Warbird Information Exchange

A friend of mine saw a screening of the Tom Hanks, "Sully" film and he knows nothing about warbirds.
That said, he recognized an F-4 when he sees one and said there were a few really good scenes with some Phantoms in the movie. He said they did not look like stock film and that they looked like they'd been shot recently and not CGI.
Taking his word for it, then I'd assume they used real Phantoms? If so, does anyone know about this? Did they use any of the USAF QF-4s in the 'Nam paint jobs, or did they use the Collings F-4?

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

It definitely wasn't the Collings jet. Not sure what they used.

I swear I saw a report about the qf-4s doing this. I'll try to find it unless someone beats me to it.

Found it posted by sully on Facebook. It was qf-4e's.

https://m.facebook.com/sully/photos/a.134827307235.110104.45557497235/10154431742092236/?type=3&_ft_=top_level_post_id.10154431742092236%3Atl_objid.10154431742092236%3Athid.45557497235%3A306061129499414%3A69%3A0%3A1472713199%3A1619363174904847519

Wow, I'm surprised by that, I would have figured they were CGI, considering the ditching of the A320 is.

Got to give it to Clint Eastwood for doing it right.

However, from the trailer I did notice the NYPD rescue Huey is incorrect, they used a 205 (UH-1H) instead of a 412.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

Speaking of QF-4s, I just read the other day that the final unmanned QF-4 target drone mission was recently flown. The Phantom was not shot down and returned to base safely. The QF-4s will continue to be flown by live pilots through this coming December, when the QF-4 program will come to an end. The remaining QF-4s be preserved for "future use or display", according to the article. Perhaps that means we may continue to see them in Heritage Flights, although they'll probably be made available for static displays. Either way, it's good news. They're not all going to be splashed!

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Dean Hemphill, K5DH
Port Charlotte, Florida

Yes, just saw this yesterday. Great scene and those were definitely real F4s.

Cool! About how many of them are left?

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Side note,
Ryan, I watched Air Aces and the Robin Olds episode with the Collings Jet and ground crew. They looked great but wished they used uniforms and hats that fit and the helmets/masks were wrong as well. They were wearing the caps like a Russian cap.
Back to Sully...

24 were still flying this summer.

One of the two at Oshkosh had a faulty afterburner can. I recall the day when we used to groan if we noticed this as our jets were returning over the airfield. It meant we had to fix it.

I guess the MEL permitted them to fly this way for Oshkosh.

LINK -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6s7LMuHWQrk

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When I was young "sex was safe & flying was dangerous".

The day after they arrived, I asked the pilot of the grey Phantom what was wrong with the burner. He said there was no problem. He said that aircraft had two different engines, as he described, one "smoker" and one "non-smoker".

I don't recall his name, but he was retired USAF, having flown F-16s most recently. He is now a civilian contractor on the QF program.

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-Dante Cosentino

What changes were made to the J79 to make it quit smoking?

Watch the film The Great Santini for smoking F-4s.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

I wondered the same thing. Maybe he was the one "blowing smoke". It was the first thing I noticed when they arrived Monday night. Both burners lit, but one was noticeably dimmer. That's why I asked. He and "Elvis" were both very kind and smoke with my sons for quite a while. The F-4 is their new favorite warbird.

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-Dante Cosentino

No, the pilots weren't "blowing smoke"... back in the day I recall a change to "smokeless engines".

I just wondered what that entailed....

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.