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On March 10, 1967, Bob Pardo was part of a four-ship mission to take out a target just north of Hanoi, North Vietnam. Going in, Earl Aman and Bob Houghton's F-4 Phantom took a mortal hit and what happened next is one of the most amazing stories you’ll ever experience. http://www.oldguysandtheirairplanes.com/

Iran's F-4 Phantoms have soldiered on through a decades-long embargo on spares and support equipment, with the jets being maintained by the Iranian industry and parts supplied through the black market. It's thought that just a few dozen Iranian F-4D/Es are actually flyable at any given time. If these reports of Iranian F-4s supporting Iraqi forces are true, it would be an incredibly reckless move by the Iranians as the Obama Administration has stated time and time again that there is no formal military cooperation among the two usual foes when it comes to defeating ISIS in Iraq. But that's assuming we can take the Obama Administration's statements at face value. There have been rumblings that back-channel conversations about the ISIS issue have occurred during the recent Iranian nuclear negotiations. With the US and its coalition partners dominating the airspace over Iraq, Iran's precious F-4s would be at risk of being shot down if they even inadvertently approached a US or coalition aircraft. Alternatively, if the these jets are operating freely over Iraq, and not just racing across the border unannounced and back, it would mean that some sort of agreement has been struck between the US. Such an agreement would be unprecedented and would be inherently risky, as Iranian fighters using non-precision bombing methods and their own rules of engagement could result in massive collateral damage. Seeing as Iran is a Shiite-led country, large casualties among Iraq's Sunni population at the hands of Iranian pilots could deepen the ethnic divides that already plague Iraq and greatly complicate an already intricate situation. EXPAND I would bet that the truth lies somewhere in between full-on cooperation and flat-out no cooperation or formal communication, with basic deconfliction of coalition and Iranian air traffic through assigned airspace occurring at the very least. These reports also emerge as other accounts have stated that Iranian commandos are assisting the fledgling Iraqi Army and Shiite militias on the ground and that Iranian aircraft are indeed operating out of Iraqi airfields. So far there has been no substantiation to these claims, with today's image being the first from a decent source that shows direct Iranian involvement in the conflict. This just reminds us that the old adage "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" is really the only guiding light in that troubled region. Still, common ground against even the bitterest of foes should not be wasted, and hopefully, if our militaries are corresponding and working together on some level, that mutual understanding could blossom into a much less volatile relationship down the road. Regardless of the possibility of easing of tensions through military cooperation, if Iran is now truly in the anti-ISIS fighting mix with its air power, things just got a lot more complicated in the skies over Arabian Peninsula. http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/breaking-iranian-f-4-phantoms-wade-into-the-anti-isis-1665411308

Inspired by a vid from a few years back - thought it needed to be redone in the premier F-4 sim.

