Any Phantom stories out there?
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While station at St Athan in the late 70's, i saw a Phantom being delivered back to it's unit after a major service by that units crew. taking off east to west then banked around 270 degrees and come back from the Bristol channel past the tower level or lower than it then proceeded through the gap between 75,76,77 Hangars on it's port side and 78 hangar on it's Stb'd lower than the hangar roofs and in reheat, amazing sight and sound, though not for those facing the other way with not a clue at what was coming from behind and have never seen so many people hit the deck in formation.
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low low low
Not strictly an F4 story but I saw a certain Sqn Ldr G B do that in a Lightning F6 at Binners in his final flight before posting (must have been about 1978 ish). Impressive.
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...past the tower level or lower than it then proceeded through the gap between 75,76,77 Hangars on it's port side and 78 hangar on it's Stb'd lower than the hangar roofs and in reheat...
-RP
Last edited by Rhino power; 30th Mar 2013 at 21:43.
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Re the low flying F4 in the Falklands, I recall a picture taken by one of our guys of H**** D* C****** beating up the Belize runway at silly knots in a GR3 with about 30 degrees of bank on that literally couldn't have been any lower....we showed H**** the pic and he was horrified, not with how low he had been but with his career prospects going down the pan if anyone of consequence saw it...
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How much doo-doo would these guys actually get in (assuming they pulled the deed off without mishap)?
Executing the Axminster shuffle is a given (mit hat), but would they:
-get a "bad boy, next round's on you" speech?
-get a "hairdryer" bollocking?
-get a ****ty CR that year?
-get an official reprimand?
-be charged?
All of the above?
And how much doo-doo would the Nav be in? I imagine they were just along for the ride in most cases.
Executing the Axminster shuffle is a given (mit hat), but would they:
-get a "bad boy, next round's on you" speech?
-get a "hairdryer" bollocking?
-get a ****ty CR that year?
-get an official reprimand?
-be charged?
All of the above?
And how much doo-doo would the Nav be in? I imagine they were just along for the ride in most cases.
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A growbag descent from above 50,000 ft would probably have been fatal for many reasons.
Back to F4 stuff. As a shed techy I remember there were a couple of panels in the u/c bay that had to be removed to get at the PFCU's. There were about 7 million bolts on each one and it was a good place to learn how to meditate.
Spine panel had to come off to change the rate gyros, that was another hide and hope someone else does it job.
Virtually anything in the back cockpit like the INU, WAC etc needed the seat pack removing so we and the plumbers weren't always on the best of terms.
Boresight alignment used a big blackboard with circles etc on it that had to be a precise distance in front of the a/c. The BIL was fitted into the nosewheel bay and sightings were taken on the blackboard. The BIL was attached by two bolts. The top bolt was impossible to get into place unless you had the hands of a five year old so we used to make do with the lower bolt more often that not. If you missed the banner it wasn't our fault, honest.
In later years I ran the ODU and CADC repair bay at Sealand. I was the only guy in the Air Force who fixed ODU's for about three years and if I had time I used to virtually rebuild them, being a bit over the top like that. So if you spent any time peering through an ODU in the early 80's (and indeed an OSA for the FG1 guys) then you were no doubt using one of my lovingly, indeed anally restored examples.
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Morning Rhino Power,
Oh yes !!, wonderfull isn't it. I have that photo but was unable to post it on Pprune due to technical problems- being thick.
The story goes that OC Flying at St Athan, Sqd Ldr D.Cu*******n asked the crew "if they would like to return for a chat" but they declined and it appears it was the pilots last flight with the squadron prior to moving on to other duties, he was moving on alright, those were the days, aaaahhhhhh. You by any chance never had a hand in/on this did you ?
Oh yes !!, wonderfull isn't it. I have that photo but was unable to post it on Pprune due to technical problems- being thick.
The story goes that OC Flying at St Athan, Sqd Ldr D.Cu*******n asked the crew "if they would like to return for a chat" but they declined and it appears it was the pilots last flight with the squadron prior to moving on to other duties, he was moving on alright, those were the days, aaaahhhhhh. You by any chance never had a hand in/on this did you ?
Last edited by crackling jet; 31st Mar 2013 at 05:44.
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“On the morning of 21 November 1977 it suffered a nose wheel steering fault during take off and veered off the runway at a speed of 90kts. Its crew, Flt Lt s G***s and Flt Lt A M**r, both ejected but the Phantom, still on the ground, came to rest with little damage. It must be one of the few aircraft still airworthy after being abandoned by its crew”.
