What Happens To Military Aircraft After They Retire?

What happens to military aircraft after they retire? There are a number of possibilities – just because they are retiring, that doesn’t mean it’s the end. Military aircraft can be mothballed, sold off, put on display, recycled, buried, adapted for another use, and more. Military aircraft are very specialized, and one of the most difficult parts of keeping aircraft operational is finding spare parts. Often, retired aircraft are cannibalized for their parts. Some aircraft are kept in mothballed storage for years before being scrapped, while others, like the A-10 Warthog, find mystery buyers.