Back to Op Pulsator (Beirut 1983). Between trips to the Lebanon, we did a lot of excellent training flying, taking advantage of the glorious weather in Cyprus. It is worth mentioning a fight that my nav and I got into one glorious and cloudless Friday afternoon on a training sortie there. Not a fight as in fisticuffs, the more gentlemanly pursuit of aerial jousting; Air Combat Training. Although it was not all that uncommon to practice 1 v 1, 2 v 2 and (occasionally) 4 v 4, three element fights were more unusual; in this case 1 v 1 v 1. Three aircraft each on his own side trying to 'kill' the other two and attempting to avoid being shot by either. Perhaps I should explain how this works. All three players start at the same point and split outwards, at 120° intervals, to a pre-nominated range (say, 10 or 15 miles from the start point (This is known as the 'Mercedes Split' - think of the Merc symbol and it will all make sense). Then they are allowed to turn in and may take shots on either or both the other players. The training advantage of this is that it stops crews from getting involved in a lengthy, 1 v 1 fight as the third aircraft can enter the fray at any moment and engage the other two players. The idea, as I saw it, was to force the other two to get tied-up and be the third jet, the one who gets to kill everyone else. So, on the Friday in question, I had a brilliant game plan; so brilliant that it couldn't possibly fail. We split, to set up the fight, with us heading southeast. As we extended out towards 15 miles from the centre point, I started a climb to get as high as we could whilst explaining to my nav what my wily scheme entailed. We would not rush into the fight; we would take our time, gain as much altitude as possible and let the other two get tied up together and, hopefully, lose sight of us. Then we could swoop down on them from the heavens like a silent avenger from the Gods, unseen and unopposed, heroically to shoot them both while they were too busy even to see where we came from. Then we would roll in behind them and take a few yards of gun camera film with which to taunt the other players later. He seemed reasonably impressed with this. Oh, yes, one other thing, I was not going to get caught slow, I would have 'fighting speed' (at least 450 knots)all the time. Everything went swimmingly. Our powerful F-4K FG.1 made it to over 50,000 feet and still at a respectable speed. Nobody would ever see us up here. And, even better, the other two were engaged in a 'knife fight in a phone booth' directly below us, highlighted beautifully against the shiny Mediterranean. Rolling my mighty Phantom on her back and leaving both throttles parked up by the firewall (full burner), I pulled the nose down to point at our unsuspecting prey. Now in a vertical dive, God's own gravity combined with the potent thrust of the Phantom's two Rolls Royce Speys in full burner to accelerate us dazzlingly quickly toward the gleaming sea. In the time it took me to position the sight on each of our opponents in turn and to unleash terrible destruction upon them, we were too. Upon them..............I mean, not only upon them but straight through the middle of the now defunct fight, still accelerating. I heaved on the stick, planted it firmly in my lap in a vain effort to level out from this screaming dive. At such high speeds the F-4 Phantom was not over-blessed with what we call 'nose authority'; the ability to point the nose of the aircraft where desired - in this case, above the horizon. Now I was no longer battling to enter the fight with unarguable advantage, I was battling to recover from this self-induced, high speed, high angle, death dive in the distance remaining between the sea and us. 'Calmly' I closed both throttles, opened the speed brakes and pulled like a bastard, remarking 'casually' to my back-seater 'I think we've blown this', to which he replied, 'What do you mean, “We”?' from Paul Courtnage ex RAF

No MTV-type ADHD visuals or annoying and repetitive "dubstep" music here. US NAVY and Grumman's "Sea Legs" film short.

File Name: USAF Desert Scheme File Submitter: slick cowboy File Submitted: 20 December 2013 File Category: What If Skins These are desert skins for the stock TW F-4C/D, F-100D_64/68 and F-105D_66. The F-4 desert skins don't replace the stock ones in the game, so you can still use both. They refer to the same stock decals though. F-4 skins made with Sundowner's templates. F-100D skins made with hgbn's hi-res template. F-105D skin made with Sundowner last hi-res template (I included the bump maps) Installation: I made separate folders for the various aircraft types in which you'll find the desert skin folder. Paste the folder in the corresponding aircraft folder in your mod folder. That's pretty much it... Cheers Click here to download this file