From Wikipedia
This individual F-106A Delta Dart was manufactured by Convair, later part of General Dynamics, during 1958, and received the tail number 58-0787. Serving with the 71st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron based at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, a routine training flight, conducting aerial combat maneuvers, on February 2, 1970 ended when the aircraft entered a flat spin. The pilot, Gary Foust, attempted to recover, including the desperation move of deploying the aircraft's drag chute; however recovery proved to be impossible, and Foust fired his ejection seat and escaped the stricken aircraft at an altitude of 15,000 feet (4,600 m).
The reduction in weight and change in center of gravity caused by the removal of Foust and the ejection seat, however, caused the aircraft, trimmed for takeoff and with the throttle at idle, to successfully recover itself from the spin. One of the other pilots on the mission is reported to have radioed Foust during his descent under his parachute that "you'd better get back in it!". Foust watched incredulously as the now-pilotless aircraft descended and skidded to a halt in a farmer's field near Big Sandy, Montana. Foust drifted into the nearby mountains; he was later rescued by local residents using snowmobiles.
Shortly thereafter, the local sheriff arrived at the scene of the crash, and was surprised when he observed the aircraft - the heat of the crash landing, combined with the exhaust from the still-idling jet engine, melted the snow which allowed the aircraft to start to move. Having contacted the air base, he was informed that he should simply allow the jet to run out of fuel, which occurred an hour and forty-five minutes later without further incident. A recovery crew from McClellan Air Force Base arrived on the scene and began to dismantle the aircraft, removing its wings for transport aboard a railroad flat car. The damage to the aircraft was minimal; indeed, one officer on the recovery crew is reported to have stated that were there any less damage he would have simply flown the aircraft out of the field.
The reduction in weight and change in center of gravity caused by the removal of Foust and the ejection seat, however, caused the aircraft, trimmed for takeoff and with the throttle at idle, to successfully recover itself from the spin. One of the other pilots on the mission is reported to have radioed Foust during his descent under his parachute that "you'd better get back in it!". Foust watched incredulously as the now-pilotless aircraft descended and skidded to a halt in a farmer's field near Big Sandy, Montana. Foust drifted into the nearby mountains; he was later rescued by local residents using snowmobiles.
Shortly thereafter, the local sheriff arrived at the scene of the crash, and was surprised when he observed the aircraft - the heat of the crash landing, combined with the exhaust from the still-idling jet engine, melted the snow which allowed the aircraft to start to move. Having contacted the air base, he was informed that he should simply allow the jet to run out of fuel, which occurred an hour and forty-five minutes later without further incident. A recovery crew from McClellan Air Force Base arrived on the scene and began to dismantle the aircraft, removing its wings for transport aboard a railroad flat car. The damage to the aircraft was minimal; indeed, one officer on the recovery crew is reported to have stated that were there any less damage he would have simply flown the aircraft out of the field.
58
F-106 Delta Dart - 58-0787 Pilotless Landing
Last edited by NutLoose; 31st Mar 2013 at 12:38.
1st wave 4-ship launch from 09 at Wilders - left onto north after t/o at 500ft - over JHQ - tap the burners to wake 'em up - glorious fun...
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crackling jet, no, i had nothing to do with it, i can only wish unfortunately!
There is a little more info on the flight here Phinal Phlight!
How accurate the info is is anyone's guess i suppose, an interesting read though...
A good section on Wattisham as well The Wattisham chronicles
-RP
There is a little more info on the flight here Phinal Phlight!
How accurate the info is is anyone's guess i suppose, an interesting read though...
A good section on Wattisham as well The Wattisham chronicles
-RP
Last edited by Rhino power; 31st Mar 2013 at 17:34.
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I did 7 years on the F4 and then, within weeks, started 9 years on Jaguars. They are too unlike to really make a comparison. I do recall a 900 miles low level trip in a Jaguar, just to go to another base and shoot an ILS. ISTR we used to fly 2 tanks and 4x 1000 lb bombs from time to time, off a 13,000ft runway I must add!
F-102's and later F-4's and F-15's were based at King Salmon and Galena in Alaska.
Not far from Galena is the remains of an F-102 that made a forced landing into the Bush. Except for the fact it was smack dab in the middle of no where....(I always wondered what Sin's one had to commit to be based in Galena)...it probably would have been recovered as well. Alaska seems to be a place where airplanes seem to find out of the way places to park.
