Dutch Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 (edited) I am sorting through a deceased friend's aviation stuff, when I came across two very interesting photos of the same aircraft. The bird in question is F-10B Skyknight 124598 in U.S.Army markings at Vance AFB, date unknown. I would love to find out more info about this bird. Photo #1, stbd side. Edited June 8, 2019 by Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted June 8, 2019 Author Share Posted June 8, 2019 Photo #2, port side. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 Found this at: http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_fighters/f10_2.html Quote China Lake personnel frequently grafted special nose sections to their F3D-2T2s and F2D-2Ms to test new radar installations and electronic equipment. One of these was F-10B 124610, upon which an F-4 Phantom nose was grafted. F3D-2 124619 had a modified nose radome used by Westinghouse to develop the APQ-72 radar for the F4H-1 Phantom. TF-10B 124630 was grafted with a A-4 Skyhawk nose. These tests continued into the early 1980s with three Skyknights (124598, 124630, and 125807) bailed to Raytheon and flown with US Army markings. These were the last flyable Skyknights. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 Steve Ginter has a book on the F3D / F-10. I don’t have a copy but he is usually very good at covering obscure variants. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alternative 4 Posted June 8, 2019 Share Posted June 8, 2019 According to wikipedia this aircraft still exists and is in the National Museum of Naval aviation. http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_fighters/f10_2.html This site states: " These tests continued into the early 1980s with three Skyknights (124598, 124630, and 125807) bailed to Raytheon and flown with US Army markings. These were the last flyable Skyknights." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted June 9, 2019 Author Share Posted June 9, 2019 Habu 2 & Alternative 4, Thanks to you both. I knew that several F3D Skyknights were used for testing various electronic systems, but never imagined that one would end up in Army markings. Steve Harding 's book "U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947" makes no mention of it, even though the copyright is 1990. Thanks. R/ Dutch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
efd327 Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 These Skyknights were flown out of Holloman AFB in the early 80's for US Army missile tests at the White Sands range. A friend of mine was with the 9TFS/49TFW flying F-15s and I went to Holloman to visit him around 1985. He was showing me around the base and I remember him saying there was a plane that he had no idea what it was. We drove over to where it was parked and there sat a dark blue F3D Skyknight. First and last time I ever saw one. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheRealMrEd Posted June 10, 2019 Share Posted June 10, 2019 That would make an interesting pairing with the Fiat (91?) that the Army was looking at for close air support, back in the day when then air force wanted only to play with nukes and be all strategic. Congress finally decided that the Navy could take care of it's own, including the Marines, and the Air Force would take care of tactical air missions and close air support for the Army, and the Army would end up flying only light observation aircraft and helicopters. Of course, there has been a little mission creep since... Ed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gmat Posted June 16, 2019 Share Posted June 16, 2019 When I was stationed at Hanscom AFB from 79 to 80, Raytheon had one or two of them on the other side of the field in the US Army red/white scheme. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch Posted June 23, 2019 Author Share Posted June 23, 2019 Photos? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
viking73 Posted July 7, 2019 Share Posted July 7, 2019 I think I might have a photo or two of this bird in the boneyard at D-M in 1988. I’ll check when I get home in a couple of days and let you know. -Derek Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Gunny Posted July 8, 2019 Share Posted July 8, 2019 On 6/8/2019 at 7:41 PM, Alternative 4 said: According to wikipedia this aircraft still exists and is in the National Museum of Naval aviation. http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_fighters/f10_2.html This site states: " These tests continued into the early 1980s with three Skyknights (124598, 124630, and 125807) bailed to Raytheon and flown with US Army markings. These were the last flyable Skyknights." X number might be preserved at museums or what have you, but the question is are they currently in flyable or can they be restored into flyable condition. My dad (Marine Corps [naval] Aviator)told me this jet responded very poorly when throttle was applied-therefore it was not suitable for carrier ops. A very unique egress method, as well. No ejection seats & you had to slide down a “chute” on the bottom of the aircraft between the engines. Not exactly ideal in a dire emergency where time was of the essence. If that was the case you’re dead. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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