F-4 turns 50

[TequilaChaser]

My apologies upfront because its been nearly 20 yrs ago since I worked on Navy Jets..but if I recall correctly the difference would prbably be the Flight Controls of the 14 were manual/hydraulic  verses the Fly-By-Wire of the F18's.........if I am remembering correctly.....

If the older Tomcat pilots switched to the current F-18, it would be kind of like a real pilot here flying Aces High.....

we used to have competitions/bets on who could change out  and install new engines

the A7's took use roughly 1 hr and 20 to 25 minutes to swap one out and install a new one.

F4's took us roughly 58 minutes......  and 3 of us could switch out a S-3A's engine in under 43 minutes.....

the most fun was when I got my High Power Turn Qual certification...take em out and get to set and start the new installed engines up and ramp them up to military power ( Military power is 80%, that notch and past it brought in the AfterBurner on the jets that had AB, which we wasn't allowed to do,  I always dreamed of the tie-dwons breaking loose and taking off  )

[V1per]

I believe Spikes would be referring to me. My cousin LCDR. Ted "Chop" Burk, Ex TopGun instructor and pilot currently assigned to VX-9 told me he hates his F/A-18F compared to his F-14B. I also know the personnel of the VFA-31 Tomcatters and there are currently only 3 pilots left with Tomcat experience and all 3 wish they could still fly their F-14D's.

Its a sad thing when both predecessor's(F-4/FA-18) outlive the successor(F-14).

I saw an interview of an f14 pilot who was lucky and young enough to transfer to an f18 and he seemed very excited to get into an fA18.

Kids are Kids....Give one a new toy and they get all excited about it.

[Stampf]

  Still the meanest looking fighter ever. Especially head on view.

Partial to the Tiger (F-5) here. 


That's Lt. Col. Daniel "Stampf" Stampfli, in the pit. 

[Fulmar]

Partial to the Tiger (F-5) here. 
(Image removed from quote.)

EVERYONE knows that is not an F-5, it's a Mig-28!  :

[PanosGR]

  Still the meanest looking fighter ever. Especially head on view.

this is an RF-4E in case you didnt notice


and an A-7H Tiger. Nice also

[Stampf]

EVERYONE knows that is not an F-5, it's a Mig-28!  :

   Top Gun!! Oh that hurts...

Great pics Panos. 

[PanosGR]

EVERYONE knows that is not an F-5, it's a Mig-28!  :

oh watermelon its a MiG-28!!!!!! 



 

[wrongwayric]

The running jokes on F4's and F14's was that "you put enough dynamite under a rock, it will fly". F14's were life support systems for the phoenix missile. Lot's of older pilots liked the F4-F14's for the feel they had out of the controls, which the newer electronic controls didn't seem to give them.

Our pilots were split about 50% on the F18 when we rotated to them. A lot of them missed having a RIO in the back, not only could he do some of the routine stuff, but he was an extra set of eyes scanning the sky while the pilot was busy.

[Goat1]

Used to work on the D and E models, geez I feel old now.

[John Curnutte]

 I have a cousin name of William Curnutte who was an F-4 pilot and had won 2 DFC's in the Air Force and he swears by his F-4 for durability / and ACM in it .
You can look up his citations on the DFC Society web site . There is very interesting reading of these nam pilots and the things / missions they had run . The F-4 is an old favorite of mine it just looks mean period and the longevity of it is proof of its greatness and ability to upgrade in age .

                                                 Thanks Nutte

[weazely]

What a cool aircraft!