Not far from Galena is the remains of an F-102 that made a forced landing into the Bush. Except for the fact it was smack dab in the middle of no where....(I always wondered what Sin's one had to commit to be based in Galena)...it probably would have been recovered as well. Alaska seems to be a place where airplanes seem to find out of the way places to park.
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I recall seeing video footage of another two ship flyby at Alice some time in the mid-late 80s. Pair comes up to the site over Albermarle, up the hill from the east, first one seems a fairly regular approach, few hundred feet above the site, banking left as he does so and off he goes, camera turns back to look for the second and you just see a big grey shadow and hear a really loud "PPPHHHHHHWWWWWWWW!" as the 2nd one goes by at heaven knows how low or fast. Tape then is immediately paused for what reason, I dont know.
Break in the footage, then you see the same pair approaching the Alice site from the west, over the top of the accom ISO's, must have been about 10-15 people stood on Measles Rock (about 10-15, max 20ft above ground, roughly at its highest point) gear down, hooks down.. most of the time, you're concentrating on the guy on the left, in the lead again, sensible height and speed...
... until he drifts out of shot and you turn back to look at the 2nd in the pair who now is heading directly for the cameraman, who, I'll give him his dues didnt flinch til the last possible second, lest he get an F4 hook embedded in his skull. At the last possible moment as the wing passes over his head and the jet efflux washes over the rock outcrop, cameraman hits the deck, viewer gets a facefull of rock, he picks up the camera and turns around to show this particular jet, almost stalling his way down the side of the hill to rejoin the first one (rumour had it the nav's hand was very twitchy on the yellow and black handle for a short while), while all that could be heard from the associated FC's JAFAD's, Scopies et al was much raucous "what the f.. was that!" laughter and one lone voice that proclaimed...
".... and I stayed stood up, you f**king chickens!!!"
and both jets form up again over Albermarle Harbour and head back due east, back to MPA.
No idea what happened to the master copy of said VHS, exactly when it was - fancy some time 87-88, as I saw it at Alice in 89, havent seen it surface anywhere since, not on YT, no trace of it. There were rumours as to who the driver was but cant be substantiated and as he's still serving, I'll not say who I was told that it it was.
All I'll say is that if it was him, it kinda figures. Ballsiest bit of RAF flying I've ever seen (even if it was on video!).
I know quite a few of us scopies got to see it and as a result it was well known... can only assume so for the FC community as well.
As a result, I would venture theres probably a few ex 1435 F4 guys who will know of it. I'm kinda surprised it hasnt been mentioned yet... unless thats for a reason and I've just blown it....
Break in the footage, then you see the same pair approaching the Alice site from the west, over the top of the accom ISO's, must have been about 10-15 people stood on Measles Rock (about 10-15, max 20ft above ground, roughly at its highest point) gear down, hooks down.. most of the time, you're concentrating on the guy on the left, in the lead again, sensible height and speed...
... until he drifts out of shot and you turn back to look at the 2nd in the pair who now is heading directly for the cameraman, who, I'll give him his dues didnt flinch til the last possible second, lest he get an F4 hook embedded in his skull. At the last possible moment as the wing passes over his head and the jet efflux washes over the rock outcrop, cameraman hits the deck, viewer gets a facefull of rock, he picks up the camera and turns around to show this particular jet, almost stalling his way down the side of the hill to rejoin the first one (rumour had it the nav's hand was very twitchy on the yellow and black handle for a short while), while all that could be heard from the associated FC's JAFAD's, Scopies et al was much raucous "what the f.. was that!" laughter and one lone voice that proclaimed...
".... and I stayed stood up, you f**king chickens!!!"
and both jets form up again over Albermarle Harbour and head back due east, back to MPA.
No idea what happened to the master copy of said VHS, exactly when it was - fancy some time 87-88, as I saw it at Alice in 89, havent seen it surface anywhere since, not on YT, no trace of it. There were rumours as to who the driver was but cant be substantiated and as he's still serving, I'll not say who I was told that it it was.
All I'll say is that if it was him, it kinda figures. Ballsiest bit of RAF flying I've ever seen (even if it was on video!).
I know quite a few of us scopies got to see it and as a result it was well known... can only assume so for the FC community as well.
As a result, I would venture theres probably a few ex 1435 F4 guys who will know of it. I'm kinda surprised it hasnt been mentioned yet... unless thats for a reason and I've just blown it....