Parts going on the aircraft is always a good thing. Thanks for sharing.

The 78th TFS flew it at RAF Woodbridge in the '70's. Hopefully some of those boys are out there! I remember her from my days there as a crew cheif. Glad you got the strut in! Good luck with the stray electrons 🤞

You guys look like the Marines on Mt. Suribachi planting the flag...teamwork!

@DieselThunderAviation

3 ай бұрын

Interestingly, two of them are Marines!

As someone who has a tiny bit of aircraft restoration experience and who is a fellow Phantom Phanatic, DCS player, and electrical bench tester, I'm so thankful that there's a team like all of you at Collings putting this jet back together. Your dedication is commendable. I really hope one day to see 65-0749 back up in the air in person!

A visit to the 'boneyard' might solve some of these dilemmas.

@DieselThunderAviation

3 ай бұрын

From what I've learned, they used to support us when the F-4's were being used as drones. When that program shut down, a lot of that support dried up.

Getting 2 Turkish Phantoms at RIAT for the airshow in around 60 days. I’m super excited because of this channel and of course DCS F4E will be releasing shortly :) better get my reading glasses on.

@utley

3 ай бұрын

tomorrow? 21st?? where you located at?

@T-Cup314

3 ай бұрын

@@utley my bad

@utley

3 ай бұрын

@@T-Cup314 i dont like crushing hopes and dreams...I too wish it was tomorrow!~

Phantom Phunday again!

Love me some lead nosed diesel fighter! 🤙

Total crowd under the right wing :)

@DieselThunderAviation

2 ай бұрын

Sure was! And glad they were able to get that done!

Thanks for sharing fingers xssed

I had a roommate m who was a leaky jammer… we don’t talk anymore

JP-8 ? I thought they used JP-4. Weapons loader, you mean a couple of ordinance or line guys with hernia bars and a lot of grunting. She's getting there!

@DieselThunderAviation

2 ай бұрын

No jet fuel or diesel in this one, it’s gas powered. No hernia bars at the hangar, only thing we load these days are fuel tanks and travel pods 🙂

@bobroyes589

2 ай бұрын

@@DieselThunderAviation JP8 was on the F-4.

New to the channel. Love what you guys are doing, and I wish it could be done with other historic aircraft like the F-14 or F-111. Still breaks my heart what the DOD did to all our Tomcats, even if it was for a good reason. I have a couple questions about this beautiful aircraft if you don't mind. Firstly, what original avionics does this F-4D still contain? I'd assume all the classified (or potentially classified) hardware like the radar, TACAN, IFF, and EW systems were removed, right? Secondly, do you guys know what (if any) action this particular bird has seen? Maybe you have a video discussing it, but I haven't found it. Is there some video or webpage that documents the history of this bird? I never knew much about the F-4, or fighter jets at all for that matter. Well that changed about 2 years ago when my friend got me into DCS... and it's all been downhill from there! Hahaha. Recently with the F-4E being released by Heatblur I've looked into the history and service record of the F-4 and it's been fascinating to say the least. Again, a big thanks from me to you and the rest of the team for helping to keep this iconic and historic aircraft in the skies for as long possible!

@DieselThunderAviation

3 ай бұрын

Welcome! And I agree, wish they would’ve kept a Tomcat or two in flying condition. For our F-4D, she never saw combat despite her current paint job. Her primary mission during her Air Force years was flying the nuclear alert mission in Europe. In the 80’s she came back stateside and then served with the Kansas ANG, and then finally the Texas ANG 147th before going to the Boneyard. The Foundation was able to get her in the late 90’s. She’s a block 28 F-4D and didn’t get much for upgrades, she still has her DVST scope for the radar display. Air Force would not give us the manuals for anything still classified so nothing on the radar, RWR, or nuclear delivery. The radar is still in the nose for weight and balance purposes, but critical components removed and cables cut. All armament systems permanently disabled too.

@andrewhamop6665

3 ай бұрын

​@@DieselThunderAviation Very cool! I should've guessed that the radar (or similar weighted instrument) would have to remain installed. I assume anything sensitive technology wise that wasn't crucial to the flight characteristics or safety was removed. It would be neat to see the radar antenna up close sometime! I can't wait to hear those J-79s, maybe in person someday.

MJ-1: Single wheel front, MJ-4: Dual wheels front.

Im sad the J-4 is still down😢

I got a question, when she is flight worthy again will there be a schedule to when she will fly or will she be flying at random times? I need to see a Phantom fly in my lifetime.

Do you know if it was ever stationed at nellis I did crew D models working red flag in my youth as part of the 474 tfw

@DieselThunderAviation

2 ай бұрын

I don’t think she ever was. Majority of her Air Force time was spent in Europe on the nuclear mission. Her tail number is 65-0739.

F100 update?

@DieselThunderAviation

3 ай бұрын

Not much I can talk about there that Grinnelli Designs hasn’t shared already unfortunately. They’re working pretty hard on it though!

Never will understand why Collings Foundation has the money to own , maintain and fly these old jets, but can't afford decent support equipment.

@Turboy65

3 ай бұрын

You'd have figured that as part of the deal that authorized the transfer of the jet to the Foundation, they would have gotten truckloads of support equipment as well. It's not like the USAF had any shortage of Phantom support equipment as they retired the fleet. Their best chance to get more is from the outfit that flew the last Phantoms doing drone duty. Alternative sources, which will involve ITAR red tape, include Germany, South Korea, Greece, Turkey, and Israel, all of which have flown Phantoms and thus would have had the support equipment. South Korea is in the last days of flying their Phantoms so that well maintiained service equipment would theoretically be available VERY SOON.

@ItsJustSteve

3 ай бұрын

I was impressed watching them work with what they had but I have to admit I was wondering the same thing.

@utley

3 ай бұрын

because inflation is killer right now and new support equipment costs far more than what they're worth. besides its not hard to keep these things up and running, way easier and cheaper to rebuild something from the 70s than brand new stuff. why spend thousands of dollars on stuff you use only sporadically? most MROs, FBOs and other hangars use rental equipment nowadays to keep costs down.

@troyledbetter6597

3 ай бұрын

Nice to see you had extra people helping this week! Thanks phor the update and everything you all do for these air planes! Not sure this is true, someone commented the Greeks will retire their phantoms in two years. Hopefully it can be confirmed.

@user-kp5st5jw9i

3 ай бұрын

Are any Israeli F-4's available for rent to own or equipment??