# Andersen Air Force base in Guam question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andersen-air-force-base-in-guam-question/414573>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 6, 2007, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andersen-air-force-base-in-guam-question/414573 "2007-08-06T03:55:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dnooman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/839c29/32.png) [@dnooman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dnooman)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andersen-air-force-base-in-guam-question/414573/1 "2007-08-06T03:55:53Z")

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I was looking at Google Earth last night, and happened upon Andersen Air Force base. I saw what looked like numerous “parking spots” along the runway, some empty, some occupied. Is there a name for this? Does anyone know what the logistics of this are? I would assume it would facilitate quicker scrambling, but I have no idea.

I don’t know how to link a Google Earth image, otherwise I’d do it.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andersen-air-force-base-in-guam-question/414573/2 "2007-08-06T04:29:20Z")

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It’s commonly called apron parking. The planes are cycled from there into maintenance and refueling operations.

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**Author:** ![Zambini57](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4491bb/32.png) [@Zambini57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zambini57)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andersen-air-force-base-in-guam-question/414573/3 "2007-08-06T11:30:08Z")

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I’ve heard of them referred to as “hardstands”.

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**Author:** ![Fir\_na\_tine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fir\_na\_tine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fir_na_tine)\
**Post date:** [August 6, 2007, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/andersen-air-force-base-in-guam-question/414573/4 "2007-08-06T13:37:57Z")

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Back in the days when SAC had B-52 bombers loaded with nukes on active alert, those spots would have been where the bombers parked. When the alert horn went off, the crews had X minutes to get launched. An impressive and terrifying sight (even in practice alerts). Hope to never see it again.