The Thunderbirds performed using Phantoms at the first air show that I ever attended. That was in Tulsa, OK in 1973 at Riverside (now Jones) Airport. I was ten years old at the time. I remember them flying past for a maneuver, then having to go waaaayyyy out to turn around for the next maneuver. Other performers at that show (that I remember) were The Red Devils (which later became The Eagles Aerobatic Team) and Bob Hoover in his Shrike Commander.
Not long after that, a great article appeared in Boy's Life magazine titled "I flew with the Thunderbirds" that really stoked the aviation fire in me. It featured the Phantoms, but foretold the coming of the T-38s. I still have the hard copy. I did a little digging and discovered it online at:
http://books.google.com/books?id=XqcvsXchlqkC&lpg=PA58&ots=PT9I0YgHYD&dq=boys%20life%20thunderbirds&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q=boys%20life%20thunderbirds&f=false.
I thought you Phantom/Thunderbird fans might enjoy it.
Blake
P.S. I also had a Revell Thunderbirds (F-4 Phantoms) model kit set. I may actually still have part of it somewhere. It included the blackened tail on #4, Speedy.
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