How to acquire a F-4E Phantom?

How can one acquire a static F-4E phantom nowdays? Is it possible to get a complete airframe sold for museum display ?

[RickH]

No. Any aircraft like the F-4E will be LOANED to a museum or public entity deemed worthy by the NMUSAF if one is available. All expenses are borne by the loanee and the NMUSAF has the authority to pull it and reassign at any time. YOU'LL NEVER OWN IT.

[mustangdriver]

No. Any aircraft like the F-4E will be LOANED to a museum or public entity deemed worthy by the NMUSAF if one is available. All expenses are borne by the loanee and the NMUSAF has the authority to pull it and reassign at any time. YOU'LL NEVER OWN IT.

Well that depends. There is a guy in Pittsburgh that did buy an F-4 for static display from the USAF. The plans for his display fell through, now this F-4 is just sitting by the end of the runway dismantled.

[RickH]

Mustangdriver, there have been some rare instances where a demilled aircraft that was supposed to be classed as scrap got away from the system. But I can guarantee you with 100 % accuracy that you can't call up the USAF, NMUSAF, Navy, etc... and buy ANYTHING classed as turbine and or tactical.

[mustangdriver]

Mustangdriver, there have been some rare instances where a demilled aircraft that was supposed to be classed as scrap got away from the system. But I can guarantee you with 100 % accuracy that you can't call up the USAF, NMUSAF, Navy, etc... and buy ANYTHING classed as turbine and or tactical.

I don't doubt you, I would love to see this F-4 get saved.

[Misterg97]

Who says you can't own your own F4 .... Here's mine ....

[n5151ts]

into drones to be BLOWN UP in the nevada deserts....

[mustangdriver]

into drones to be BLOWN UP in the nevada deserts....

Yeah and do stupid things like train our fighter pilots.

[B17news]

so, why couldn't you buy a surplus one from a NATO ally and bring it back to the US? When I was playing with cars, it was pretty easy to put "US car parts" on the bill of lading for the shipping containers and they just drop it at the door

[RickH]

Most, not all, but most, acquired their F-4s through foreign military sales, and they are former US aircraft. The provisions for these aircraft "loaners", if you will, contain several clauses regarding final disposition after the original country is through with them. One of these is the US Govts. ability to dictate if any other govt. can acquire said aircraft. We wouldn't want the Spaniards, Greeks, Turks, or Koreans to sell F-4s to Iran, would we ? On the other hand the State Dept has held up the proposed sale of NZ A-4s to an American private party and apparently also to any other nation that might have been interested that the US Govt deemed safe enough to get the technology.

You could buy one and label it as car parts, let us know which federal prison you wind up in for arms smuggling. Just so we'll know where to write you to see how you and your boyfriends are getting on !

[B17news]

Most, not all, but most, acquired their F-4s through foreign military sales, and they are former US aircraft. The provisions for these aircraft "loaners", if you will, contain several clauses regarding final disposition after the original country is through with them. One of these is the US Govts. ability to dictate if any other govt. can acquire said aircraft. We wouldn't want the Spaniards, Greeks, Turks, or Koreans to sell F-4s to Iran, would we ? On the other hand the State Dept has held up the proposed sale of NZ A-4s to an American private party and apparently also to any other nation that might have been interested that the US Govt deemed safe enough to get the technology.

Think how much cheaper it will be for the US if someone else spends all the money to turn them into pretty shiny targets for our guys to shoot down.

You could buy one and label it as car parts, let us know which federal prison you wind up in for arms smuggling. Just so we'll know where to write you to see how you and your boyfriends are getting on !

I don't think I ever mentioned labeling planes as car parts, but it would still be "US GOODs returned." If they were demilled, then how would it be arms smuggling? Obviously we aren't going to agree on this one.

B

[sdennison]

Mustangdriver, there have been some rare instances where a demilled aircraft that was supposed to be classed as scrap got away from the system. But I can guarantee you with 100 % accuracy that you can't call up the USAF, NMUSAF, Navy, etc... and buy ANYTHING classed as turbine and or tactical.

Sorry, but I played a gig at a military "bar" under an A7-Corsair, (looking for the image in my "too disorganized computer") and I can tell you for fact, this aircraft on poles has everything less weapons. It was purchased direct from the Navy. It has all avionics, engines, systems, etc, less weapons. I have been there, touched it, and sung old country music under it.

He was negotiating for a T-33 "on a stick" as well as a Hercules to adapt to a bar/restaurant addition. Imma tella you, this guy has an inside track and really pulls these deals off.

[PhantomAce08]

I had some seller on Ebay tell me that in a few months he was going to have a shipment of about 12 F-4s comming into the country! He said if I wanted one, stay in touch!

I'll let ya'll know when I get my Phantom!

[warbirdcrew]

We wouldn't want the Spaniards, Greeks, Turks, or Koreans to sell F-4s to Iran, would we ?

RickH, I'm sorry but I must take objection to your post. If you were just randomly naming countries without thought, then I apologize for this. However, I think it should be noted that three out of the four countries you mentioned are members of NATO (Greece and Turkey joining in 1952, Spain in 1982), and whose national interests are most certainly not served by turning against their allies (the United States) and selling any type of hardware, military or otherwise to the United States' so-called enemy (Iran). Might I remind you that the United States is part operator of the large military base at Rota, on Spanish territory. In addition, for the better part of the twentieth century the United States had Jupiter II missiles strategically located in Turkey to counter the perceived Soviet threat. To suggest that these nations would orient themselves in any way seen as contrary to the basic premises of the foreign policies of the United States and the European Union is completely uninformed. While Greek troops do not cooperate participate in the NATO command structure, their troops still train and participate in NATO excercizes and operations along with their American, Spanish, and Turkish counterparts. No benefit would be gained by the Hellenic state should they decide to align with states accused of opposing peace, capitalism, and democracy. The level of entrenchment by these states into international organizations dictates that their foreign policy will not in the foreseeable future diverge from the collective policies of those organizations. With regards to the Koreans, I will assume you meant South Korea as there has not been, as far as I know, any military cooperation between the United States and the North. Moreover, of all the countries allied with the United States, South Korea arguably has the most to lose should they decide to oppose Washington (with the exception of maybe Israel). As well, South Korea does cooperate with NATO. Sorry for the rant, I just think it unfair to suggest that countries might arbitrarily decide to enter into trade agreements with countries where no national interest is served by those agreements. Again, if you were randomly naming countries off the top of your head I apologize.

[RickH]

Warbirdcrew, ease off a little. No where did I accuse those countries of any evil doing, nor did I suggest that they had gone against Washington policy.

We wouldn't want the Spaniards, Greeks, Turks, or Koreans to sell F-4s to Iran, would we ?

Yes I certainly meant South Korea since the North has never operated Phantoms.

I simply used them, as foreign operators of the F-4, to illustrate my point that strings were attached to the acquisition of F-4 by those countries. I didn't mention Great Britain, Germany, or the Israelis, simply because I think that some of the F-4s that those countries had may have been bought outright, new , from McDonnell.

Also, when I made that statement I was being a little sarcastic towards Washington policy and to some extent, their paranoia. I have had a certain amount of experience where the DLA Demil office is concerned.