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Recon jet will be displayed at Strategic Air and Space Museum

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BY JOE DUGGAN / Lincoln Journal Star

Friday, Feb 16, 2007 - 12:06:28 am CST

ASHLAND — Piloting an RF-4C Phantom II feels like redlining a Corvette.

Except it doesn’t.

Not even the hottest Vette comes close to 575 mph, which is cruising speed for an RF-4C.

Story Photo
Volunteers Charlie Tweedie (from left) Gus LeMaster and Restoration Manager Mark Hamilton clean a U.S. Air Force RF-4C Tuesday, the newest addition to the Strategic Air & Space museum's aircraft collection. (Eric Gregory)
The RF-4C Phantom II

Mission: High speed, day-night aerial reconnaissance

Crew: Pilot and electronic systems operator

Top speed: Mach 2 or 1,600 mph

Fuel hog: Wide open, the jet consumes enough fuel in one minute to drive a family sedan from San Francisco to New York City

That’s fast: 12 minutes to fly from Lincoln to Valentine, 300 miles

Holy smokes: At full throttle, the engines draw enough air to collapse a six-room house — in two seconds

Source: Strategic Air and Space Museum

If you go

Visitors to the Strategic Air and Space Museum can watch as restoration crews work on the RF-4C. The museum is north of Exit 426 on Interstate 80 and is open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. seven days per week. For details: www.strategicairandspace.com

Maxed out, the Vietnam War-era jet could exceed Mach 2, or 1,600 mph.

“I really can’t find the words to describe what it was like,” said Ret. Col. James Ryan of Blair, who piloted the Phantom during his 30-year career with the Nebraska Air National Guard in Lincoln.

“It was just a wonderful aircraft to fly.”

Fast, maneuverable and … fast. So fast, in fact, a Phantom could climb three miles in the roughly 35 seconds it took to reach this point in the story.

So when some of the two-member crews who flew the planes in Lincoln were asked help bring one back to Nebraska, they moved quickly, too. They formed a nonprofit organization called NEANG Phantom Inc. and started soliciting donations.

In 100 days, they raised $51,500, more than enough to move one of the jets from a military base in Ohio to the Strategic Air and Space Museum near Ashland, said Col. Rick Evans, commander of the Nebraska Air Guard’s 170th Operations Support Squadron at Offutt Air Force Base. Evans, who lives in Lincoln, flew RF-4Cs from 1985 to 1993.

“We’re pretty happy,” he said. “It’s such a big part of our unit’s history.”

The plane arrived in several parts last week and was reassembled by Monday. Museum restoration workers spent Wednesday washing it so they can start the tedious painting prep-work.

Even as it sat still in the museum’s restoration gallery, the  RF-4C looked fast. Restoration volunteer Gus LeMaster of Omaha sprayed degreaser on the underside of the aircraft, then blasted away years of grime with a power washer. Charlie Tweedie of Lincoln, another volunteer, stood on a platform and scraped bird poop from the tail with a putty knife.

“It’s in pretty good shape compared to what we usually have to work with,” said Dick Austin of Bellevue, another volunteer restoration worker.

Restoration manager Mark Hamilton agreed. He explained that the crew will need to do some metal work, painting and detailing. Because the plane will not be restored to flight condition, they also will have to do fabrication work on the engine bays.

“It will be painted and detailed like a Lincoln Guard bird,” Hamilton said. He estimated the restoration will be done by the end of the year.

The plane will be a welcome addition to the museum’s collection, representing the Vietnam War era and the Cold War era, said Steve Prall, the museum’s deputy director.

Introduced by McDonnell Douglas in 1963, the F-4C Phantom II fighter served as a primary combat jet in the Vietnam War. The RF-4C was outfitted with multiple cameras that allowed the aircraft to do day and night reconnaissance.

The planes were assigned to the Nebraska Air National Guard’s 155th Reconnaissance Group in Lincoln from 1972 to 1993. Guard members regularly trained with the  aircraft and used them on three deployments to Turkey in the 1980s. They also provided recon support for civilian drug enforcement efforts along the Mexican border.

The jets left Lincoln in 1993 when the local unit became the 155th Air Refueling Wing.

Former members of the 155th Reconnaissance Group first talked about publically displaying a Phantom in Nebraska in 2001, but they couldn’t find an affordable plane. During a group reunion in September, they learned about the jet in Ohio — it was theirs if they could pay to move it.

The speed with which they hit their goal showed how strongly a lot of former RF-4C crew feel about the the plane, said Ryan, president of the fundraising association.

“These guys wanted that F-4 so they could take their grandchildren to the museum and say, ‘See what we used to do.’”

Reach Joe Duggan at 473-7239 or jduggan@journalstar.com.


