Our Nebraska Phantom Is Home!

Wouldn't it be awesome to have an RF-4C here in Nebraska that could be displayed indoors with the cockpits open for viewing?  Well this is not only possible, we have made it happen.  

Some of you will recall that a few years back we looked into securing a RF-4C (64-1062) from the AMARC ("The Boneyard") at Davis-Monthan AFB (DMAFB), Arizona for display at the Strategic Air and Space Museum (SASM) near Ashland, Nebraska.  The SASM was interested in the RF-4C but did not have funds available to de-militarize, disassemble, transport and reassemble the aircraft. 

To help the SASM with costs, NEANG Phantom Inc., an IRS 501c(3) non-profit Corporation, was established to receive donations in support of getting 64-1062 from Arizona to Nebraska.  Before the effort got off the ground, AMARC raised their prices on de-militarization up to around $50k.  That would only cover delivering the aircraft to gate at DMAFB; it would still need to be moved to Nebraska.  With total cost looking like $100k or more, the effort stalled in 2002 and has been dormant since.

Early in 2006, another option popped into the picture.  Nebraska ANG RF-4C 65-0903 was flown from Lincoln to Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio in the summer of 1993.  The Ohio ANG had planned to display the aircraft along with a few other fighter and training aircraft it had acquired.  In January 2006 we found out that the Ohio ANG had declared 65-0903 surplus.  That means the aircraft is available for another organization to claim and display.  We confirmed this with the Ohio ANG and the National Museum of the USAF (NMUSAF).

RF-4C 65-0903 was delivered to the 155th Tac Recon Group back in the early 1970's.  The 173rd TRS aircrew photo was taken in front of this jet in 1984.  It was one of the first NWDS jets in the late 1980's and was also a primary jet for the Tactical Air Command's RAM 1990 Competition at Bergstrom AFB, Texas.

On 7 September 2006, representatives from NEANG Phantom Inc. met with the SASM staff to determine their interest in securing and displaying a Nebraska ANG RF-4C, specifically 65-0903. To determine the costs to get 65-0903 back to Nebraska, the SASM put out a formal Request for Quote from Worldwide Aircraft Recovery, Ltd. (WWAR).  WWAR is based in Bellevue, Nebraska. The WWAR bid to move the jet from Ohio to the SASM was $41,250.  This included all costs for labor, equipment and parts to disassemble, transport and reassemble the aircraft in Nebraska.  The SASM would then restore the aircraft to display condition, which is estimated to run around $9,000.  The SASM would also provide an Aircraft Restoration Specialist from its staff (at their expense) to help with the move.

So the bottom line is that around $50,000 needed to be raised to "Bring a Nebraska Phantom Home."   Although some corporate funds might be available, most of the money would need to be raised privately by NEANG Phantom Inc.  An update on this project was provided to attendees at the September 2006 Phantom Reunion.  Since there appeared to be strong interest in pursuing this effort, NEANG Phantom Inc. began working on a formal proposal with the SASM.