Re: F4 Phantom - Flying Bus???
As I was getting airborne at WTM once on a Maxeval in a FGR2, 2 of the then-new Tornados went past simulating a 'recce overflight' by Fencers. Keep heaters in, horns out, over to Stud 4 and ordered to 'engage'. Suprised at that, due to exercise alert state in force. But no matter, Sue was very positive and relayed the instructions carefully. Wheels up, flap up, outboard on the tanks, coolant on, tone as required, CW on, interlocks out, Mx to SW, master Arm on.... There are the buggers! Fox 2...and again...and err, oops, that'll be 600 KIAS at 250 ft over that village!
I was a cr@p F4 driver, as Impiger will probably agree. But that was SUCH fun. As was chasing a German F-104 over Stowmarket in full A/B, rotting up the Eder Dam on the 40th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid, getting 52% on a strafe trip before bouncing my Flt Cdr on his tac check.....