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Quoted: You're absolutely right. ![]() 265 Navy and Marine F-4J's were upgraded to F-4S standards. Major changes included airframe and undercarriage strengthening including landing gear and wing/fuselage structural improvements. The electrical system was completely rewired, and the hydraulic system was replumbed using stainless steel tubing. Two-position wing leading-edge maneuvering slats were fitted to the F-4S, which gave a 50 percent improvement in combat turning capability in comparison with an unslatted F-4J. The F-4S was fitted with the digital AWG-10B weapons control system with new AN/ARC-159 dual UHF radios and an ARN-118 TACAN. The F-4S was fitted with smokeless J79-GE-10B engines with low smoke combustors and low-energy ignition. Low-voltage formation lights were fitted to the sides of the nose, mid-fuselage, and tailfin, and staggered cooling ports were fitted near the nosewheel well. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: 155539 is an F-4S not a J. She might have left St Louis as a J-33-MC, but there was a rebuild or two along the way. You're absolutely right. ![]() 265 Navy and Marine F-4J's were upgraded to F-4S standards. Major changes included airframe and undercarriage strengthening including landing gear and wing/fuselage structural improvements. The electrical system was completely rewired, and the hydraulic system was replumbed using stainless steel tubing. Two-position wing leading-edge maneuvering slats were fitted to the F-4S, which gave a 50 percent improvement in combat turning capability in comparison with an unslatted F-4J. The F-4S was fitted with the digital AWG-10B weapons control system with new AN/ARC-159 dual UHF radios and an ARN-118 TACAN. The F-4S was fitted with smokeless J79-GE-10B engines with low smoke combustors and low-energy ignition. Low-voltage formation lights were fitted to the sides of the nose, mid-fuselage, and tailfin, and staggered cooling ports were fitted near the nosewheel well. At one time I had a model of every major Navy variation of the F-4 and those ECM fairings on the intakes are dead giveaways. I always notice them because when I was making my models there weren't kits for the N or S so you had to start with a B or J and make the parts yourself. The best part was a friend wondering why I'd made three of the same F-4B and him totally not seeing the changes in the antennas made in 1965 and 1967. One was Project Shoehorn, never did find out what they called the 1967 changes. |
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I always liked the grey USAF livery
![]() I'd suspect this, or the Vietnam era camouflage paint scheme was what they looked like when my dad flew 'em! |
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Quoted: I always liked the grey USAF livery https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/14121/greyusaf_jpg-2348048.JPG I'd suspect this, or the Vietnam era camouflage paint scheme was what they looked like when my dad flew 'em! View Quote The F-4Cs originally had a glossy gray and white scheme around 1964-65 before being repainted to Vietnam jungle camo. ![]() |
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Quoted: Jesus. So everyone in this whole thing who mattered was fine with it. ![]() Self important people who were not going to see these things in anything but photographs, decided it had to go? ![]() View Quote I can tell you're not an aircraft fanatic. There are aircraft spotters all over the world who would have given their left nut to see the F-4 or F-14 version of Vandy 1 with the Bunny on the tail. Both were popular with the airshow crowds. |
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Quoted: Oddly enough there's been more than one Navy squadron's whose mascots have caused problems. ![]() The World War II nose art would cause untold turmoil - hell it will get your account locked here. Anybody seen WWII nose art altered in a museum yet? View Quote And Marines. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/marine-werewolves-transform-crusaders-back-again-flna793567 |
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Castle does have some cool aircraft!
Unfortunately they are all outside in the weather, and not maintained very well! ![]() ![]() |
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Quoted: since we're doing F-4's here's my dad and his engine nozzle test crew at Edwards AFB late 60's https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/5205/3093C440-B683-4EDB-8282-455873474B87-1915888.jpg View Quote Nice! The old days of ties and pocket protectors. Bet there is a slide rule or two hiding in that bunch as well for on the spot calculations |
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Quoted: This is how you tell people you are special ed without telling them you are special ed View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: What's so special about this F4 other than it being painted black? This is how you tell people you are special ed without telling them you are special ed It’s a legitimate question. Why would you expect everyone to know about it? |
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The Blackbird in Oregon is indoors.
