Near the end for US F-4s

[+daddyairplanes 9,902]

Last ones now flying at Holoman AFB

http://www.tyndall.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123449254

 

[+Coupi 4,351]

 Phantastic plane...

Edited June 10, 2015 by Coupi

[gbnavy61 1]

Been through Holloman a time or two. I was surprised when I looked up and saw one of those babies flying around. A real airplane! That brought a smile to my face.

[+Dave 2,321]

Makes me sick to my stomach. 

[+daddyairplanes 9,902]

Why? Everything has its time. As a target drone the Phantom replaced the Sabre for the Navy and the F-102 in the Air Force. While I'd love to have Phantoms Phorever, the QF-16 offers a more modern target, about as much of a leap ahead as the Phantom was for the planes it replaced.

[+Viggen 615]

When Holloman is down to their last F-4, it should be flown to the USAF Museum and displayed as is.

[RUSTYMORLEY 162]

There was a time when the F-4 Phantom was the yardstick by which every other new jet fighter was measured.

 

It is a legend and it is both robust and beautiful as well. I sure hope we preserve a great many of them!!!

Edited June 15, 2015 by RUSTYMORLEY

[ironroad 218]

Makes me sick to my stomach. 

 

Hopefully it will not suffer the same fate as the QF-106s did. The last of them were taken out to the Gufl of Mexico and dumped into the ocean.

 

I'm glad I had the opportunity to see the fullymanned F-4 fly towards the end of its of career. I was taken back when I happened to see an QF-4E painted up in SEA colors fly at an airshow a few years ago. My first thought was "that can't be right."

Edited June 17, 2015 by ironroad