Scraping the bottom of the barrel.

While it's fairly common to use the "boneyard" of Davis-Monthan for spare parts, it's a little less common to use it to source entire aircraft, as the USMC is doing in order to get enough airframes to keep a modicum of readiness while the F-35 procurement drama drags on.

""Today, there are not enough flyable aircraft -- our 'ready bench' -- if our nation were subjected to a crisis," Davis said. "Today, I could fly 43% (443 of the 1,040) of the aircraft I should have on my flight lines."

A lack of spare parts and maintenance personnel trained to repair damaged aircraft are two of the main factors contributing to the lack of operational aircraft, according to military brass."

It's got that whole Carter Years vibe about it, doesn't it?
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