Worldwide
Aircraft Recovery, Ltd. of Nebraska crews began disassembling
Phantom 550 after Thanksgiving 2005 in Enon, Ohio.
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Brig.
Gen, (Ret.) Dan Cherry and Ben Natress of Worldwide Aircraft
Recovery discuss dismantling and transportation plans on-site
at Enon. The weather was below freezing and temperatures
expected to drop. |
The aircraft
has been towed to the parking lot in front of the VFW Post.
Access panels, undercarriage weapons racks and the extended
range fuel tanks have also been removed. |
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Natress
opens the canopy for the first time since the 550 was parked
at Enon. Gen. Cherry watches as Natress locates the canopy
lock. Surprise! The canopy lock is still in the cockpit. |
All of
the avionics have been removed and lots of restoration lies
ahead. This photograph will soon be the "before"
in the "before and after" photographs.
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AHP founding
board member Ray Buckberry and Natress discuss how the fuselage
will be separated from the wings and craned onto a truck
transport. Although Worldwide Aircraft Recovery has dismantled
and transported other F-4 fighters, each one is different
according to Natress. |
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| This
radom is opened as AHP board member Rob Barnett looks on.
Gen. Cherry said that when the F-4 was used by the U.S.A.F.
Thunderbirds, the radar was removed and pilots used the space
to carry their luggage. |
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| Gen.
Cherry locates straw left over by birds that apparently used
the radom for housing. |
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| Wing
tips are ready for removal, according to board member Alvin
Ford and Larry Bailey. |
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| From
tail to nose, plumbing to wing tips, the 550 is closer to
relocating to Bowling Green. |
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| Gen.
Cherry takes a moment to reflect on Phantom 550 while sipping
coffee. The red star signifying his MIG 21 kill over Vietnam
on April 16, 1972 is still part of 550 even though the Vietnam
paint scheme has been replaced. The AHP plans on restoring
the aircraft to its proud Vietnam colors. |
Phantom
550 stands proudly in the parking lot of the VFW Post in
Enon, Ohio being prepared for the move to Kentucky. |
