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General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: PanosGR on June 06, 2008, 06:45:35 AM

Title: F-4 turns 50
Post by: PanosGR on June 06, 2008, 06:45:35 AM
Recently the F-4 turned 50, I think in last May. The Hellenic Air force still use the aircraft in various roles. The photos below are from a ceremony for the 30 years of the 348 ΜΤΑ (Tactical Rec Sq) and for the 50 anniversary of the F-4, with an interesting paint theme. Hope u like it. 

(http://)(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x39/PanosGR/IO6Q9738.jpg)

(http://)(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x39/PanosGR/_MG_9757.jpg)

(http://)(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x39/PanosGR/IO6Q9874.jpg)
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: Rosscoe1 on June 06, 2008, 07:50:49 AM
*stares at drooling* Favorite Nam era plane.
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: Alky on June 06, 2008, 07:57:30 AM
They are very cool  :aok
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: FiLtH on June 06, 2008, 10:49:12 AM
  Still the meanest looking fighter ever. Especially head on view.
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: wrongwayric on June 06, 2008, 12:20:38 PM
Having worked on them, to this day i hate phillips screws! :lol Takeing off the turtleback was a royal pain in the butt! And we shuddered in agony when when we had to drop the panel that sat directly above the drop tank pylon! Thing had like 400 or more phillips screws in 5 different sizes spread all over the friggin place. I received a letter of commedation/meritorious mast for making a metal template to put the screws in as you took them out. Saved about 1 to 2 hours on the reinstallation of it.

Was a great jet in it's time and would take a lot of damage.  :salute
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: Cthulhu on June 06, 2008, 12:24:05 PM
I received a letter of commedation/meritorious mast for making a metal template to put the screws in as you took them out. Saved about 1 to 2 hours on the reinstallation of it.
Way to go. :aok Hard to believe the good folks at MacDac didn't think of that in the beginning.
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: Spikes on June 06, 2008, 02:04:26 PM
Still don't get why F4's fly...yet F14's are all dead and torn apart, unflyable.
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: evenhaim on June 06, 2008, 02:17:44 PM
Still don't get why F4's fly...yet F14's are all dead and torn apart, unflyable.
cost of operation, f4s and f14s fall in the same catagory, both goble fuel, both many maintanance hours but a plane that cost 5-6 million over a plane that cost 30 something million makes a big difference....
We retired our last f4 not to long ago.
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: Cthulhu on June 06, 2008, 04:04:02 PM
cost of operation, f4s and f14s fall in the same catagory, both goble fuel, both many maintanance hours but a plane that cost 5-6 million over a plane that cost 30 something million makes a big difference....
We retired our last f4 not to long ago.
Yep, besides F110's are expensive. You can find J79 parts at Home Depot. :D
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: Spikes on June 06, 2008, 05:21:37 PM
It's just sad though...they spend money on the Superbug and most pilots that previously flew the F14 in combat operations would love to get back in one, as they don't like the F/A-18
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: Cthulhu on June 07, 2008, 11:04:35 AM
It's just sad though...they spend money on the Superbug and most pilots that previously flew the F14 in combat operations would love to get back in one, as they don't like the F/A-18
Never liked the 18. MacDac took Northrop's beautiful F-17, added a few tons of flab, slapped their name on it, then had the balls to say "look at this wonder plane we've made."
I used to watch the very first F-16's practice their airshow routine during lunch. That's an airplane. :aok

Sorry for the detour PanosGR.
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: evenhaim on June 07, 2008, 11:42:20 AM
It's just sad though...they spend money on the Superbug and most pilots that previously flew the F14 in combat operations would love to get back in one, as they don't like the F/A-18
Thats a complete assumption, 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.
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: Bodhi on June 07, 2008, 11:48:08 AM
I saw a F4 come through here yesterday.  It had drone markings, with a pilot ferrying it somewhere.
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: Nefarious on June 07, 2008, 12:20:34 PM
Check out these Pics I posted here.

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,237684.0.html
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: Spikes on June 07, 2008, 01:28:40 PM
Thats a complete assumption, 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.
It's not an assumption at all. My friend has met real F14 pilots at Oceana, and Fleet Week, and most he's talked to wish they had their Cat's back.
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: TequilaChaser on June 07, 2008, 02:47:20 PM
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  :pray )
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: V1per on June 07, 2008, 03:28:35 PM
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). :frown:

Quote from: evenhaim
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. ;)
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: Stampf on June 07, 2008, 03:39:40 PM
  Still the meanest looking fighter ever. Especially head on view.

Partial to the Tiger (F-5) here. 
(http://ahjg11.webs.com/StampfDan.jpg)

That's Lt. Col. Daniel "Stampf" Stampfli, in the pit.  :aok
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: Fulmar on June 07, 2008, 04:29:57 PM
Partial to the Tiger (F-5) here. 
(http://ahjg11.webs.com/StampfDan.jpg)

EVERYONE knows that is not an F-5, it's a Mig-28!  :rofl:
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: PanosGR on June 07, 2008, 04:33:22 PM
  Still the meanest looking fighter ever. Especially head on view.

(http://)(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x39/PanosGR/_MG_9805.jpg)

(http://)(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x39/PanosGR/_MG_9746.jpg)

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

(http://)(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x39/PanosGR/TIGER.jpg)
and an A-7H Tiger. Nice also
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: Stampf on June 07, 2008, 04:39:31 PM
EVERYONE knows that is not an F-5, it's a Mig-28!  :rofl:

 :rofl  Top Gun!! Oh that hurts... :rofl

Great pics Panos.  :rock
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: PanosGR on June 07, 2008, 04:44:24 PM
EVERYONE knows that is not an F-5, it's a Mig-28!  :rofl:

(http://)(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x39/PanosGR/mig28.jpg)

oh watermelon its a MiG-28!!!!!!  :O

(http://)(http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x39/PanosGR/26242.jpg)

 :lol
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: wrongwayric on June 07, 2008, 05:24:58 PM
The running jokes on F4's and F14's was that "you put enough dynamite under a rock, it will fly". :lol 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.
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: Goat1 on June 08, 2008, 08:44:57 AM
Used to work on the D and E models, geez I feel old now.
Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: John Curnutte on June 08, 2008, 10:50:24 PM
 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 :rock :rock :rock









Title: Re: F-4 turns 50
Post by: weazely on June 08, 2008, 10:53:50 PM
What a cool aircraft! :aok