Restoration of F-4C Phantom AF 64-0763

[Fouga23]

Thanks for the update!

[Scott Rose]

Thanks for the update. I look forward to seeing this project continue.

[cooper9411]

Another thanks for the update. Keep them coming.

[flightsimer]

Good news, tomorrow is the scheduled lift of the fuselage to mate it back with the wing. Hopefully weather will be in our favor and it will happen tomorrow!

[flightsimer]

So... We finally got our F-4C put together over the months of August and September. Everything is now back onto the plane and secured and the final step will to be to repaint it next year hopefully. I had been posting the pics on Facebook, but I figured I would put them here as well since I already had the thread for those that do not have facebook.

All in all, it took two hours from start to finish to mate the fuselage back onto the wing, including cleanup. A lot quicker than we thought it would be. The fuselage all striped out weighed nearly 12 tons, which was about two more than we expected. Thankfully we had a large crane.


The Lift








Our Crew chief posing after a job well done! This was actually one of his planes while he was stationed at the Niagara ANG. We also have a pilot who flew this plane as a member.



They next day the Stabilator was attached.








Will continue with another post...

[flightsimer]

Next came the tail cone


This brought us to our Aviation Appreciation Day





After that, we started putting parts on the wings...








Will pick up with the next post...

[flightsimer]

Finally came the Engine Burner Cans...

[flightsimer]

Where the heart would be




And the final product after Everything has been installed. We do have a drop tank to restore for it I believe.

Also, I have finally received the official history from the AF on the plane. This plane was a Vietnam Veteran! I will be trying to find out if it had any confirmed kills while there.

[flightsimer]

Here is the updated history for this ship now including its time in Vietnam.

Manufactured by McDonnell Aircraft, St. Louis MO and gained by the USAF on 15
Jul 1965.

*Jul 1965 To 12th Tactical Fighter Wing (Tactical Air Command), Macdill AFB
FL

*Nov 1965 To Cam Ranh Bay AB Vietnam (deployments to Da Nang AB Vietnam
and Clark AB Philippines)

*Dec 1967 To 41st Air Division HQ (Pacific Air Forces), Yokota AB Japan

*Jan 1968 To 347th Tactical Fighter Wing (PACAF), Yokota AB (Osan AB Korea, Kunsan AB Korea, and Clark AB)

*May 1971 To 479th Tactical Fighter Wing (TAC), George AFB CA

*Sep 1971 To 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing (TAC), Luke AFB AZ

*Mar 1977 Unit became 58th Tactical Training Wing

*Dec 1982 To 131st Tactical Fighter Wing (Air National Guard), Lambert-St.
Louis AP MO

*May 1985 To 107th Fighter-Interceptor Wing (ANG), Niagara Fall IAP NY

*Dec 1985 To AF Systems Command, Wright-Patterson AFB OH (to GF-4C, ground instructional airframe)

[Zac Yates]

Great stuff, Tyler! It's cool to see it in one piece, and to learn the airframe's history.