F4 extreme Low pass..
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F4 extreme Low pass..
Hi All,
Aplogies for dropping in on the forum, and if the post should be in spectators, please feel free to move.
I am a huge fan of the F4, and obviously do not get to seem the very often, in fact,I think the last F4 I saw flying was a Luftwaffe example that escorted a German Typhoon in for the Farnborough Airshow in 2000?.. Anyway, I heard a story some years ago of an (I think ) RAF pilot who did an extreme low pass netween 2 hangars and I recall seeing a picture of it also, anyway... does anyone on here know the story behind this, and is the picture still online anywhere?
Aplogies for dropping in on the forum, and if the post should be in spectators, please feel free to move.
I am a huge fan of the F4, and obviously do not get to seem the very often, in fact,I think the last F4 I saw flying was a Luftwaffe example that escorted a German Typhoon in for the Farnborough Airshow in 2000?.. Anyway, I heard a story some years ago of an (I think ) RAF pilot who did an extreme low pass netween 2 hangars and I recall seeing a picture of it also, anyway... does anyone on here know the story behind this, and is the picture still online anywhere?
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This one?
The Home of the Phantomeers
The Home of the Phantomeers
Traditionally, on leaving overhaul at Saint Athan, aircraft would do a fly-by for the benefit of the groundcrew who had worked on it. The pilot of this particular Phantom FG1, a retiring Wing Commander, was chatting to a member of the ground crew the day before the departure flight. He said he was going to fly between the hangars and that the guy should be ready with a camera to record the event. It was due to be his last flight, so he was going to do something 'special'. The groundcrew weren't too convinced of the pilot's claim, but stood around as usual anyway watching as the F4 took off, destination Leuchars. As the photo shows, the pilot was not joking, you can see the afterburner diamonds quite clearly in front of the hangar. You can also see personnel standing underneath it. The recently tuned Speys allegedly shook a man working in the roof of one of the hangars enough for him to fall and break his leg. These hangars are set east to west, about 75 yards apart, and you can estimate the height from the length of the Phantom. Immediately after the event, the pilot was contacted by the tower and was instructed in no uncertain terms to 'return and land immediately'. As I am told, he did so and was given a severe rollicking. I don't know what action was taken, but it was his last flight in any case. What a way to go out, I wonder if it ranks as one of the shortest logged emergency-free Phantom flights?
This story is not exaggerated - I don't know the original photographer, but the picture was taken on an ordinary instamatic camera, and then a blow-up was made. The original is, as a favour, temporarily in the possession of the current Station Commander at St Athan who is an ex-F4 jockey. From the enlargement I have made the Phantom as XV575. The aircraft was scrapped in September 1991, but its legacy has to be this photograph.
This story is not exaggerated - I don't know the original photographer, but the picture was taken on an ordinary instamatic camera, and then a blow-up was made. The original is, as a favour, temporarily in the possession of the current Station Commander at St Athan who is an ex-F4 jockey. From the enlargement I have made the Phantom as XV575. The aircraft was scrapped in September 1991, but its legacy has to be this photograph.
Then of course there`s `Tommys` formation F4 flypast at the College which blew a few hats off, if anyone has the picture.?
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When I looked at the phot I thought I was going to see some low flying 
I remember a pair of Lightnings departing Upavon. No 1 was so fast that we only had time to see where he had come from as he disappeared in the corner of our vision. This meant we were looking at the spot where No 2 emerged. No 2 of course was line astern and lower - about half the hangar height. They were doing IIRC 0.9 or thereabouts.
One I didn't see, except for the evidence, was the aerial that Ron Dick took out at Ohakea in a Vulcan. It was strung between hangars just like at Saints. The tail took it out.
I remember a pair of Lightnings departing Upavon. No 1 was so fast that we only had time to see where he had come from as he disappeared in the corner of our vision. This meant we were looking at the spot where No 2 emerged. No 2 of course was line astern and lower - about half the hangar height. They were doing IIRC 0.9 or thereabouts.
One I didn't see, except for the evidence, was the aerial that Ron Dick took out at Ohakea in a Vulcan. It was strung between hangars just like at Saints. The tail took it out.
A bit off thread but... before the first gulf war I worked at a ceramics type factory out side Stoke - on - Trent - the plan of the factory (which was in a v.slight valley) would have shown a long road running to and through the factory (right next to a railway line) and two large chimney stacks. Prior to the invasion of Kuwait it wasn't unusual to see RAF jets going past hundreds of feet above.
