearing into the sand—an eerie reminder that time is short, and nothing is permanent.

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