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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
Attached File 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! Attached File Attached File |
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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. That's old. 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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