File Name: CF-4E Phantom II - Canadian Forces - Part 2 File Submitter: Sheriff001 File Submitted: 04 October 2013 File Category: What If Hangar Introduction Here is McDonnell Douglas CF-110E Phantom II for the Canadian Forces Air Command. It is based on ravenclaw_007's new F-4E. This package contains the CF-4E, skins in Canadian Voodoo Grey and SEA camouflage. History During the 1960s, the Royal Canadian Air Force commenced a search for a more affordable fighter to supplement the CF-101 Voodoo, and the CF-104 Starfighter. The RCAF advised the government to acquire the F-4 Phantom II. The Canadian Government accepted the RCAF's advice, but McDonnell made a counter proposal. McDonnell's executives suggested that the Canadian Government order enough Phantoms to replace their entire fighter force, in exchange McDonnell would buy back the Voodoos, Orenda would manufacture J79 engines. The Government agreed to order enough Phantoms to equip nine squadrons, plus an operational training unit. The high rates of F-4 production at the time would allow for fairly rapid delivery beginning in 1968. The official Canadian designation for the Phantom was CF-110, but it was universally known as the CF-4. The Canadian Forces Air Command fielded four Phantom squadrons for NORAD, two for NATO at CFB Baden-Sollingen, three more NATO reinforcement squadorns in Canada, and an Operational Training Unit. In Europe, the CF-4 undertook the roles of close support, battlefield air superiority, and strike with nuclear and conventional weapons. Beginning in 1972, the reconnaissance role was filled by twenty four new RF-4E distributed among the NATO squadrons. In 1981, 414 Squadron was made operational with twenty CF-4G Wild Weasel aircraft. Canada's Phantoms saw combat in the Gulf War, and in Bosnia. After the Bosnian War, Canada decided to replace the CF-4 with the F/A-18C/D. The Phantom began to be phased out of CAF service in 1995, and was finally retired in 1998. Most of the surviving Canadian Phantoms were converted into QF-4 target drones. Contents This package contains the following: CF-4E-75 CF-4E-78 Weapons, from effects Ravenclaw_007's F-4E Phantom II Sounds from Comrad's F-4C(67) Phantom II skin-soundMOD Part 1 contained the CF-4E, CF-4E_72, and CF-4E_72 MIDAS & Hard Wing. Part 3 will contain the CF-4E-79, and CF-4E-86. Installation Copy all folders into your mod folder. Overwrite when prompted. Loadouts While Part 1 had special NORAD loadouts, the Phantoms in Part 2 have a single set of air-to-air loadouts, with AIM-7, AIM-9, and ECM pods. Credits TK: SF2 series Ravenclaw_007: F-4E Phantom II Sundowner: original templates Comrad: sounds If there are any suggestions, bugs, or if anyone has been left out of the credits, please contact me, and I will make the necessary changes. Enjoy! Click here to download this file

File Name: Upgrade Pack for STORMs F-4N File Submitter: daddyairplanes File Submitted: 06 September 2013 File Category: F-4 UPDATE FOR STORM'S F-4N PHANTOM 2 ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** ** NOTE: THIS IS FOR USERS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE THIRDWIRE DLC F-4N. IF YOU HAVE THAT DLC THEN DOWNLOAD THIS FILE ** ** ** ** THIS MOD, DUE TO THE USE OF THE F-4B_67 LODS, DOES NOT HAVE SLATTED STABS OR DROOPING AILERONS. AGAIN, IF YOU HAVE THE DLC, ** ** USE THE ABOVE FILE INSTEAD!!!! ** ***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** This is an update for the F-4B_67 based F-4N by CA's own STORM. I have added DECM markings and several skins for Gull Grey over White and the Overall Gull Grey paint schemes. I started this project on STORMs N, then completed a version on the DLC N. This brings the work back to its starting area. That said if you have the DLC N i suggest getting that enhancement mod. But if you did not buy it or prefer this one, I've looked out for you too. Included - Renamed STORMs aircraft "F-4N Phantom II (STORM) to avoid confusion the DLC mod. Esp important for me as i did in fact have both!!!! - Added F-4N (80_Storm) aircraft for Overall Gull Gray and Low Viz Gray skins. - unit specific skins for all N Phlyers from 1974 until about 1982. - DECM antenea for the intakes, added via fakepilot method - the latest squadronlist.ini. Requirements Need SF2 Vietnam for the F-4B_67 lods Installation unzip, add folders to mod folder, allow merge and overwrite if needed Credits *STORM for the original mod *mppd for the DECM fairings *Thanks to Sundowner for his templates. With a Sundowner template, you have to work hard to screw up a skin!!!!! *mytai01. much of this work is based off of his model for decalling the F-4 Phantom. Some of the nn tgas are even lifted off his B model skins and adjusted into N models BuNos. Those that have seen his work will recognize much influence in this mod. *As with all my Phantom mods, thank you to Spillone104 for his J-79 effects. I do like them so, and hope you will as well. *Thanks to Gerwin, Sundowner, Blade, Wrench, Dave, mppd, Ghost531 and many others who have given me answers and resources to many technical questions the last year and a half i've been working this. *BIG Thanks to Icarus999 for catching a previous error in the mod *and as always thanks to TK who developed the game again thank you for downloading this mod and i hope that you enjoy it! Kevin Unruh aka daddyairplanes 6 Sept 2013 Click here to download this file

