[Grut]

The term "hangar queen" reminds me of the late 70's, when you had to keep an aircraft in the hangar to scavange for parts to fix the rest...

Technically, those were 'can birds' (short for cannibalization), although hangar queens usually were the major donors. And let's not forget that the 'hollow force' of the late 70s existed with the (usual) complicity of the top brass, who had gotten where they were by being enthusiastic about the program -- whatever the program might be.

[joe fonebone]

yeah........I remember only being able to fly 2 weeks out of the month, because you ran out of money to buy fuel for the aircraft...........

[truemiester]

I recall a new rule came out in about '82 to reduce the number of "hanger queens", by limiting their stay in the hanger to 120 day. This meant that every 119 days an new aircraft would come in and take its place and a big 'parts party' would be had to move parts from one aircraft to another.
Did not change anything, just doubled the work. Should have asked the maintainer what they though but...naugh...a general would have not gotten promoted!