Gate Guards and Static Displays
All across the United States, you will find aircraft displayed outside military base gates, VFW’s, Parks, and other various locations. Here is a sample of the aircraft I have run into during my travels around the country.
Charlotte Airport Overlook - F-4S Phantom II
A nicely restored McDonnell Douglas F-4S Phantom II is on display in one corner of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s new overlook.
This aircraft is on loan to CLT Airport from the U.S. Navy. A search was conducted to find a suitable Phantom for the overlook. They found an available jet at the USS Midway Museum in San Diego, California. A crew was set to disassemble the jet to prepare it for transit. Once taken apart, they discovered it was in bad shape. After shipping it across the country, a restoration team rebuilt the frame because it was falling apart.
The F-4 Phantom II was painted to represent the VF-84 Jolly Rogers squadron. Their insignia features the iconic skull and crossbones. The livery honors Oceana in Virginia, the Naval Air Station closest to Charlotte that flew the Phantom jets.
The two names painted on the side of the cockpit hold special meanings. Cmdr. Glen Lenox was the last commanding officer over that unit when they flew F-4s; Lt. Junior Grade J.D. Moorhead was the radar intercept officer.
16Jul24
North Carolina Air National Guard
A North American F-86L SABRE (52-4142 / Construction Number 190-545, US AIR FORCE) on a pole sitting outside the entrance gate at North Carolina’s Air National Guard base at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Nicknamed the “Sabre Dog”, this All-Weather Jet Interceptor was an improved development of the original F-86 Sabre of Korean War fame. The addition of the black nose cone was for the installation of the radar array.
16Jul24
