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McDonnell F-4D Phantom II, McDonnell Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk

@ Oshkosh, WI

July 2010

The only civilian-owned, airworthy Phantom performs a flyby with a TA-4J Skyhawk during Oshkosh Airventure 2010.  This 1965-built F-4D  is currently painted in the markings of 66-7680, a Phantom II flown by Col. Robin Olds’ during  the Vietnam War.  It literally took an Act of Congress, an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill of 1999, to make it possible for the Collings Foundation to take possession of the Phantom.  Following thousands of hours of repairs, the F-4 first flew in civilian hands with the Collings Foundation in August, 1999.  After a decade of airshow appearances, the Phantom was grounded for major maintenance and did not fly again until 2017.  (And for the nitpickers:  McDonnell merged with Douglas in 1967, two years after this plane was built).

This Skyhawk was delivered in 1967, just as the A-4 was being phased out of frontline US Navy units, and was transferred to Miramar where she flew adversary training missions.  After tours at Patuxent River and the National Test Pilots School, the Skyhawk was sent to the boneyard in 1994.  The Collings Foundation chose this A-4 airframe and began a lengthy restoration, culminating with return to flight in 2004.  The livery honors HMS-11 “The Playboys”, an all-volunteer fast forward air control unit that served in Vietnam from 1969-1970.  Nikon D300 w/80-200mm.

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