Inside the world’s most famous aeroplane boneyard
What are 3,200 military aircraft doing in the Arizona desert?

FOR INFANTRY and armoured cavalry, target practice is relatively straightforward. Load up on training rounds and aim for paper bullseyes, plywood cutouts or life-size models of enemy vehicles. Air-defence forces have a trickier time. Despite the exception of the occasional Chinese spy balloon, the skies do not offer a wealth of objects to shoot at.
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This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Plane to see”
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