But just before the war kicked off the frequency of RAF Tornado and USAF A-10's that were in the area increased considerably. I'm not qualified in any way military but it seemed the Tornado's were flying down the factory - between the chimneys, straight down the road running through the factory whilst the A-10 were practising something coming in from the side of the factory - sort of down the shallow valley before turning away.
The Tornados were certainly a lot lower than in 'peacetime' - one day carrying lab samples I looked up as a Tornado passed over nearly upside down - the crew clearly visible - the sound nearly causing me to soil my samples - f' ace.
52°56'56.26"N
2° 2'1.46"W
But just before the war kicked off the frequency of RAF Tornado and USAF A-10's that were in the area increased considerably. I'm not qualified in any way military but it seemed the Tornado's were flying down the factory - between the chimneys, straight down the road running through the factory whilst the A-10 were practising something coming in from the side of the factory - sort of down the shallow valley before turning away.
The Tornados were certainly a lot lower than in 'peacetime' - one day carrying lab samples I looked up as a Tornado passed over nearly upside down - the crew clearly visible - the sound nearly causing me to soil my samples - f' ace.
52°56'56.26"N
2° 2'1.46"W
Last edited by Load Toad; 28th May 2009 at 11:58.
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Then of course there`s `Tommys` formation F4 flypast at the College which blew a few hats off, if anyone has the picture.?
I thought the bit where the parade SNCO was gathering up the Graduating Officers' best SD hats was the best.
Then I had the pleasure of being given a posting to work for Tommy himself; well that was different, wasn't it?
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F4 in the Falklands
I remember visiting Saunders Island in the early 1990's for R&R, and having a look at Biffo's photo album. One photo shows her house with what looked like a Phantom tail behind it. Biffo said that it was strange as the phone to the shearing shed across the paddock stopped working for a while, as the telegraph wire had been broken at this time.
Rumour has it that at this time the Phantom landed with wire traing from the aircraft, and that the plods could never work out how it happened.
A coincidence ??
Rumour has it that at this time the Phantom landed with wire traing from the aircraft, and that the plods could never work out how it happened.
A coincidence ??
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Thread drift, but that reminds me of a story my Dad told me of a trip he had in a Beverley between Boscombe and Farnbrough in 2000 +RADZ OVC001 and landing with miles of phone wire around the legs and some very angry Post Office engineers at the front gates!
Thread drift, but that reminds me of a story my Dad told me of a trip he had in a Beverley between Boscombe and Farnbrough in 2000 +RADZ OVC001 and landing with miles of phone wire around the legs and some very angry Post Office engineers at the front gates!
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This greek F-4 low level pass always gets me
YouTube - Greek F-4 Phantom ( HAF ), extremely low flight over the Aegean sea!
YouTube - Greek F-4 Phantom ( HAF ), extremely low flight over the Aegean sea!
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I remember visiting Saunders Island in the early 1990's for R&R, and having a look at Biffo's photo album. One photo shows her house with what looked like a Phantom tail behind it. Biffo said that it was strange as the phone to the shearing shed across the paddock stopped working for a while, as the telegraph wire had been broken at this time.
Rumour has it that at this time the Phantom landed with wire traing from the aircraft, and that the plods could never work out how it happened.
Rumour has it that at this time the Phantom landed with wire traing from the aircraft, and that the plods could never work out how it happened.
Hmmm
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No Lightning EVER 'departed Upavon....................'
No Lightning EVER 'departed Upavon....................'
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I was once told in all seriousness by a Naval Gunnery Officer ( 1960's service I should think ) how a couple of Buccaneers had landed on a senior officers' long gravel drive for a weekend stay...must have been an impressive place !
The wire capture Phantom incident was reported in 'Air Clues' at the time. If I remember correctly there was copper wire found on the tanks or similar. The route of the A/C was traced and the offending broken telephone wire was discovered. My mind says there was a picture with the article (of the damaged A/C) - but time may be playing tricks with me.
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Apologies about saying it was Upavon. Having always served north of the Watford Gap they all look and sound the same. May I say Abingdon or Andover then or conceivably Benson and plead anno dominii? I would check my log books but I can't remember why we were there.
I don't think it was with the Vulcan, more likely with the Lancaster.
I don't think it was with the Vulcan, more likely with the Lancaster.