Phantom

Just a "few" people I am sure...

[Clifford Bossie]

The F-4 was awesome.

[CJAM427]

Sweet pics Clifford!!

[Dave Downs]

Took this at Ft. Drum in '85
My best encounter with a Phantom was at the Warren Grove NJ gunnery range. 2 of them about 100' in front of us, 25' off the deck in full burner. When they approached they had that 'shriek' that only the Phantom made; felt the heat from the 'burner and the wingtip vortices kicked up a sandstorm that forced us to cover our eyes.

[p51]

Well, the era of the F-4 is OVER this month. I just read there will be a final flight ceremony at Holloman on December 21st and they’ll fly a few of their drones at that, then, that’s it. No more smoke and thunder, forever more. The remaining airframes will be made into ground targets.

[maxum96]

At least Collings has theirs to fly.

Last edited by maxum96 on Fri Dec 16, 2016 11:05 am, edited 1 time in total.

[p51]

At least Collings has theirs to fly.

How often does it fly, and where? I'm on the northern west coast and I don't think it ever gets out this way...

[phixer]

The Wings and Rotor Air Museum in Murrieta, Ca. was restoring an F-4A at one time to flying condition but I don't know the currant status of that. In either case the idea of keeping one those in the air seems rather daunting.

[p51]

In either case the idea of keeping one those in the air seems rather daunting.

Yeah, could you imagine keeping an F-4 airworthy without the government supply chain?
Heck, read about F-4s in 'Nam, they couldn't hardly keep them in the air even with strong logistical support!

[wingsandrotorspilot]

The Wings and Rotors Phantom is still in work! Just finishing up the hydraulics. Hope for engines install mid 2017...

[quemerford]

Greek machines still flying surely?

[Firebird]

Greek machines still flying surely?

Yep, as are their Turkish next door neighbours and I'm pretty sure the JASDF are still flying them as well?

[phixer]

End of an era for those of us in the U.S. with maybe a slight chance to see one fly for awhile, I think I'll have to make a trip down to Murietta one of these days to check out that A model.
If I remember correctly all the squadrons I served with back in the seventies had at least one full time cann bird to borrow parts off of, then again USMC units were probably at the bottom of the food chain. I later worked on them as a civilian getting somewhere over 20 years total time on the beast.

[wendovertom]

Here here! for Wings and Rotors and Collings! But I agree with p51 - out West we will have to trek to Texas to see the F-4 fly. Until the folks at Wings and rotors get theirs up and running. . .

Tom P.

[sandiego89]

Greek machines still flying surely?

Yep, as are their Turkish next door neighbours and I'm pretty sure the JASDF are still flying them as well?

Think it is Greece, Turkey, Japan, South Korea and Iran- but don't hop the fence at an Iranian airbase for a look!