As some of you may know from personal experience, aircraft preservation is an expensive business. Therefore, as you have no doubt noticed, we continually fundraise to support this work. Whether it is via special campaigns like the recent crowdfunder and the current print offer by our friends at the 74SA or ongoing methods such as the webstore and our regular online auctions, the proceeds go to fund our activities and we are very grateful to everyone for your support. We really couldn’t do this without you. So, we thought you may like to see a few examples of the kind of thing that your contributions have helped us to buy recently.
Firstly, a vital piece of ground equipment, without which ZE360 isn’t going anywhere. The Universal Stand has, as its name suggests, a variety of uses. In the case of the F4-J it was used with adaptor frames to remove and fit engines, which is exactly what we will need it to do in the very near future but it will also prove useful for lifting operations through the restoration process of all three of our aircraft. We have had this particular example on loan from its previous owner for some time but have recently been given the opportunity to purchase it outright. Having been stood outside for many years before we obtained it, it needs some remedial work to bring it back into service, which will be carried out by our volunteers in due course. We are now urgently searching for a pair of adaptor frames (the yellow items in the second pic) which we will need to allow us to remove the engines from ZE360, as we cannot split the fuselage/wing with engines fitted. Any leads anyone may have on these items will be much appreciated, please feel free to get in touch.
The two smaller items are both Ebay purchases and are a good illustration of what is still hiding away in garages, sheds, containers and storage units around the country. The light units are taxy lamps, one of which fits into the forward nose landing gear door. As you can see these are in new-old-stock condition with no damage or discolouration. These were spotted and brought to our attention by one of our eagle eyed supporters, for which we are grateful. The other item is a wing tank fuel quantity sender. As you can see, it is effectively brand new, despite being 49 years old. This unit fits into the aircraft wing tank and feeds information into the aircraft fuel gauging system. Items like this are not generally kept as ‘man-cave’ items, so it’s nice to find them still around, particularly one that has never been used.
Purchases like these, as well as the generous donations of parts and other Phantom related items we regularly receive, are a valuable part of our preservation efforts and contribute greatly to our ultimate goal of having three fully restored Phantoms preserved for posterity and on show to the public at the world's only dedicated F-4 Phantom museum. Thanks to everybody who helps us take another step, however small, toward the day when this finally becomes a reality.
