The military calls it ‘divestiture’, when they retire a major piece of military equipment. Under the National Defense Authorization Act, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) is required to divest 17 B-1B Lancers (aka Bones) in order to justify buying the new B-21 Raider (a new version of the B-2).
On 17FEB2021, the first of several Ellisworth Air Force Base (AFB) 28th Bomb Wing ‘Bones’ was sent off on its last flight to the ‘BoneYard’ at Davis-Monthan AFB, in Arizona.
On 16FEB2021, maintainers with 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron conducted final inspections and adjustments to #85-066.
#85-066 upon arrival at Davis-Monthan AFB, 17FEB2021.
The above is B-1B #85-081, photographed on 12MAR2021, also on its way to the BoneYard.
LAST FLIGHT, AND SALVATION, OF 1503
HOW TO MUMMIFY YOUR KC-10, OR, LAST FLIGHT OF 86-0036
LAST RIDE FOR 1ST, 2ND & 4TH TANK