Your United States Air Force celebrates its 60th anniversary today. Blog-Buddy Mike, an AFROTC cadet at
Heritage Flight photo (left to right: P-51, F-16, F-4, F-22) from Heritage Flight.org…where there’s more excellent plane pr0n in the same vein.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
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To me the F-4 will always be the ultimate jet! They have always been special to me. I've spent hours on post drawing them on the back of C-Ration boxes, or whatever I had.
ReplyDeleteI've seen them come back in missing man formation, I've seen them come back and stenciled with Mig silhouettes, and I've seen their brave pilots cry in both pain and celebration.
Probably the last jet we'll have that had real gun firing dog fights!
May the Phantom live on!
It won't be too much longer until all the flyable F-4s are gone, I'm afraid. I read a lil blurb yesterday over at SJS' place that the F-4 he had pictured was actually a drone from Davis-Monthan that had been repainted in a Vietnam-era color scheme. They're still serving, but not like McDonnell-Douglas intended.
ReplyDeleteAlso... I remember seeing the T-Birds a few times when they were flying F-4s, and that was one of their BEST periods. The F-4, being large, was easy to see while they were doing their routines, and made such wonderful noise! And then they went to T-38s...
Thanks for the kind words, Buck. The speech went well; everyone looked like they were at least halfway interested.
ReplyDeleteA Phantom T-Birds show is one of those things I wish I could go back in time to see. It sounds spectacular.
There is one F-4D that is operated by the Collings Foundation as a warbird, but every other F-4 that you see flying heritage flights is, like the one at SJS's place, actually a QF-4 drone that will someday be shot down. Kudos to the USAF for repainting them and using them in the heritage flights for now, at least.
Also, speaking of the Phantom...did you know that one of the names that was considered was the Satan? The government pitched a fit so they changed the name, but man...what a name for a fighter.
Also, speaking of the Phantom...did you know that one of the names that was considered was the Satan? The government pitched a fit so they changed the name, but man...what a name for a fighter.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that, Mike...thanks! And I'm glad your speech was well-received. Good On Ya!!
Just a question for the group... I always thought the F4 didn't have guns.
ReplyDeleteGreat pic!
Sam sez: Just a question for the group... I always thought the F4 didn't have guns.
ReplyDeleteIt didn't...originally. USAF came up with gun pods after many, many complaints from pilots about the lack of a gun, and the fact the North Vietnamese AF tactics exploited the fact F-4s were gun-less.