Here's an AF DS/BZ that curled our hair when we got the FlySafe flash.
57TFS at Iceland had F4Es painted USAFE green, etc. Someone decided
North Atlantic grey would be better. So one by one the birds were
sprayed grey all over. Now, the F4E wings do fold - they're manual
instead of power and there's no lock control in the cockpit. The
manual control is in the left wheel well. Anyway, the frshly painted
bird is on the schedule and off it goes. About halfway down the runway
the RIO lets out a squawk and the bird promptly pitches up off the
deck below rotation speed. BTW it's got three full external tanks hung
on it so the CG is already well aft. The front seater is pushing the
stick forward as the RIO is yelling the wings are unlocked - front
seater can't get the nose down so he rolls the bird inverted ad now
the nose is coming 'down' real fast. He rolls upright and avoids
hitting the ground and in a series of half rolls and full AB they
manage to get to a friendlier altitude. They do some fuel management
to get the CG as far forward as possible, run an approach to slower
speed and find they can make an approach at around 220 and the wing
outer panels will stay down. They get down okay, use the mid-field
arresting gear to stop (thanks for the hook, Navy!) and taxi back in.
The WingCo meets the A/C and they have a little conversation - the
gist being one 'well-done' cancels one 'aw-****'. Seems the tell-tale
unlock pins had their nice bright red over-sprayed dark grey and
everybody missed them sticking up out of the wings. (BTW after flying
the 104 I always wondered how an F4 would go minus the outer wing
panels and the CG readjusted.)
Walt BJ