Privately owned Phantom in US

[texan]

Does anyone know how many privately owned Phanton F-4's there are worldwide and more specifically in the US. I have heard of a guy in Houston who has a selection of amazing warbirds including an F-4, but thought there was only one, owned by the Collings Foundation.

[E31Shrew]

AFAIK there seems to be only one in civvy hands in the USA.

This site is superb to see some of the old planes in various states of disrepair!

http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/

[PaulHogan]

There used to be one at the back of a hangar in Duxford, which I was told had been sold to the Hanna's Old Flying Machine Company. But they weren't allowed to fly it as it was still too current a warbird.

[davepoth]

PaulHogan said:

There used to be one at the back of a hangar in Duxford, which I was told had been sold to the Hanna's Old Flying Machine Company. But they weren't allowed to fly it as it was still too current a warbird.

Very current - it's still in active service in Greece.

[Mojocvh]

texan said:

Does anyone know how many privately owned Phanton F-4's there are worldwide and more specifically in the US. I have heard of a guy in Houston who has a selection of amazing warbirds including an F-4, but thought there was only one, owned by the Collings Foundation.

I doubt it. They had to be destroyed when they came "out of service" due to some arms treaty.

[Eric Mc]

davepoth said:

PaulHogan said:

There used to be one at the back of a hangar in Duxford, which I was told had been sold to the Hanna's Old Flying Machine Company. But they weren't allowed to fly it as it was still too current a warbird.

Very current - it's still in active service in Greece.

And Germany.

[aeropilot]

texan said:

Does anyone know how many privately owned Phanton F-4's there are worldwide and more specifically in the US. I have heard of a guy in Houston who has a selection of amazing warbirds including an F-4, but thought there was only one, owned by the Collings Foundation.

The Collings one is the only one.... and that took an act of congress to achieve.

[aeropilot]

Eric Mc said:

davepoth said:

PaulHogan said:

There used to be one at the back of a hangar in Duxford, which I was told had been sold to the Hanna's Old Flying Machine Company. But they weren't allowed to fly it as it was still too current a warbird.

Very current - it's still in active service in Greece.

And Germany.

And Japan, Iran and South Korea.

And of course, technically, the USAF still does

[Total loss]

texan said:

I have heard of a guy in Houston who has a selection of amazing warbirds including an F-4, but thought there was only one, owned by the Collings Foundation.

I think you will find that they are one and the same. The Collings Foundation F-4 is based in Texas and he owns a bunch of warbirds.
P.S. Fancy a ride in the F-4 ? well they now offer them for £7,500.

[Mojocvh]

Total loss said:

I think you will find that they are one and the same. The Collings Foundation F-4 is based in Texas and he owns a bunch of warbirds.
P.S. Fancy a ride in the F-4 ? well they now offer them for £7,500.

Been there. Done that. Straight up to 20k plus before bunting over the top, a SJDD back down and into burner @ LL before a couple of G turns, a spiral climb, loops, rolls of the top and a fast run into AKT for a very "sharpen up and fly right" circuit followed by a VERY firm landing, chute streamed at 10'.
22 minutes clean with an empty SUU on CL.

Happy days.

[texan]

Thanks, I don't think I could afford that flight, let alone justify it to the wife. Does anyone know where they fly out of in Houston? I'd be quite happy watching them take off from the other side of the fence.

It would remind me of seeing them at RAF Leuchars air shows, way back.

[aeropilot]

texan said:

Thanks, I don't think I could afford that flight, let alone justify it to the wife. Does anyone know where they fly out of in Houston? I'd be quite happy watching them take off from the other side of the fence.

They've recently aquired an airworthy F-100F Super Sabre as well, which they will be operating with the Phantom and Skyhawk.

The Collings Foundation Houston-Facility is located at Houston-South, Ellington Field, Challenger Seven Parkway.

[Waynester]

I seem to recall a Mig 29 being privately purchased but impounded while in transit?

[texan]

I've seen an absolutely mint Mustang in a hanger at Ellington Field, which I thought might be theirs but the colour scheme is different. The one I saw was painted with D-Day stipes and a yellow nose cone if I remember correctly, need to look out the pics.

Beautiful hanger, masses of room, bar on one side, and a swimming pool outside!

[Mr Dave]

Waynester said:

I seem to recall a Mig 29 being privately purchased but impounded while in transit?

Yeah the deactivated cannon on it that was taken out of it before shipping turns out to have accidently been left in it. And not deactivated.

Its flying in the states now as well as two sukhoi 27s.