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I missed this earlier: Phantom's phinale

Lt. Col. Ronald King, her pilot, grinned and eased her forward on the way into history. Today was Dec. 21. This was the final flight of the QF-4 Phantom – the final flight of AF 349 – and after 53 dedicated years of superior service, the final flight of the Phantom II would be done right.

The F-4 was retired from operational service in 1997, but it continued on active duty as the QF-4 (a target aircraft) -- until 21 Dec 2016.

More at the link.

ELB wrote:I missed this earlier: Phantom's phinale

Lt. Col. Ronald King, her pilot, grinned and eased her forward on the way into history. Today was Dec. 21. This was the final flight of the QF-4 Phantom – the final flight of AF 349 – and after 53 dedicated years of superior service, the final flight of the Phantom II would be done right.

The F-4 was retired from operational service in 1997, but it continued on active duty as the QF-4 (a target aircraft) -- until 21 Dec 2016.

More at the link.

Then someone needs to tell the national media.

There was a news segment a couple of days ago announcing the retirement of the F-4 from active status to one of target drone.

I sent this to my dad who served USAF reserve in Niagara Falls throughout the 80's and early 90's- where us kids would stay on base with him and mom - and watch these Phantoms take off daily and land (pre-pre 9/11) about 50 yds from the runway/no fences (you could drive your vehicle to that point). Later, he would take us to the hangers and the mechanics would let us sit in the cockpits. Those were amazing times!

There's a pretty great video of the final flights here:

https://youtu.be/rT_gLtwAjBs

Amazing, to me, that they'll be shooting down QF-16s now. Gosh I'm getting old

After sending him this story- I just heard back from dad- a rare 'nam story from his early days.

The Phantom was the fighter aircraft during the Vietnam war. Saw them rain down 'heck' on the mountains 10 miles from our Helicopter base. Passing at tree top level over our base they dropped napalm on a battalion size North Vietnamese army who was advancing towards us and the DaNang air base. The side of the mountain lit up and sounded like all 'heck' broke loose....and it did! Ya! End of threat. We saved a lot of ammo that day thanks to the two F4 Phantoms.

Ah yes, the F-4. America's proof to the world that even a brick will fly if you put big enough engines on it.

The F-4 will always have a special place in my heart. The first time I ever saw the Thunderbirds, they were flying the F-4. It was a far more impressive display than the T-38 that they started flying after the energy crisis or later the F-16.

Part of the base orientation to my first assignment (Tinker AFB, 1973) included a tour of the depot building. There we saw several F-4s that had come back from Vietnam for depot-level repair. It was amazing how much punishment those birds had taken, but still brought their crews back to base.

Air Ambush with the F-4s. 50 years ago this week. http://www.lyonairmuseum.org/blog/opera ... th-vietnam

Rokyudai wrote:After sending him this story- I just heard back from dad- a rare 'nam story from his early days.

The Phantom was the fighter aircraft during the Vietnam war. Saw them rain down 'heck' on the mountains 10 miles from our Helicopter base. Passing at tree top level over our base they dropped napalm on a battalion size North Vietnamese army who was advancing towards us and the DaNang air base. The side of the mountain lit up and sounded like all 'heck' broke loose....and it did! Ya! End of threat. We saved a lot of ammo that day thanks to the two F4 Phantoms.

Phew, I'll never phorget the Phox Phour . On nearly every insert and/or extraction in our AO (DMZ area) they were there along with their FACs. I used to wonder why (as a helicopter pilot) we all didn't run into each other daily in all that organized chaos. They were truly awesome!

memories... Worked these jets while in USAF '77 - '78. Hahn AB Germany. I like airplanes and loved working them. Hated Hahn.

Pawpaw wrote:Ah yes, the F-4. America's proof to the world that even a brick will fly if you put big enough engines on it.

My AFROTC Commander, Lt Col John S Rodgers (and Texas Aggie grad), was an F-4 pilot, and that's what he always said about it. The other thing he said is that it wasn't particularly good at any one thing, but it was pretty good at doing a lot of different things.

Pawpaw wrote:Part of the base orientation to my first assignment (Tinker AFB, 1973)...

My first assignment was also Tinker (1982). No F-4s then, but lots of B-52s in for refurb. I was across the runway from the ALC, with the AWACS birds.

Sorry to hear about the F4. In the early sixties before going overseas I was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, N.C. Among other combat Marine aircraft that flew out of there was the F4, the ugliest meanest combat plane I think I ever saw, although I may have to put the Wart Hog right up there with the F4 in the ugly/mean looking department. Yes, Marine and Naval aviators flew the F4 and we even flew them off of carriers.

stash wrote:....Yes, Marine and Naval aviators flew the F4 and we even flew them off of carriers.

The F-4 was originally designed to be a Navy carrier all weather interceptor. SecDef McNamara, on his "commonality" kick, pushed the USAF to use it as well, in addition to forcing the Navy and Air Force to try to turn the F-111 (originally an Air Force design) into a joint aircraft as well. In fact, the Air Force originally designated the Phantom II as the F-110 in sequence with its other fighters until McNamara instituted a DoD-wide naming convention.

The Air Force ended up buying more than twice as many F-4 Phantom IIs as the Navy and Marines combined.