@ Oshkosh, WI
July 2010
The only civilian owned Phantom banks during a flight demonstration at Oshkosh Airventure, not letting the loss of the port afterburner spoil the flight. This 1965-built F-4D is currently painted in the markings of 66-7680, a Phantom II flown by Col. Robin Olds’ during the Vietnam War. It literally took an Act of Congress, an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill of 1999, to make it possible for the Collings Foundation to take possession of this aircraft. Following thousands of hours of repairs, the F-4 first flew in civilian hands with the Collings Foundation in August, 1999. After a decade of airshow appearances, the Phantom was grounded for major maintenance and did not fly again until 2017. (And for the nitpickers: McDonnell merged with Douglas in 1967, two years after this plane was built) Nikon D300 w/80-200mm.
