The F-84 Mystery!!

That’s why there are a large number of UK museum aircraft that belong to and are on loan from the USAFMuseum – T-33s, F-100s, Dassault Mysteres and others (including at least one Hunter).

……….

Roger Smith.

Not including NEAM’s former Greek AF F84F….

plug, plug, plug…..
http://www.neam.org.uk/Exhibits/History/26541.htm

😀

I didn’t realise that they had to be returned to the states or scrapped as a condition of MAP……..

That’s why there are a large number of UK museum aircraft that belong to and are on loan from the USAFMuseum – T-33s, F-100s, Dassault Mysteres and others (including at least one Hunter).

Efforts have been under way for many years to get ownership transferred to the respective holders but it seems to have gone quiet lately.

Roger Smith.

Here is the link to the photo from China Lake,

http://www.chinalakealumni.org/R-W-Wrecks.htm

Most of these aircraft are still out their.

Oh and if anyone tells you that there are no more B-29s left at China Lake then they are speaking with a fork tounge’s. There are at least two still there one is in a Hot section which the folks at NAS China Lake will not confirm and the other is still sitting not to far from where Docs was located albit its in many parts but its still their. Also how many folks know that there are at least two PB4Y sitting out on the ranges at China Lake.

Thanks for that link- quite sad after seeing it though- some rare gems out there – if they are still around

Correction….US Navy ran out of B-17’s to use as target drones and used F-84s:D

Here is the link to the photo from China Lake,

http://www.chinalakealumni.org/R-W-Wrecks.htm

Most of these aircraft are still out their.

Oh and if anyone tells you that there are no more B-29s left at China Lake then they are speaking with a fork tounge’s. There are at least two still there one is in a Hot section which the folks at NAS China Lake will not confirm and the other is still sitting not to far from where Docs was located albit its in many parts but its still their. Also how many folks know that there are at least two PB4Y sitting out on the ranges at China Lake.

I didn’t realise that they had to be returned to the states or scrapped as a condition of MAP-i thought it would be a nice ‘toy’ for the scadinavian historic flight tho!- shame, maybe its not as ‘sexy’ as the F-86, but it has a more interesting history than all those Aero Albatrosses!

A little digging, looks like 80 F-84s were converted and used as drones

F-84kx converted

F-84B, US Navy target drone conversions.
Assigned BuNo. 142269 / 142348.

Chris true if you noted in my above post I said that NAS China Lake had some still on the Cold ranges. They were used for ground Target thru out he Naval Weapons Training Systems.

If you goggle NAS China Lake there is some photos of two f the straight wings.

A little digging, looks like 80 F-84s were converted and used as drones

F-84kx converted

F-84B, US Navy target drone conversions.
Assigned BuNo. 142269 / 142348.

Lack of spares…ties into the current running thread of why aren’t more museum types flying……can’t get parts! The early days of jets had a very short “shelf life” Changing technology was making “new” jets nearly obsolete by the time they reached production. A few older types did hang around a bit, but to keep them flying now IS a matter of spares and overtimed airframes. They are retiring F-15s that are worn out and they still have parts available for those.

Could have sworn I had seen a clip of the bird being blasted by missiles, but then again…blurry black and white film shot from miles away…..:o

They were built in the thousands and it was a very important cold war type, but (as far as i know, anyway!!) none are still flying- why is this??

Well at one time their was two airworthy Swept Wing 84Gs in the United States but both now are sitting.

As for why well various reason,

1. Most of the F-84 were scrap out right after the service was over

2. 40% of them were lent to NATO Countrys under the Military Assisatnce Act and part of the act state when done either return to the States or scrap.

3. Not very sexxy Warbird compare to the other types from the same time period (F-86).

4. The early engines are very hard to find parts for if you look at the T-33/F-86 that are flying all of these are re-engined types.

Now there are quite a few in museum most of them are swept wings but there are a few straight wings out their plus sitting at NAS China Lake Cold Range are another 10 4 Straight Wings and 6 Swept Wings.

Oh and Chris the USAF didn’t use F-84 for Drones your thinking of F-86

Air Force ran out of B-17s to use as target drones?:rolleyes: