ScanBits

     Sitting on the arrivals ramp at AMARC in December 2004 just a couple of months from the official disestablishment of the squadron is S-3B 158872 was the 20th S-3A to roll off the Lockheed assembly line. Later in life she was converted to a S-3B and finally serving forward deployed with VS-21 on USS Kitty Hawk in Japan.       Here is a quick walk around prior to preservation starting. The only visible changes are the addition of the AMARC production code AN2S0067 to the nose and rear fuselage.

     F/A-18A 162879 approximately one month after being retired to AMARC. With the limited preservation that had been done thus far it provided an opportunity to document the paint scheme in a "walk around" style. It was a cool, crisp December morning on the ramp which provided some excellent blue Arizona skies for the photos. The major deviation from the operational paint scheme is the addition of the production control number of ANIA0079 on the forward and aft fuselage.

     This is a photo tribute to a number of Phantoms that have been expended in the QF-4 FSAT program for the USAF. All the photos were taken by the author at Holloman AFB on February 1, 2008. Thanks to 82nd ATRS Det 1 for hosting the visit. QF-4E-73-1197-Last-Chance-Holloman-AFB-BillSpidle-20080201 73-1197 (4768) FF 19DEC75, DD 28JAN76, 3TFW 03FEB76-AMARC (FP629) 25MAR91. She was out for some proficiency flying for the pilot. It was expended 6-26-2009 QF-4E-73-1184-Holloman-AFB-BillSpidle-20080201   73-1184   (4737) FF 16OCT75, DD 19NOV75, 4TFW 19NOV75, 704TFS/301TFW FEB89-AMARC (FP713) 12JUL91. The tiger stripes were created by power washing off faded paint in the desired pattern. 1184 was expended 6-20-2012. QF-4E-74-0665-Holloman-AFB-BillSpidle-20080201 74-0665 (4816) FF 23MAR76, FA 22APR76, 57FWW 22APR76, 4TFW JUN81, 704TFS/301TFW DEC88-AMARC (FP709) 27JUN91. 0665 was expended on 6-22-2009 QF-4G 69-0250 Holloman AFB...

The Sheppard TTC airshow on October 20, 2007 was the last time I saw a live F-117A Blackhawk. Still roped off, just like the first time a Carswell AFB The difference this time was the lack of heavy security police presence and the ability to walk all the way around the jet. I hope you enjoy the images.