File Name: Enhancement Pack for TW DLC 23 - F-4N Phantom II File Submitter: daddyairplanes File Submitted: 03 September 2013 File Category: F-4 DLC 23 F-4N PHANTOM II ENHANCEMENT PACK This is a mod to enhance the DLC F-4N. It includes data.ini's for smoky engines, realistic weapons and drooping ailerons. It also features many skins that have been touched up using Sundowners templates. Finally it has 100 historic BuNo's, and several styles and colors for modexes. It covers a wide spread of N users without becoming completely OCD. Included are: -3 F-4N aircraft (N, N_77, N_80) to help keep some order and smallness of file size. skins covered include USN/MC Grey, Overall Gloss Gloss Gull Gray(circa 1980), Lo Viz Grey (1981) and TPS (1983). Ferris and Heater Ferris were not used for the most part on N models. -my expanded squadronlist.ini. tho many units are stock in here, several will not show without this. Plus it's got room for anybody you can think of and then some more. -an expansive NavalF4 decal folder to cover all years after Vietnam (EXCEPT 1976). not all will be full right now, but they will be filled up with some future planned mods. -a Numbers folder with Buno's for the N, and several styles of Modex's -smokier engine effects for the J-79s. -J-79 engine sounds REQUIRED: The TW F-4N Phantom II, DLC 23. INSTALLATION: same as any other mod. unzip the file, paste into your mod folder, allow overwrites for old copies of the smoke effects and the F-4N.ini. CREDITS First is a HUGE THANK YOU to mytai01. much of this work is based off of his model for decalling the F-4 Phantom. Some of the nn tgas are even lifted off his B model skins and adjusted into N models BuNos. Those that have seen his work will recognize much influence in this mod. Thanks to Sundowner for his templates. With a Sundowner template, you have to work hard to screw up a skin!!!!! As with all my Phantom mods, thank you to Spillone104 for his J-79 effects. I do like them so, and hope you will as well. thanks to JSF_Aggie for his drooping aileron edit for the data.ini. although TK fixed that in the July 2013 patch, i have not patched there yet and know that many still haven't. for the time being the mod uses JSF_Aggie's work. Thanks to Gerwin, Blade, Wrench, Dave, mppd, Ghost531 and many others who have given me answers and resources to many technical questions the last year and a half I've been working this. special thanks to Ghost531 and CrazyHorseB34 for getting me off my fourth point of contact when stalled on this project and as always thanks to TK who developed both the game and the particular DLC, then left enough work for likes of me to fill in. again thank you for downloading this mod and i hope that you enjoy it! Kevin Unruh aka daddyairplanes 20 August 2013 Click here to download this file

Habe die Data.ini der MF F-4E_ARN-101 und die RF-4C etwas überarbeitet und nutze jetzt die stock Proptanks, also Tank370_F4 und TANK600_F4. Die Tanks werden mit nem grauen Skin angezeigt. Bei der Stock F-4E sind die äußeren Tanks oliv/grau. Vermute ich richtig: Bei Stock Flugzeugen kann ich die Tanks Skins ändern wenn ich ins Flugzeug Skins Verzeichnis die Tank Skins lege. Bei Addon Flugzeugen muss ich im Weapons Verzeichnis ne neue "Waffe" anlegen?! Oder gibt's noch ne andere Möglichkeit?

