Stillwater RF-86F

[Silverplate]

On a college tour with my grandson over the weekend and came across this Republic RF-86F (s/n 53-7604) display on the Oklahoma State University campus in Stillwater, OK. Was in very nice condition.

[steve dickey]

Nice, but it could be an RF-84

[gale_dono]

Kind of an odd shade of gray, though.

[JohnB]

Kind of an odd shade of gray, though.

Agreed, not correct for the type/period, but it looks to be in good shape and well cared for.
I wonder if it's the current AF fighter gray...perhaps they got it from Tinker?

[Chris Brame]

This earlier photo shows it used to be silver:
http://www.millionmonkeytheater.com/rf8 ... 3-7604.jpg

[wendovertom]

I have seen this before in its bare metal state a few years ago. Not to hijack this but. . . the Wendover museum is running into this same paint issue - if it is correct and "bare metal" it is sooooo difficult to keep clean and pretty. If it is painted the airframe is better protected for the long term. Maybe silver paint would be better?

Tom P.

[RNDMTRS4EVR]

Would love to see a flyable F-84!
Scott.....

[XL446]

You're not the only one, Scott!
I've often wondered why there isn't a single airworthy F-84 (nor anyone even attempting one?) when there are dozens of them still around as gate guards or monuments both in the US and in Europe. I do believe, however, that quite a lot of magnesium was used in the airframe, and that that means they're all too corroded to fly. Also, their power-to-weight ratio was rather marginal, so I've heard people say that you would have to be pretty suicidal to fly one just for fun.
But still, one can hope...

[JohnB]

There was one in the 70s...a F painted in Thunderbirds markings. It was repossessed by the NMUSAF, IIRC.

[Snake45]

Kind of an odd shade of gray, though.

Agreed, not correct for the type/period, but it looks to be in good shape and well cared for.
I wonder if it's the current AF fighter gray...perhaps they got it from Tinker?

Yeah...I don't think it's dark enough to be 36118 Gunship Gray, but it might be the darker of the Ghost Grays (I don't know that number off the top of my head).

[Fouga23]

I like it in grey

I'd also love to see one flying, or just ground running. Reason I heard was the unreliable engine.

[sandiego89]

Kind of an odd shade of gray, though.

Agreed, not correct for the type/period, but it looks to be in good shape and well cared for.
I wonder if it's the current AF fighter gray...perhaps they got it from Tinker?

Yeah...I don't think it's dark enough to be 36118 Gunship Gray, but it might be the darker of the Ghost Grays (I don't know that number off the top of my head).

My bet is on primer gray, as in "hey this gray primer is close enough, is cheap, lasts a long time, and no-one will know the difference". Forget the FS chip cards.

[gale_dono]

My bet is on primer gray, as in "hey this gray primer is close enough, is cheap, lasts a long time, and no-one will know the difference". Forget the FS chip cards.

Yeah, not to say that it's bad that it's inaccurate or anything, it just doesn't look like any shade of gray I'm familiar with. If it helps the airframe last longer then that's much better than being 100% accurate.

[Snake45]

If it helps the airframe last longer then that's much better than being 100% accurate.

It also looks like all the glass has been replaced with sheetmetal.