F-4 turns 50

[PanosGR]

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. 

[Rosscoe1]

*stares at drooling* Favorite Nam era plane.

[Alky]

They are very cool 

[FiLtH]

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

[wrongwayric]

Having worked on them, to this day i hate phillips screws! 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. 

[Cthulhu]

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. Hard to believe the good folks at MacDac didn't think of that in the beginning.

[Spikes]

Still don't get why F4's fly...yet F14's are all dead and torn apart, unflyable.

[evenhaim]

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.

[Cthulhu]

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.

[Spikes]

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

[Cthulhu]

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.

Sorry for the detour PanosGR.

[evenhaim]

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.

[Bodhi]

I saw a F4 come through here yesterday.  It had drone markings, with a pilot ferrying it somewhere.

[Nefarious]

Check out these Pics I posted here.

http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,237684.0.html

[Spikes]

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.