Davis Monthan Air Force Base (DMA/KDMA) is a military airport run by the United States Air Force, which is located in the southeastern suburbs of Tucson. It was opened in September 1927 as landing field after the US army decided to open the new military air base close to Tucson here. It was named in honor after two pilots (Samuel Howard Davis and Oscar Monthan), which both crashed and died while serving the forces in th 1920s and both of them went to High School in Tucson. After its “second opening” after some first extensions to a “real air base”, the airport was still extended in the 1940s in order to allow it hosting B29 trainings and extensions continued in the 1950s, then the airbase was rebuilt for the new B47s. The military facilities were extended for new aircraft types several types later on (In the 70s for example for the A10s and U2s), but since the Tactical Air Command was liquidated in 1992, Davis-Monthan Air Base is now only used by the Air Combat Command. That is the reason for the traffic at DMA, which mostly consists out of fighters like the A10, F15/16 and F22, but also several reconnaissance aircraft and sometimes you can also see bigger transport aircraft like “normal” C130s or C17s.

In addition, the airport is famous for its huge (the world’s biggest) boneyard area in the northeast. Due to the climate, the AMARG (Aircraft Maintenance and Regeneration Group) stores hundreds of airplanes and other equipment here in the dry desert. They can be seen and astonished well from spot #5.

Furthermore, the Pima Air & Space Museum is also located just a few meters south of the base. You can see some pictures HERE (click on the museum icon) featuring the displayed planes, but it also offers tours through the above mentioned boneyard.

Written by Severin Hackenbergerr, Hal Maynard, Christian Preinl and Patrick Weis. Last Update: October 2026, all spots checked

Rating
Movements
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
12/30	4158m / 13643ft – Asphalt concrete
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not tolerated along the air base’s fence, but allowed and needed in the boneyard (spot #5).
Car/Public Transport	Car needed as transport vehicle and shadow.
Restrooms	There are some malls/restaurants a bit away in the west/north.
Drinks/Food	There are some shops/malls/restaurants a bit away in the west/north.
Hotels	No hotels around nearby.
Season	Summer is crazy! Hot and hazy, absolutely not good for spotting. Winter is perfect with nice temperatures, no haze and beautiful weather.
Security	Spotting at the fence is only allowed in the boneyard (spot #5). Apart from that, spotting is only okay in the approach, so just sky shots possible. Dont’ photograph the base infrastructure! You should keep a low profile and adjust to the common “military spotting rules” in general. Do not be at the fence all the time, carry an ID with you, greet the stuff friendly and always just explain asking people what you do honestly.
Runway Usage
General Info	Single runway operations without any preferences. You can just look what they fly at TUS and then you will also know in calm times, which direction is probably going to be used here at DMA.
12/30	Aircraft mostly use 12 for takeoff for the mornings until mid-afternoon and then switch to 30 for the late afternoons (especially in the summer). Of course, daily weather conditions can dictate changes.

	Spot #1 – S Wilmot Rd – 30 approach and 12 departures
WHERE	This spot is all along S Wilmont Rd, next to some industrial buildings and can be reached best from the south (from E Valencia Rd). The car can be parked on the side of the road and then just shoot from the roadside. It’s not a very busy road so feel free to place yourself anywhere along the road.
WHAT	You can take pictures of planes landing on runway 30 in various angles. Low 12 departures are possible as well.
TIME	The best time is in the morning hours and from late noon until sunset.
MISC.	Bring what you need, no restrooms, no food, no drinks directly here. You can get drinks and food at the local gas stations or you can take a break at the Pima Air & Space Museum in the south.
FOCAL LENGTH	400mm for side shoots