File Name: [Renewed] F-4M Phantom II - Royal Australian Air Force File Submitter: Sheriff001 File Submitted: 09 April 2013 File Category: The Combat Ace What If Hangar The F-4M Phantom II for the Royal Australian Air Force. There are three versions of the F-4M in this mod. TK's F-4M: This is intended as a strike aircraft (but is capable in all roles). In this scenario, it was operated by 2 Squadron, 12 Squadron, and 460 Squadron. It comes in the SEA colour scheme, a Green/Grey RAF-style scheme, and an overall olive drab (as on the CF-104). TK's F-4M (75): This is an interceptor operated by 3 Squadron, 30 Squadron, and 458 Squadron. It comes in an ADC Grey scheme, a wrap-around SEA scheme, the Euro 1 scheme, and a wrap-around Green/Grey RAF-style scheme. TK's F-4M (80): Again, this is an interceptor operated by 3, 30, and 458 Squadrons. It comes in the grey scheme worn by RAF Phantoms near the end of their service lives, Euro 1, a wrap-around Green/Grey RAF-style scheme, and a wrap-around SEA scheme. Low-visibility national markings are provided for the grey scheme. I have taken the SF2 Realism Mod SquadronList.ini and added 12, 30, 458, and 460 Squadrons to it, and numbered the decals accordingly. Back Story The idea for this aircraft comes from my alternate history site. It was first operated by this alternate Royal Canadian Navy in 1968. The RAAF's primary strike aircraft for the sixties was the F-105 Thunderchief. During the Vietnam War, the RAAF used its Thunderchiefs to strike targets of strategic importance to the Saigon Fascist regime. However, German air defences in South Vietnam had taken their toll on the Thuds. With the F-111C suffering serious delays, the RAAF took what was available, the F-4 Phantom. This aircraft had just been introduced by the Royal Australian Navy. In Vietnam, the Phantom enjoyed a high level of success, and showed its multi-role capacity. With the delivery of the F-111s, and their work up to full operational capability, the RAAF needed to find a mission for its Phantoms, or a buyer. The RAAF recommended early replacement of the F-106 Delta Dart. The Government accepted this option, and the F-4M served as Australia's air defender until the early 1990s. The wikia article for the aircraft itself is found here: - http://themarshall.w...-4K.2FM_Phantom Installation Copy the contents of the Objects folder into the Objects folder inside your mod folder. Copy the contents of the PilotData folder into the PilotData folder of your mods folder. Credits TK: F-4M from the SF2: Europe. Ravenclaw_007: F-4E templates, F-4B templates, high resolution AIM-7 Sundowner: F-4E templates, F-4B templates Spinners: Green/Grey F-4M skins Dave, HomeFries and the SF2 Realism Mod team: SquadronList.ini Click here to download this file

File Name: [Renewed] CF-110K Phantom II - Royal Canadian Navy File Submitter: Sheriff001 File Submitted: 08 April 2013 File Category: The Combat Ace What If Hangar This contains three F-4K Phantom IIs in the markings of the Royal Canadian Navy. The real CF2H Banshee squadrons, VF-870 and VF-871 are portrayed. The three time periods of TK's F-4K DLC are represented, original, 75, and 80. For all, a standard US Navy Gull Grey/White skin is provided, and for the F-4K 80, a two-tone grey camouflage is also provided. The latter is similar to the camouflage seen on some US Navy and USMC F-4 Phantoms near the end of their service life. Modified F-4J loadouts are used. Please note carefully: You cannot use the inboard pylons and the AIM-9 rails simultaneously. If you load one, the other will empty. This is not a bug per se, this is simply an inbuilt limitation for the Spey Phantoms. The aircraft has been tested in a merged SF2 installation, patched to August 2012. Backstory The idea for this aircraft comes from my alternate history site. It was first operated by this alternate Royal Canadian Navy in 1968 (in this timeline, there was no unification in the Canadian Armed Forces) The aircraft was meant to serve on Canada's two Essex class carriers, HMCS Bonaventure and HMCS Magnificent in the fleet defence and strike roles. In order to get the performance required for such small carriers, a new turbofan was developed by Orenda, the Orenda Huron. Redesign of the Phantom airframe to accomodate the larger engine was done by Avro Canada. The article for the aircraft itself is found here:: http://themarshall.w...-4K.2FM_Phantom Installation ***********NOTE: TK's F-4K Phantom II from the DLC Store is required for this mod*************** Copy the contents of the Aircraft folder into your Aircraft folder. Copy the contents of the Decals folder into your Decals folder. No new weapons are offered. During the timeframe of this aircraft, the Royal Canadian Navy used standard US Navy non-nuclear weapons. Credits TK - For the SF series of games, the F-4K DLC, and the F-4 USN/USMC Skin Pack. Sundowner - For the Spey nozzle grafted on to the F-4 skin, and his F-4B templates. paulopanz - F-4K DLC enhancement pack Olivier ANGUILLE: EMI Reconnaissance Pod ravenclaw_007: High-definition AIM-7 Sparrow missiles Click here to download this file