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John wrote on February 16, 2007 5:48 am:
" Excellent! I grew up in the Highlands and heard F4s every day of my childhood. Living in Tokyo now I sometimes get a chance to hear ones overhead flown by the Japanese self defense force and that distinct roar is like sweet music to my ears. Much praise to the RF4c. "
Hollis wrote on February 16, 2007 5:49 am:
" The F-4 proved the one basic theory in physics. With enough force behind it even a brick could fly. They were a nightmare to work on, werent very agile, had a poor ejection seat system and their exhaust trail could be seen from miles away. Was never so happy as when our unit phased out the F-4 and received the F-16. "
Doug wrote on February 16, 2007 7:16 am:
" Hollis, Maybe during Vietnam did you see the exhaust trail. That changed with the improvement of fuel. I worked on them too and they weren't as bad as you say. They weren't as agile as an F-16, that is true. They didn't need to be, they flew twice as fast. Poor ejection seat? What do you base this comment on? "
James wrote on February 16, 2007 7:50 am:
" It would be nice if Lincoln was one of the recipiants of the new F-22s or eventually the F-35 Jointstrike aircraft .... absolutely jaw dropping to watch in action. "
Dan in MO wrote on February 16, 2007 8:59 am:
" Great to hear! I went to HS in Bellevue and that museum was a favorite of mine. I was an imagery interpreter in the mid 80's in the NEANG. That bird was the most fascinating plane to watch fly. I always wished I could have been a pilot in a RF-4c. Don't be fooled. She had some moves. Ask Bob Kerry. He lost his lunch in one. We also had some great pilots to make her dance. "
Hollis wrote on February 16, 2007 6:09 pm:
" The F-16 will outperform the F-4 in every aspect. The nickname of the F-4 amongst crew chiefs was either the "Pig" or "Lead Sled". Watching for smoke trails was how we knew when the jets were on their way back and I served after Vietnam. I can name many who would dispute the F-4 being a quality aircraft. As for the Martin Baker ejection seat I will base that on 6 aircraft lost and 12 pilots lost. The F-16 has a far superior seat in the Asis II. If you really want to know the quality of the F-4 just look at its first flight for the Navy. Aircraft and 2 aircrew lost. The F-4 was junk, pure and simple. "
RD wrote on February 16, 2007 11:43 pm:
" As a member of the Nebraska Air Guard for 18 years, 6 of those working on the ejection systems of the RF-4C, I thought I would add some comments to offset some of Hollis's "facts". First, the F-16 better out perform the F-4 in most aspects, since it was designed 20 year later, was about half the size and weight, and it had a computer augmentated flight control system. Second, the RF-4 had a very capable ejection system. Again, being designed in the 50's, it still had a 0/0 capability.(O feet in altitude 0 airspeed to get a full chute) It also had to get 2 crewmen out of the jet, compared to one in the F-16. Which, by the way, had an ACES II (Advanced Concept Ejection System) so when the "Lawn Dart" lost its single engine, the parachute of that seat was the landing the pilot was going to get. In the 21 years our unit flew the RF-4C we lost 2 airplanes. The first had a sucessful ejection of both crew members, the second was a tragic CFIT (controlled flight into terrain) with the lose of both crewmen with no attempt to eject. I don't know what kind of mechanic he was on the Phantom, but the loss of 6 aircraft and 12 men outside of combat does not show well at all. Finally, as for the smoky engines, there was a modification that came after the Vietnam war that made the engines smokeless. You could tell what F-4 had this mod by the color of the afterburner flame. If it was yellow, no mod and smoky. If it was blue like a propane flame, smokeless. Again, technology does advance. They were a work intensive airplane, but we were proud to work on them and had a blast watching them fly. You will never match the sight, noise and ghostly whine of the Phantom. "
Rod wrote on February 17, 2007 11:56 am:
" I too worked on F-4C/D while in the Air Force in Utah. I can say without a doubt the planes were junk. Nothing else explains it. And in our training we were told there had NEVER been a successful ejection from an F-4 from 0 altitude. The jet had to be airborne in order for the seat to work properly. I worked on F-4s well into the 80's and have never seen a smokeless one. They all smoked. Nature of the beast. As for the sight and sound of an F-4, Ill take the F-111 anyday as far as sight and sound goes. Nothing compares to it. "
Tom wrote on March 8, 2008 9:28 pm:
" I was too young serve in Veitnam.But I was a crew cheif on RF4C's AFT 69382!First oof pahantoms were not junk!!And the proff is many nations flew them many years (even the USA!)they were the back bone of our air force.Had plane to work on.yes!! Did I ever call my bird a pig...yes....lol but junk.....not a chance...have any doubt ask cpt Steve Richie,or lissen to Col Robin Old's(rest in peace)...or vist (R) congressman Randy Conningham (in fed prison) they will tell you the that Phantom (dispit early aim 9 missels) was not junk!! I'm proud I served in the USAF!!!I was young dumb and full of you know what withbad attuide feeling sorry for my self...lol but I grew up.....and know I look back on my time in the service...I'm greatfull I had the chance to work on phantoms..I'm also glad our great country produces some of the world best (if not the best) miltary air craft and personal to work and fly on them...no bitterness here.....I grew past that God bless the USA and out troups serving in harms way!! "
Tom wrote on March 8, 2008 10:08 pm:
" Oh yeah one more thing the only phantom I ever seen that didnt smoke was a Uk "G" model with Rolls Royce engines!! "

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