I have chance to buy a surplus F4 Phatom...model e...should I go for it? It hasn't been flown since 1992.

Question

what should I expect in refurbishment costs...it has GE engines....I believe the original e model engines.

Answer 1

Sure you do.

Since you can't buy J79 engines because of the afterburner, you are out of luck.

Sorry, but no one with enough money to actually own and operate this aircraft is sitting in front of their computers asking stupid question in Yahoo.

You could use it for a parade float!

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
I have chance to buy a surplus F4 Phatom...model e...should I go for it? It hasn't been flown since 1992.
what should I expect in refurbishment costs...it has GE engines....I believe the original e model engines.

Answer 3

I love them myself, but they take a lot of maintenance for each flight hour and they weren't nearly as reliable as modern aircraft. Still, the South Africans have a privately flown English Electric Lightning and Blackburn Bucaneer, so I guess it's possible. There's a privately owned F4 at the Imperial War Museum, RAF Duxford. So depending where you are you can own one.

The F4 does have electronics, one of the most essential is the stability augmentation system. With no stab augs the a/c is almost impossible to fly. Not impossible, but very very hard.

But those engines are a bit hard to deal with, though SSturbine.com can refurbish them if that's needed. You can own engines with afterburners, ThrustSSC and Spirit of America were both powered by afterburning engines (2 Rolls Royce Speys in Andy Green's supersonic 'car' and one J79 in Craig Breedlove's near death experience). Ed Shadle is currently trying to kill himself in a Starfighter with the wings chopped off, that uses a GE LM 1500 which is basically a J79 and he claims he's going to get 52,000 lb.st from it and I'll be surprised if he doesn't kill himself spectacularly considering his amateurish approach.

Answer 4

I was an F-4 crew chief for 9 years. The upfront investment to get airworthy will be just the beginning. Ongoing cost to fly will be tremendous, probably $15K-20K per flying hour for you. If you're not pilot yourself, then more for an aircrew and all the training to keep them safe. There's a reason only the military could afford to operate a bird like this. And yes, it's a ***** work on. More a flyer's plane than a mechanic's. Toward the end its operational life, F-4 maintenance squadrons were some of the largest of any aircraft type, due to the manpower requirement to operate the aircraft.

Answer 5

F4 Phantom For Sale

Answer 6

F-4 Phantom For Sale

Answer 7

Pass.

The F-4 was a burner in its day; but it most assuredly had its drawbacks. As mentioned, maintenance being the biggest.

It was about as graceful as a... well you fill in the blank. To those that flew her, she was a dream; to those that fought against her, she was death in the waiting.

Bad guys didn't have much in inventory that could climb or run with the Phantom.

My father flew the F-4 briefly (two missions over Hanoi)and was not a fan. He much preferred his Skyhawk.

But the Phantom is Bad to look at.

And if you got the coin to bring that old war bird back, maybe something on the more historic WWII vintage such as the B-29, or for your jet rush the ME-262.

Answer 8

Randle is right. While I never flew the F-4, I've flown beside it and talked to many of its pilots. Unless you have totally unlimited funds, try another plane.

For Kevin: The Wild Weasels were just equipped a bit differently. Any of that equipment would have been long since removed.

Answer 9

If you have a phenominal amount of money to finance this project then by all means go for it. I was an aircraft mechanic in the military and I can assure you that even if that were to be brought up to flight standard in the military the cost would be excruciating, for the same money, you could very likely buy a jet already flying

Answer 10

It is a gas hog. Don't pay more than $525K if not FAA w/o engines. Leasing engines would be cheaper considering the hours, But a lot cheaper than a Raptor. Kinda like a AC Cobra, no gizmo electronics, just big azz engines and fun. Also very noisey. Hope the neighbors don't mind.(If you are buying the Black Bunny please change the paint scheme)