No, it becomes a hangar queen and there are numerous ops checks and inspections to perform, but it doesn't lose it's "airworthiness certificate".
" Once that happens you have to box the aircraft up, send it to the desert, it’s then rebuilt, flown, recertified and returned to service.
No, the maintenance crews or CLSS teams from the specific depot facility will come in and perform all necessary maintenance, inspections and ops checks in order to return the aircraft to flying status. In addition, a FCF (functional check flight) will be conducted by a specially qualified pilot to ensure that all systems are operating correctly.
"When Clinton was in office, he spent the spares money on non-military missions. Therefore they had insufficient engines, radios, radars, etc."
This has happened for as long as I could remember. Even during the 80s with Reagan we still had "Cann Birds". Nothing really new under the sun.
Thank you for the information. My, apparently incorrect observations, came from a discussion with a Navy jet mechanic. So, why can’t they just mothball the existing aircraft and lower the spares buys to the lowest amount that will keep the contractor alive? Are they playing poker and bluffing? I know the Air Force has been trying to get rid of the Warthog forever. I thought they had given them to the Army.