Auf Wiedersehn, Phantom!
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These any good Cue ?
More here along with credits for the pics ...
Last Luftwaffe Phantoms
The following F-4F is 37+01, the first one to be delivered to the Luftwaffe in 1974
More here along with credits for the pics ...
Last Luftwaffe Phantoms
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Originally Posted by walbut
Just out of curiosity I wonder how many flying hours the lead GAF Phantom had when it was retired. I seem to remember the RAF aircraft were around 5000 hours.
-RP
Join Date: Nov 2000
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I remember arriving in a 60 Sqn Pembroke at Neuburg Air Base in southern Germany to recover one of our Goldstar Tonkas. By the time we arrived at the airbase the sun had gone down, it was very cold and a heavy mist was starting to form. Both me and the 60 Sqn crew were not even sure if we were at the right airfield because of the close proximity of other bases nearby with similar sounding names. We were certain that a comms breakdown had occurred as the German Air Base did not seem to be expecting us.
Suddenly, out of the mist a chap appeared on his bicycle. He did a 180 in front of us and cycled off displaying a yellow vest with the words Follow Me hastily written in black marker pen. So we followed him until out of the ever increasing density of the mist we saw the outline of a Tornado.
The Pembroke shut down, we all jumped out and went across the apron to chat to the cyclist. Suddenly one of the most amazing and awesome sights I have ever seen happened: In a very short space of time 6 German F4F Phantoms took off in 3 pairs of two. With the backdrop of the mist in darkened skies, the noise of the donks in the cold air and the brightness of the burners, the sight was truly incredible. Something I will just never forget!
Cut a long story short and drifting to the drinking culture thread, our Tornado aircrew had left instructions in Ops to which hotel we were in and which bar we were to meet them in once we had finished our work. We quickly diagnosed an engine change, wrapped up tools, cadged a lift from the German Air Force to the hotel and headed straight for the bar. On arrival we were confronted by our two crew and several German F4 aircrew, already absolutely paralytic. The Tornado pilot (no names) started to slobber all over me thanking the fact that I had diagnosed a donk change and there was no danger of him having to fly the jet the next morning
Very soon we were all well happy but my big regret was that I did not have any camera with me to have caught something of those F4Fs taking off
Suddenly, out of the mist a chap appeared on his bicycle. He did a 180 in front of us and cycled off displaying a yellow vest with the words Follow Me hastily written in black marker pen. So we followed him until out of the ever increasing density of the mist we saw the outline of a Tornado.
The Pembroke shut down, we all jumped out and went across the apron to chat to the cyclist. Suddenly one of the most amazing and awesome sights I have ever seen happened: In a very short space of time 6 German F4F Phantoms took off in 3 pairs of two. With the backdrop of the mist in darkened skies, the noise of the donks in the cold air and the brightness of the burners, the sight was truly incredible. Something I will just never forget!
Cut a long story short and drifting to the drinking culture thread, our Tornado aircrew had left instructions in Ops to which hotel we were in and which bar we were to meet them in once we had finished our work. We quickly diagnosed an engine change, wrapped up tools, cadged a lift from the German Air Force to the hotel and headed straight for the bar. On arrival we were confronted by our two crew and several German F4 aircrew, already absolutely paralytic. The Tornado pilot (no names) started to slobber all over me thanking the fact that I had diagnosed a donk change and there was no danger of him having to fly the jet the next morning
Very soon we were all well happy but my big regret was that I did not have any camera with me to have caught something of those F4Fs taking off
cuefaye
All of this, and not one decent photo!
All of this, and not one decent photo!
The most comprehensive information and pictures can be found on FB
https://www.facebook.com/pharewell
Iīve flown more than 3200 hours in the phantom (models F4-F, F4-E, RF-4E, RF-4C) and i will miss this brave aircraft.
franzl
Last edited by RetiredF4; 10th Jul 2013 at 13:51.
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I couldn't let the event pass without raising a glass. I only had 10 hours on the "F" but it was well worth the trip. Our friends at Wittmund did the F4 proud. It was a great hangar party and the display was superb once the rain cleared in the afternoon. End of an era.
Last edited by Geehovah; 11th Jul 2013 at 06:40.
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Always enjoyed my time on the 'Toom, sad to see it go but such is the way of things. I was thinking that a forty year span is the same as retiring the Sopwith Camel from front line service in 1957..about the same year I think that the F4 first flew. Just shows what amazing advances we made in the 40 years from 1917 to 1957.
Coff: that pic is amazing, it looks like a painting.
Coff: that pic is amazing, it looks like a painting.
Last edited by thing; 11th Jul 2013 at 11:05.
Thatīs my favorite phantom pharwell picture, the old lady with 8.6Gs in the display flight.
credit to Udo Janßen from his facebook site
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...levant_count=1
franzl
credit to Udo Janßen from his facebook site
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...levant_count=1
franzl
Phantom Pharewell Videos
For those PPRuNers of a certain age who will always have special memories of the Phabulous Phantom (regardless of mark), here are just some of the many videos that have now appeared on You Tube since this thread was started. Great J79 sounds, great paint and some great flying:
Last edited by RAFEngO74to09; 24th Aug 2013 at 23:01.
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I remember taxying past the line in Wattisham and RAFG stations, never did a line of warplanes look as built-for-purpose than the Phantom.
What a machine . . .
Great pics.
Well done McDonnell-Douglas - the Yanks make great hardware.
What a machine . . .
Great pics.
Well done McDonnell-Douglas - the Yanks make great hardware.
