In 2003, the 82nd ATRS at Tyndall AFB pulled six QF-4Es off the target line and had them repainted in different liveries depicting various points of the Phantom’s service in the USAF. They did this in conjunction with the USAF Heritage Flight. Currently four Phantoms have been painted at Randolph AFB.
Here are BUNO’s of those currently painted:
QF-4E; 72-1490: 1960s South-East Asia livery.
QF-4E; 74-1652: “Egypt One” two-tone gray (scheme from 80s-90s).
QF-4E; 73-1171: “European One” camo of the 80s. Similar to SEA livery.
QF-4E; 72-0135: “Wrap around” SEA livery.
The Phantom may be off U.S. Active Service Registrys (aside from the 82nd ATRS) but it’s good to know that at least six have been preserved to remain on “flight status” for future generations to appreciate her. Now if they’ll do the same with the F-105. [:D]
This is really vague, but recently on a documentary, I believe, on the training of security police for the USAF, there was a mock-up of a section of a base, including part of the ramp. And on this mocked-up training area were no fewer than three Thuds lined up wingtip to wingtip, with their wheels off the ground using those big steel whatchamacallits where a bolt goes through the gear and holds the a/c off the ground so the wheels and tires and everything else won’t be ruined over the years by the weight of the a/c. I thought: Couldn’t they get something more common than this, like F-4’s or old F-16A-5’s, for simple training props? I wish I knew where this was. Does anyone know what I’m talking about?
TOM
Yeah, that is great. Just to know a few Rhinos are still flying is good news.
As to the Thud, I don’t think that’s going to happen. While researching the one I built last year I read somewhere along the line that there are none in airworthy condition anywhere in the world. Of course, that information could have been wrong but it’w what I read somewhere.
I’m betting you’re right on your info about no Thuds being airworthy. I’m guessing that restoring the airframe wouldn’t be as much of the problem as compared to finding a working J75. Well, there’s always hope. If the Heritage Flight has Mustangs and an F-86, then why not a Thud?
You could be right, the J75’s might be hard to find. Could be that P&W has a few laying around in a jnkyard somewhere though. I’d love to see one flying, I’ve only seen them as gate guards.
I saw 72-1490 at quick check just last week. I stoped long enough for it to take the active and take off. The sound of the J-79GE-17 engines sure bring back a lot of memories.
Tom:
What you saw is the 343rd Training Squadron flight line training area #7 at Lackland AFB, Texas. It is used for training Security Forces for flight line security. When the Air Force retired the last of the F-105s in 1983, they had 10 of them from the 466th Tac Fighter Squadron at Hill AFB, Utah, fly down to Lackland for this “training aide”. The aircraft are #s, 61-0106, 61-0108, 61-0115, 61-0199, 62-4228, 62-4259, 62-4279,62-4318, 62-4346, 62-4353, while #62-4387 is on display elsewhere on the base. The SF people use the same procedures for flight line security regardless of type of aircraft, so more modern birds would not make any difference.
I’d MUCH rather see the Thuds used as ‘training aids’ for Security Police in guarding flightlines than become beer cans… and there is a possibility that someday, they may become museum pieces. I’m willing to bet that those Thuds still have their J-75s in them.
There have to be a couple of J75s out there and more than a few J75 mechs around. That would be a sight…an airworthy Thud doing a fly-by during a Heritage flight. [:)]