Warbird Information Exchange

RichH,

I have a question regarding the Collings F-4. Does it have a 1963 serial number, or is it a later number? Just wondering, because it would seem like any Air Force Phantom built under a 1963 serial number would be an F-4C as F-4D's came along in later years. Is this F-4 one that was built originally as an F-4C version and later redesignated F-4D by the Air Force after some upgrades, or was it originally built as an F-4D?

Just curious if any light can be shed on this.

Thanks!

It's an F-4D, serial 65-0749.
The serial it wears is false.
Andy Marden

USAMOOS - 2013 edition coming shortly

As Andy said she is 64-749, built as a D. We carry the correct serial in the data block. When we repainted her to represent the aircraft Robin Olds flew on the day of Operation Bolo we applied the F-4C's 680 tail code.

There were no upgraded Cs that were redesignated Ds. The Ds were the first USAF specific F-4s. The differences were mostly in avionics and ECM gear.

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A question for Rick...

Can a "D" nose cone be put back on...do you have one?

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Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

It is a D model, nothing that nobody else hasn't said already though. A bit late to the party! But, my Dad has had at least five flights in this particular F-4, back when it was at RAF Bentwaters, according to his Form Five!

John, she's always had a D model nose.

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

Judging from photos, I thought she had a C nose...with the tracker unit (or whatever it is) underneath?

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

John,

You are right that initially when the F-4D version came out to supersede the F-4C as the Air Force production version, the lack of the IR bulge or whatever it is on the F-4D was a distinguishing characteristic. As time went on many of these F-4D's either had the device added under the nose or perhaps it was even added on the production line (not sure), but eventually many if not most F-4D's had this device under the nose making it difficult to distinguish an F-4C from an F-4D at first glance.

And the reason that the D model had the IR bulge under the nose, was due I believe, the Navy ordered way to many of those radomes with the IR bulge on it, and the Air Force bought them from the Navy and equipped the D models with it. At least that is according to my Dad.

And its FAA registration ain't quite right either - it's actually listed as an "F4D" which of course is a Douglas Skyray, the Navy's 1950's era delta-wing interceptor aka the "Ford" but of course it should be listed as an "F-4D" instead. Oh what a difference a single hyphen can make....

I had a chance to ask Rob C. about it directly once upon a time and he told me that he had tried to fix simple, little things like that with the FAA before, but apparently it's not simple enough for the FAA to comprehend.

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For that sir , you need hyphenation correction form No. 446255789 , in triplicate , and signed by the person who originally test flew the aircraft , his mother, and the birth certificate of the aircraft designer (no copies accepted !) Hope this is of help !

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