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	Spot #2 – Pima Air & Space Museum – 30 arrivals and 12 departures
WHERE	This spot is to the right at the Pima Air & Space Museum. Get rid off the car in the museum’s parking lot and walk back to the entrance. Once there stay anywhere along the sidewalk. Otherwise park on the dirt lot east of the museum and spot directly from the car.
WHAT	Planes arriving on runway 30 and low 12 departures.
TIME	From noon till sunset.
MISC.	The museums offers a decent cafeteria but entry into the museum is currently $22.50, so unless you are planning to spend some time at the museum (which is a great idea!) there are cheaper options just down Valenica Rd.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm KC10 = 150mm / C130 = 210mm

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	Spot #3 – S Alvernon Way – Afternoon aproach 12
WHERE	This spot is on next to S Alvernon Way in the field just a few meters east of the roadside. The car can be parked on the side of the road or in the field under a tree, so you can comfortable shoot from the shadow there.
WHAT	12 Arrivals only. Poles and wires can get in your way.
TIME	From noon till sunset.
MISC.	Bring what you need, no restrooms, no food, no drinks directly here. Therefore you have shadow directly here. Keep a low profile as many cars pass by here especially! You can get drinks and food at the local gas stations.
FOCAL LENGTH	100-400mm C130 = 200mm

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	Spot #4 – Golf Links Rd – Morning aproach 12
WHERE	This spot is located right off the exit from the E Aviation Pkwy leading on(to) Golf Links Rd. Just quickly pull over to the side, simply park on the right side of the road or in the nearby field.
WHAT	You can only see 12 approaches.
TIME	The best time is from sunrise until 10:00 (only useable in summer months).
MISC.	Bring what you need, no restrooms, no food, no drinks. You can get drinks and food at the local gas stations. Keep a low profile as many cars pass by here especially!
FOCAL LENGTH	XXX

We cannot provide any examples yet. Please contact us, if you have some!

	Spot #5 – Streets NE – AMARG Boneyard
WHERE	There are several options to photograph the aircraft in storage. Plan enough time! If you wanna shoot every plane, it can quickly take more than two hours! This is the world’s biggest boneyard! For the section on Escalante Rd, running east/west, there is plenty of parking and good views of the aircraft there. It is mostly C-130s and P-3s. I’ve had no issues with Security in this area. Great for pictures in the late afternoon, especially during monsoon season (roughly Jun-Sep). For the section on Kolb (from Escalante south to E Irvington Rd), this view is almost entirely C-130s. There isn’t any area for parking for southbound Kolb. You can park in the neighborhoods east of Kolb, or I’ve seen folks park in the area of the corner of Kolb and E Irvington and walk across the street. As this is mostly C-130s, I don’t think base Security is too worried about photographers, but I rarely see people over in this area. The section on Kolb (south from E Irvington Rd to Valencia) is NOT a good area for photography. Either very limited or no access/visibility, even if you are walking. The whole section of E Irvington Rd is not great (visibility-wise) for photography. A few years ago, they added very tall berms along the fenceline, and it’s difficult to see into the Boneyard. You need a ladder, and preferably a truck bed to put the ladder on, to get visibility. I have seen Security in this area, and I have been checked out (from the other side of the fenceline) when I was out there.
WHAT	You can find machines parked along the fence in almost the entire area here and the aircraft are mainly C130, but also some 707s (some civil aircraft are left in the southeasternmost corner).
TIME	From morning to evening, depending on which area of the boneyard you want to take pictures of: The left area (C-130s, P-3s and B-52s) can best be used from morning to noon. Right area (Fighter, P-3s, C-135er and C-130er) can be used from noon to evening.
MISC.	A small step ladder (2-3 steps) is recommended. Bring what you need, no restrooms, no food, no drinks. You can get drinks and food at the local gas stations. Never had any issues shooting from S Wilmot Rd with either base security or Tucson police. Just don’t do silly things. There is a base gate at the north end of S Wilmot Rd, and depending on the time-of-day traffic can be VERY heavy. The drivers leave you alone but may give you a curious
FOCAL LENGTH	50-200mm Area overview = 70mm

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