File Name: DLC21 USAF F-4 Skinpack Decalpack and Ini tweeks File Submitter: daddyairplanes File Submitted: 15 November 2012 File Category: F-4 This corrects one of the main faults of the USAF Skinpack in the DLC store, white tailcodes! I also have included many additional units as well as a Word document detailing which tactical units flew the Phantom in its later service with the USAF. I also have included many of the improvements from my previous post Vietnam pack, as well as my mostly finished squadronlist.ini. That ini is set up so that there will be minimal interuption from future patches, and DOES include all tactical Phantom phlyers, at least in US service. NOTE: all paint schemes came about in 1978 or later. as such i have not included any units that did not fly the Phantom in that timeframe. If you pick a Phantom unit that changed over after 1974, it will have a blank tail!!! ALSO NOTE: a few of the ADC units (like the 111th FIS of the Texas ANG) used a different system for serial numbers than the skins in here. Please read the document on Phantom units before griping that i missed someone!!! Installation is same as usual, unzip, copy to mod folders and allow overwrite. Finally, with one exception I have not included the skins themselves. To all the oldtimers here, i know that skins are usually fairgame. However, given that is the point of this DLC, i opted not to include the whole skin to avoid pissing off TK and getting skins locked.The exception is the F-4C_67, as he did not include that in the DLC. I hope that you all enjoy this mod. Kevin Unruh aka daddyairplanes Click here to download this file

File Name: Stock F-4 Phantom 2 USAFCamo1 Decalpack, and Ini Tweek File Submitter: daddyairplanes File Submitted: 15 November 2012 File Category: F-4 As the title says, this adjusts the SEA scheme in game to accept the later year Units. Earlier Phantom models have a second skin named SEA73, while later models just have their decal ini's editted. I have also included the effects, weapons and sounds from my Post Vietnam Pack as well as some new loading screens. This also includes the 95% finished version of my all ube squadronlist.ini, now with many place holders so that patching should not throw the squadrons into disarray. Created in Full5 merged, but should work in any stand alone SF2 version except for NA. Will need SF2Europe for the D and E _75 and _78. Install is the same as always. For further questions please consult the readme. Any issues with tailcodes, please post a screenshot with your question or gripe. And do remember, this is meant for after 1973, so the tailcodes will not be the same. In fact many Vietnam era users will have blank tails as they no longer flew the Phantom after 1973-74. If you want that user, regular USAFCamo1 is left alone for all models prior to 1975. I hope you enjoy this mod! Kevin Unruh aka daddyairplanes Click here to download this file

File Name: Mirage Factory IDF F-4E Kurnass 2000 for Strike Fighters 2 File Submitter: dtmdragon File Submitted: 22 October 2012 File Category: SF2 Series Add On Aircraft Mirage Factory Israeli Air Force F-4E Kurnass 2000 for Strike Fighters 2 This is a brand new SF2 mod of the Israeli F-4E Kurnass 2000 with a new 3D model. This mod has its origins in the SFP1 Mirage Factory F-4E Kurnass but most of the 3D work to create the Kurnass 2000 model has been done by Sundowner. The majority of the .ini work is new and specifically for the SF2 environment. Features: - Accurate Kurnass 2000 3d model - Modernized cockpit and avionics - Modernized weapons capability - Most advanced version of the F-4E used by the Israeli Air Force - Extensive RWR.TGA files and updated RWR.LST - All weapons from loadout file included http://www.f-4.nl/f4_35.html INSTILATION: Drop files in to appropriate folders, override when asked to. NOTE: Has only been tested/used in a merged install of ALL SF2 titles Credit goes to Bunyap and Chaser617 for the F-4EJ Kai cockpit / Avionics which we used as a base for the Kurnass 2000 Cockpit and Avionics. Also credit goes to The Viper Team for their IAF F-16C/D/I which some of the weapons came from. And of course the Mirage Factory Team. Click here to download this file