F-8 Buno 145326 formerly at Mercer Field in Calhoun GA
Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:23 pm
Well, the news is not good- just receieved information that the jet had to be scrapped. According to Stewart Baily of the Evergreen Museum:
"After several years of attempting to restore it, our crew felt that it was “a lost cause.” We asked the Navy to discontinue the loan and asked what they wanted us to do about returning the aircraft. Due to its deteriorated condition, the Navy chose to have it and a very-poor condition A-4B Skyhawk that we had on loan, scrapped. This action took place earlier this year; I believe in June. I was sorry that the situation reached that point, as I really want an F-8 for our collection, but according to our restoration director in Marana, there was very little that could be done to save the aircraft. Time had taken too much of a toll and there just wasn’t enough money in our budget to reverse the damage, and the Navy decided they did not want it back."
Very sad.
"After several years of attempting to restore it, our crew felt that it was “a lost cause.” We asked the Navy to discontinue the loan and asked what they wanted us to do about returning the aircraft. Due to its deteriorated condition, the Navy chose to have it and a very-poor condition A-4B Skyhawk that we had on loan, scrapped. This action took place earlier this year; I believe in June. I was sorry that the situation reached that point, as I really want an F-8 for our collection, but according to our restoration director in Marana, there was very little that could be done to save the aircraft. Time had taken too much of a toll and there just wasn’t enough money in our budget to reverse the damage, and the Navy decided they did not want it back."
Very sad.
Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:38 pm
Any info on the F-84F at Mercer Field?
Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:57 am
Wow, sad indeed. Wasn't there any other alternative to just scrapping it????
Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:09 am
What a shame, my all time favorite jet.
Pictures Please ????
If the NAVY doesn't want it, is it free to go to whome ever would want it or does it have to be scrapped?
Thanks
Shay
____________
Semper Fortis
Pictures Please ????
If the NAVY doesn't want it, is it free to go to whome ever would want it or does it have to be scrapped?
Thanks
Shay
____________
Semper Fortis
Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:21 am
Shay wrote:If the NAVY doesn't want it, is it free to go to whome ever would want it or does it have to be scrapped?
Knowing the Navy, I'm sure the scrapman had to sign a contract stating it could only leave in shreds the size of a coin
Thu Nov 13, 2008 10:07 am
Fouga23 wrote:Shay wrote:If the NAVY doesn't want it, is it free to go to whome ever would want it or does it have to be scrapped?
Knowing the Navy, I'm sure the scrapman had to sign a contract stating it could only leave in shreds the size of a coin
Nope...the current (F-14) standard 4" x 4" size will do just fine...
Thu Nov 13, 2008 2:03 pm
According to the Evergreen folks:
"I was sorry that the situation reached that point, as I really want an F-8 for our collection, but according to our restoration director in Marana, there was very little that could be done to save the aircraft. Time had taken too much of a toll and there just wasn’t enough money in our budget to reverse the damage, and the Navy decided they did not want it back."
So the navy wanted it and a similar unsalvageable A4B scrapped. The Crusader as I remember it had gaping holes on top of the fuselage/wing center, gunshots and pried open fuselage panels from vandals. Lots of animal damage too as animals had moved in and nested, including birds with their corrosive poop.
The Crusader is a fairly rare jet, not too many saved by the navy. As for the F-84, I'm not sure what its status is. I never could find a serial number, but the appropriate people at the USAF museum were made aware of its status which was almost as bad as the F-8's.
"I was sorry that the situation reached that point, as I really want an F-8 for our collection, but according to our restoration director in Marana, there was very little that could be done to save the aircraft. Time had taken too much of a toll and there just wasn’t enough money in our budget to reverse the damage, and the Navy decided they did not want it back."
So the navy wanted it and a similar unsalvageable A4B scrapped. The Crusader as I remember it had gaping holes on top of the fuselage/wing center, gunshots and pried open fuselage panels from vandals. Lots of animal damage too as animals had moved in and nested, including birds with their corrosive poop.
The Crusader is a fairly rare jet, not too many saved by the navy. As for the F-84, I'm not sure what its status is. I never could find a serial number, but the appropriate people at the USAF museum were made aware of its status which was almost as bad as the F-8's.
Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:37 pm
Too bad... Could there have been enough left for a cockpit display?
Fri Nov 14, 2008 8:35 am
The cockpit had been gutted- it had suffered the worst from vandalism.