Only Airworthy Example Of The Aircraft In North America

The only airworthy example of the F-4 Phantom II is flying again, thanks to The Collings Foundation.

Warbirds News reports that the airplane flew August 8 with US Air Force ‘Rhino’-driver Harry “D-Day” Daye in the pilot seat. from Ellington Field in Houston, Texas. Listed on the US civil registry as N749CF, the 1965-built McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II once flew with the USAF as 65-0749. She is currently painted in the markings of 66-7680, a Phantom II flown by Col. Robin Olds’ during Operation Bolo in the Vietnam War.

According to the report, it took an actual act of Congress to make it possible for the airplane to fly again. The Collings Foundation championed an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill of 1999 to clear the necessary hurdles to fly the now-civilian-owned aircraft.

The airplane was first refurbished by The Collings Foundation in the late 1990s. It first flew in civilian hands in August 1999. But it was flown only sparingly, and it was grounded in 2011 for major maintenance.

Daye flew the Phantom for about 30 minutes on August 8, making three "bounces" to regain his currency in type. It is now back on the show circuit, having flown at the Selfridge Open House in mid-August. It was next scheduled to be in the air at the Wings over Houston Air Show in October, though those plans may be changed due to Hurricane Harvey.

(Image from Collings Foundation YouTube video. Photo credit Chris Ebdon)

FMI: Original Report