(Image: Google Earth; abandoned F-4 Phantom on the Edwards AFB photo test range)
Last week we featured this abandoned F-101 Voodoo, one of a collection of derelict airframes lying on the old photo test range near Edwards AFB, to the south and east of the massive Rogers Dry Lake. Today, having scoured a vast expanse of California’s Mojave Desert, which the site occupies, we thought we’d feature an anonymous F-4 Phantom, the hulk of which stands at a small crossroads deep within the range.
The abandoned airframe, which, from the shadow cast, appears to be still standing on its undercarriage, is missing its outer wings and radome and looks from a distance to be little more than an empty, gutted shell. Thanks to the Aerial Visuals website, we located the old Phantom carcass at coordinates: 34 52 14.55 N 117 35 22.76 W. You can check it out for yourself here.
(Image: Google Earth; the derelict Phantom jet lies deep in the Mojave Desert)
The anonymous machine adds to a number of decommissioned McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom jets featured previously on Urban Ghosts. It’s always a shame to see dead planes lying abandoned and forgotten, but arguably better than the scrapheap. Perhaps, many years from now, thanks to the low humidity of the Mojave, this abandoned Phantom will be dragged off the range for preservation. If anyone knows this particular airframe’s history, please leave us a comment below.
Related – browse more in our Aviation archive here.
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