NF-4E 66-0289

[Old Viper Tester]

F-4E s/n 66-0289 is an ex-Thunderbird and served as a test support aircraft at Edwards AFB, 1978 through 1991. Operated by the 6512th Test Squadron, throughout the early 1980s is was part of the Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) chase flight, hence the white upper wings with the camouflage schemes.

 

Safety chase proficiency mission, August 1984. That's a deer silhouette in grey on the left intake vari-ramp.

In January 1984 we took '289 to Eglin AFB. On landing we took a deer down the left side damaging the external tank and the main gear door. We left the jet for repairs and when we came back ten days later, the Eglin maintenance troops had applied the deer kill marking and the legend "DEER SLAYER" in 2-inch block letters on the cannon fairing - barely visible in the image above, beneath the air conditioning ram air scoop.

 

 

 

 

Practice weapon delivery, rolled inverted and pulling to the desired dive angle.

 

Formation final approach to Runway 22

 

Taxiing in after a few fly-bys at the Edwards Open House, October 1989

 

July 1990

 

The deer kill marking. That's me in a posed "hero" shot for the squadron album in 1984.

 

'289 is now on display in thunderbird colors at the Castle Air Museum.

 

Thanks for looking,

Sven

[giemme]

Thanks as always for posting these pics, Keith!  Funny (and interesting) story about her warname  . Cool last pic too

 

I've got a few hero shots myself, now that I've been in California and visited 3 aviation museum 😉 Only shots, though, without all the flying ...

 

 

Ciao

[72modeler]

2 hours ago, Old Viper Tester said:

F-4E s/n 66-0289 is an ex-Thunderbird and served as a test support aircraft at Edwards AFB, 1978 through 1991. Operated by the 6512th Test Squadron, throughout the early 1980s is was part of the Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) chase flight, hence the white upper wings with the camouflage schemes.

 

Safety chase proficiency mission, August 1984. That's a deer silhouette in grey on the left intake vari-ramp.

In January 1984 we took '289 to Eglin AFB. On landing we took a deer down the left side damaging the external tank and the main gear door. We left the jet for repairs and when we came back ten days later, the Eglin maintenance troops had applied the deer kill marking and the legend "DEER SLAYER" in 2-inch block letters on the cannon fairing - barely visible in the image above, beneath the air conditioning ram air scoop.

 

 

 

 

Practice weapon delivery, rolled inverted and pulling to the desired dive angle.

 

Formation final approach to Runway 22

 

Taxiing in after a few fly-bys at the Edwards Open House, October 1989

 

July 1990

 

The deer kill marking. That's me in a posed "hero" shot for the squadron album in 1984.

 

'289 is now on display in thunderbird colors at the Castle Air Museum.

 

Thanks for looking,

Sven

Hoo, boy- steely-eyed Rhino driver! Thanks, as always, for the photos, Sven!

Mike

[Old Viper Tester]

18 hours ago, 72modeler said:

steely-eyed Rhino driver!

Flight Test Engineer, actually.

[72modeler]

33 minutes ago, Old Viper Tester said:

Flight Test Engineer, actually.

Don't make no never mind, Sven- you got to fly in 'em- I never will!

Mike

[F-32]

Great shots and a lovely Phantom to make a model of too!

[modelling minion]

Excellent pics as always Sven, and an interesting story to boot.

Would make a nice model with the white upper wing surfaces on the wrap around camo.

[Red Dot]

I'm saying nothing (for a change)

[lasermonkey]

On 9/1/2018 at 4:24 PM, modelling minion said:

Excellent pics as always Sven, and an interesting story to boot.

Would make a nice model with the white upper wing surfaces on the wrap around camo.

I'm starting to eye up one of the F-4Es in my stash for that very reason!

 

Cheers,

Mark.

[Hoops]

Decals for this aircraft coming here:

 

http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?/topic/306358-wolfpak-dec-2018-release/

 

Hoops