The Collings Foundation's possible new aircraft!

[RickH]

Supposed to be at Roswell Jr College, New Mexico. I think its part of their aviation technology school. Definitely a BDR airframe.

[Former Member]

"Cherry Girl"


Me soooo horny....me love this nose art long-time!!!

John

[Shay]

This is good. Lots of people's personal shots of the THUD, most I had never seen before

http://www.burrusspta.org/newsubmissions.html

I didn't know that taxing with your refueling probe extended was the same as giving people the "Bird"

Shay
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Semper Fortis

[usaf ssgt]

I found this topic quite interesting for several reasons.
First and foremost, the thought of an airborne Thud at airshows would be a highlight for years to come.
And secondly, I'd like to share a few pictures I have of the Lackland F-105s, photograghed in the summer of 1984.
From the looks of the birds then, they were still wearing their last active duty paint jobs, and look more "active duty" than they do in the more recent pictures of them.
I was able to get on base as I was active duty, stationed in Austin Tx as a Corrosion Control Spec., and we were in San Antonio on a sight seeing visit.
Imagine my suprise when I came around a corner and we saw that the gate was OPEN! I just HAD to take the chance!!

Right after pulling out of the fenced in area, we saw a couple of SPs in one of their little blue Dodge pick-ups, and I thought we were going to be stopped. But to my amazement, they never did, and we went on our way.

I'm also happy to say that I'm still married to the woman in the picture and still own the same car.
The pictures have really meant alot to me over the years, and I'm happy to share them with you all.
Hope you like.

Leon

[Shay]

Leon

Awesome shots. Thanks for sharing. They have two of my favorite things, THUDS and a Pontiac I own a 68 and 66 GTO myself.





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Believe it or not more flying THUDS are coming out of the woodwork:

http://www.burrusspta.org/759.html

Apparently the Yanks Air Museum is trying to restore F-105D 59-1759 to flying condition. Cool Stuff

Shay
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Semper Fortis

[RickH]

Well, I don't know about coming out of the woodwork. Yanks has a history of restoring to flyable but I don't think anything they've ever restored has actually flown. If they won't fly the N3Ns what makes you think they'll start with an F-105 ?

[TAdan]

Great pictures Leon. Having your T/A in those shots shows what a large bird the Thud is.

I would love to see a 105 in the air.

[usaf ssgt]

Thanks Shay!
Ya know Dan, I thought the same thing!
That sucker is HUGE!!

As long as we are on the subject, I have a couple more.
The first one, is in the collection scattered around Lackland AFB, circa 1984.
The second one is in front of my dorm while stationed at Sheppard AFB, Witchata Falls, Tx, for my tech school.
The cool thing about this display, was that its nav lights would come on at night. Sheppard AFB had alot of interesting displays.
If we ever get on the subject sometime, I might have to share those, also.!

Leon

[usaf ssgt]

I ran across another Thud in my photos.
This one was at Carswell AFB back in the mid-'80s.
Leon

[Ztex]

Here's my shot of Thuds on the ANG ramp at Carswell...1981

[bdk]

Yanks has a history of restoring to flyable but I don't think anything they've ever restored has actually flown.

You mean like the Electra?

[RickH]

BDK, what else have they flown? I wasn't aware that they had flown anything, especialy the WWII stuff. Is that wrong?

Still you have to admit, operating an Electra will be nothing like operating an F-105.

[Shay]

Perhaps it just means that they plan to restore 59-1759 to that of flying "condition". And, if they don't ever fly it maybe they'll just intend to start her up and taxi her around ala some certain Lancaster. Or they might actually intend to use the same legislation as the Collins foundation is using to get her up in the air.

Would be an awesome sight though. Fuel costs would be prohibitive. As I recall most THUDs would have to in-flight refuel after take-off before they proceeded with the mission. But if they get fundraising mechanisms in place it might work out

Leon,

Again thanks for the pictures. I wonder if all those THUDs are still in place.

Shay
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Semper Fortis

[Shay]

Actually it looks like they intend to fly it:

F-105 Restoration Project
Posted by Mike Winter on 11/15/2006, 22:17:00
69.169.15.X

YANKS AIR MUSEUM in Chino, California is looking for volunteers to restore F105-D #59-1759 to flying condition. Upon project completion it will be the ONLY flying F-105 in the world!
We need a crew chief to lead the aircraft restoration, as well as experienced maintenance personnel – especially in the areas of Airframe, Engines, Avionics, Hydraulics, and Fuel Systems.

Volunteers can contact Frank Wright at (909) 597-1735 , send an e-mail to: Frank@yanksair.com , or can reply to me directly.

Shay
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Semper Fortis

[WarbirdTA]

Great pictures Leon!
I love seeing those Military Jet Aircraft.
And with your Trans Am too!

George