McDonnell Douglas F-4S Phantom II "Black Bunny" - Castle Air Museum

A unique example of the McDonnell-Douglas Phantom II arrived at the Castle Air Museum in Atwater, California. This being F-4S BuNo.155539, the last example of the breed to have flown with Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Four (VX-4), better known as “The Evaluators.”

Manufactured in St. Louis, Missouri, as an F-4J-33-MD, construction number 2777, Bureau Number 155539 would make its first flight on February 22, 1968, before being assigned by the US Navy to VF-102 aboard USS America (CV-66). 155539 would also be operated by VF-102 on shore at NAS Oceana, Virginia. After serving aboard USS Independence (CV-62) and a brief assignment to NAS Fallon, Nevada, 155539 was transferred to VF-101 in May of 1975, flying out of Oceana and MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina before being reassigned to VF-33 at NAS Oceana before taking another assignment onboard USS Independence. 155539 would also serve on USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), Roosevelt Roads Naval Station in Puerto Rico, and once again on USS America. Its final assignment with VF-33 was at NAS Oceana before the aircraft was sent to NAS North Island, California, to be converted from an F-4J to an F-4S at the Naval aircraft Rework/Refit Facility, which saw the addition of smokeless engines, reinforcements to the airframe, and leading-edge slats for maneuverability. In May of 1981, 155539 was transferred to VX-4 (Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Four, (AIRTEVRON FOUR)), known as the Evaluators, based at NAS Point Mugu, California.

Its original modex XF-8 was changed to XF-1 in 1982, giving it the now-famous callsign Vandy 1, along with a distinctive, all-black livery. To complement the all-black paint scheme, VX-4 personnel painted a Playboy Bunny on the tails of their Phantoms, albeit without asking permission from Hugh Hefner, who owned the trademarked symbol. The media mogul initially considered taking legal action for this breach but gave way to common sense and granted permission to use his Bunny emblem.

VX-4 used BuNo.155539 to evaluate advanced systems for future use on aircraft deployed within the fleet. The Phantom also took part in several air shows, where its distinctive markings earned it a nickname with the public, Black Bunny.

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber that was developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy. Proving highly adaptable, it entered service with the Navy in 1961 before it was adopted by the United States Marine Corps and the United States Air Force, and by the mid-1960s it had become a major part of their air arms. Phantom production ran from 1958 to 1981 with a total of 5,195 aircraft built, making it the most produced American supersonic military aircraft in history, and cementing its position as a signature combat aircraft of the Cold War.

The Phantom is a large fighter with a top speed of over Mach 2.2. It can carry more than 18,000 pounds (8,400 kg) of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and various bombs. The F-4, like other interceptors of its time, was initially designed without an internal cannon. Later models incorporated an M61 Vulcan rotary cannon. Beginning in 1959, it set 15 world records for in-flight performance, including an absolute speed record and an absolute altitude record.

Castle Air Museum affords visitors from the region and throughout the world the opportunity to learn the costly sacrifices of the men and women who designed, built, maintained and flew these aircraft into hostile skies to defend freedom and liberty with many making the ultimate sacrifice. The Museum also serves to educate on the past milestones in aviation and what the future of aerospace may hold in store.

Castle Air Museum, located in the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley is the largest aviation museum between Southern California and the State of Washington with over seventy restored vintage military aircraft on static exhibit with more to arrive in the future! The Museum is adjacent to the former Castle Air Force Base, now Castle Airport, and officially opened to the public in 1981 as a non-profit 501c3 organization with a mission “to preserve military aviation heritage for future generations.” Today the Museum has evolved into a premier showcase for families, history buffs, schools, tourists, and aviation enthusiasts.

Visit Castle Air Museum Online:
https://www.castleairmuseum.org