"What kind of adventure?", did I hear you ask? Well, chasing down tail numbers for one thing. Static displays are anything but static. Just because an aircraft is mounted on a stick doesn't mean that is where it stays! I was amazed to find "Vertical Tape" tail numbers painted on "Round Eye" airframes, and vice-versa. For example, one 59 model "Vertical Tape" on a stick in New York had been taken down, wings taken off, trucked to Montana, put back together, painted in new squadron colors, and two 57 model "Round Eye" tail numbers applied; one to the right side and one to the left side of the tail! That one really had me going for a while! I thought I was dealing with three aircraft on that research only to find out there was only one - but a very nice looking one! ( I even drove from Colorado to Montana to check that one out! )
Below are thumbnails of all 26 display F-106s on exhibit around the country. 59-0164 may be the 27th display but as of August 2011, it remains in private hands awaiting restoration and is again for sale on E-Bay for $25,000. Anyone is welcome to contribute photos, stories, history, etc., on these 26 SURVIVORS.
