Posted: 8/6/2026 3:11:44 PM EDT
[Last Edit: KILLERB6][Edited]
|
There must be. Want a piece of the original? F-4H-1F tail no. 143391. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone here flew or crewed her; almost certainly someone here witnessed her trials. |
I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
|
Originally Posted By Fox: I was an engine mechanic working flight line on them for three straight years. RF-4C, F-4D and F-4E. Two things: 1) I saw squadron of F-4s take off in formation at Lajes one day. I really thought there was an explosion at the end of the flight line as they all throttled up at the same time this massive black cloud went into the sky and then slowly but surely their headlights started showing in the mirage that came across the flight line as they came towards my direction. At the time I was taking inventory of a paint locker on the flight line and when they flew past me maybe at 10 or 15 feet up, maybe 400 feet out. I made eye contact with one of the pilots who had the pleasure of watching paint cans fall off the cabinet and explode all around me. The vibration just about shook my soul out. 2)... Can you hear me now???... (You got to be deaf by now)  
|
| I was a kid in high school while my dad was running the Navy Commissary at the Air Force base in Tainan, Taiwan, 1969-1971 (Yeah... a Navy guy on an Air Force base). When they fired up the engines of an F-4 it was deafening. It was the loudest noise of anything I have ever heard then and now. |
byte-me
| I got a back seat ride in one as a high school senior. Our senior instructor (Col Weller) made sure his AFJROTC top students got rides at our local Air guard base My first ride was as a sophomore in a T-33, and 2 years later in the back seat of the F-4. The F-4 was intense on take off. |
"Hey Teacher, if my kid is misbehaving, slap the kid next to him." -diesel1 (May 2024)
|
Originally Posted By ar154all: Two things: 1) I saw squadron of F-4s take off in formation at Lajes one day. I really thought there was an explosion at the end of the flight line as they all throttled up at the same time this massive black cloud went into the sky and then slowly but surely their headlights started showing in the mirage that came across the flight line as they came towards my direction. At the time I was taking inventory of a paint locker on the flight line and when they flew past me maybe at 10 or 15 feet up, maybe 400 feet out. I made eye contact with one of the pilots who had the pleasure of watching paint cans fall off the cabinet and explode all around me. The vibration just about shook my soul out. 2)... Can you hear me now???... (You got to be deaf by now) |
|
I cut my teeth on the F4 Attached File |
There comes a time when you look into the mirror and realize that what you see is all that you will ever be. Then you accept it, kill yourself, or you stop looking into mirrors.
|
History Channel has/had a series called Dogfights, where they cover…dogfights from various wars/countries. It’s really amazing what some of those guys did. One of the craziest ones was Lt. Cdr. Richard “Dick” “Brown Bear” Schaffert, flying a U.S. Navy F-8 Crusader. He either expended all of his ordnance or his systems failed, leaving him unarmed. Knowing he couldn’t get a way from his adversaries (multiple Mig-21s), he continued to dogfight as if he was armed, thus preventing his adversaries from gaining a firing solution on him. He did so for 10 minutes before he was able to break contact and head for his carrier. Allegedly, his fight is still taught/analyzed at Top Gun. |
I wanted a mission, and for my sins, they gave me one.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.
No rules today, sport…just orders.
It’s not about how many people you kill, it’s about how many you save.