I should go spend a day there again. |
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View Quote Was there a reason for the 17 stripes on the flag? |
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Quoted: Old? I was an instructor at Castle from ‘85 to ‘89. That’s old. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Sweet. I'd much rather see that F-4 get displayed indoors, but, It is what it is. Castle AFB was my first duty assignment back in 1984. Damn I feel old. ![]() Old? I was an instructor at Castle from ‘85 to ‘89. That’s old. Mine too, 86 |
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Quoted: This is how you tell people you are special ed without telling them you are special ed View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: What's so special about this F4 other than it being painted black? This is how you tell people you are special ed without telling them you are special ed |
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Quoted: I approve of this post.... https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img921/2879/tdnsle.jpg I also built the F-14 VX-4. View Quote Nicely done! |
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Quoted: USMC entered the chat https://www.iliketowastemytime.com/sites/default/files/marines_helicopter_sneaky_camouflage1.jpg View Quote Well done |
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Quoted: USMC entered the chat https://www.iliketowastemytime.com/sites/default/files/marines_helicopter_sneaky_camouflage1.jpg View Quote I have that kit and decals to build as well. |
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Quoted: This is how you tell people you are a dipshit without telling people you are a dipshit. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: What's so special about this F4 other than it being painted black? This is how you tell people you are special ed without telling them you are special ed I must be special ed because I've been an aviation nut since I was a kid and had no idea what the Black Bunny F-4 was ![]() |
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Quoted: 2nd Marine Airwing caved into the fat stay at home dependas in the 90s and removed the Bunny, too. View Quote That really doesn't surprise me. I thank God you had to be badged into the IMA Avionics area I worked in. It seemed the dependas were always trying to get in to see their husbands. I made a comment one time about fat asses and it got me a bunch of funny looks....I was single and didn't give a fuck.... |
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Quoted: The bunny (it's been pointed out already) https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/119852/Phantom_Tomcat_VX4-1114550.jpg View Quote Cool picture. The F-14 looks elegant and sporty, while the Phantom looks like it's hungry for a kill. |
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I always wondered if Playboy ever said anything about the bunny on those aircraft.
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Quoted: VX outfits have cool aircraft. I used to ride with the CO of this squadron (bikes, not jets). https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/166803/7E011984-C125-4655-933E-08A88CCF5F23-2347397.jpg View Quote Used to have coffee with a guy whose son flew in that unit at Pt. Mugu. United pilot now. TC |
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Quoted: Besides saying "If you're going to use the Bunny, make it look right. Here's a couple decals we use on our DC-9." https://external-preview.redd.it/B5vo_qw3B1SYvtYEHltbknCbvjHrKMAVXlwU8VOPGo0.jpg?width=1024&height=536.12565445&auto=webp&s=3fd85bcf5811b14ecbeecce095ae1720d298c610 View Quote They kept that plane at the Purdue/Lafayette Airport. I believe Ozark Airlines pilots flew it until Purdue got some people qualified to fly it. TC |
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Quoted: Old? I dated a girl from Atwater who's dad was a CMSgt at Castle with the 93rd Air Refueling Squadron. That was 1981. ![]() View Quote It’s wasn’t Benny Heald was it? He was there for decades! Funny… in high school (‘75’ish), I dated a girl who’s dad was a CMSgt (gunner) at CCTS. 10 years later, there I was. |
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Quoted: I must be special ed because I've been an aviation nut since I was a kid and had no idea what the Black Bunny F-4 was ![]() View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: What's so special about this F4 other than it being painted black? This is how you tell people you are special ed without telling them you are special ed I must be special ed because I've been an aviation nut since I was a kid and had no idea what the Black Bunny F-4 was ![]() It was and is a valid question. There is simply no excuse to act like an dipshit in answering it. ![]() |
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Quoted: since we're doing F-4's here's my dad and his engine nozzle test crew at Edwards AFB late 60's https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/5205/3093C440-B683-4EDB-8282-455873474B87-1915888.jpg View Quote A bunch of brilliant people ![]() |
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Quoted: Here’s the Phantom they used during the Bicentennial. Building this one too. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/img924/1817/EzJxyA.jpg View Quote The W&B calculator in me just shuddered hard. |
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On one of our WestPac trips in the early 70's we had a jet on our Helo Deck; just moving it from point A to point B. It was covered in "white shipping plastic" and had a small black bunny on the tail.
The bunny was cute but I always wondered what the spy type folks thought about us (AE) launching and recovering a jet. |
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