F4s Over Cheltenham Yesterday?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Somerset
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
F4s Over Cheltenham Yesterday?
OK, I know that sounds a bit silly, but sitting at my desk I heard a some fairly loud jet noise yesterday afternoon and popped out of the office (at an aerospace company in Bishops Cleeve) to see what it was. I saw a couple of aircraft one of which was I think a King Air at around 5,000' (maybe higher). The other looked to my (admittedly far from perfect) eyes like an F-4. They flew over slowly in a loose formation in the direction of Staverton airport then did a 180 and were joined from the east by another 3 aircraft, 2 of which looked like Hawks and the other which appeared to be another F-4. All 5 then departed in the rough direction of Brize. Did I dream this or can anyone shed any light on it?
Regards, MSJ
Regards, MSJ
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Somerset
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ahhh...I must admit I really thought my eyes deceived me as I didn't realise there were any still in service but it turns out there are still quite a few (Greece, Turkey, Japan, Iran, S. Korea). You can't keep a good aircraft down
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Leicestershire, England
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I forget which magazine I saw it in, browsing whilst in a queue at WH Smiths very recently, but there's quite a good article on the last USAF F4 sqn, 82 Target Sqn IIRC. Looked quite an interesting read, especially as it seemed to suggest these are now flown as single seaters.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Somerset
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Leicestershire, England
Posts: 1,170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
21 QF-4E's left at Holloman AFB, all belong to the 82nd ATRS/53rd WEG, only around 8 or 9 are now used for manned ops, the rest are all pure drones. They are scheduled to finish in December this year, assuming that the 'Zombie Viper' QF-16's are up to speed, but I understand there is still some teething problems with the QF-16's, so who knows, maybe they'll soldier on for a short while longer...
-RP
-RP
Greek AF Phantoms arriving at RIAT 2016:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXEgP5KsKJE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OwtVpV4mvM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXEgP5KsKJE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OwtVpV4mvM
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: raf
Posts: 610
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Greek AF Phantoms arriving at RIAT 2016:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXEgP5KsKJE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OwtVpV4mvM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXEgP5KsKJE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OwtVpV4mvM
Off-Topic Info - F-16 Conformal Tanks
gr4techie
F-16C Block 50 onwards for Greece, Israel and UAE have had the capability since 2004. 50% more fuel than a centerline tank but only 12% of the drag.
Conformal Fuel Tanks for F-16
Polish aircraft here:
F-16C Block 50 onwards for Greece, Israel and UAE have had the capability since 2004. 50% more fuel than a centerline tank but only 12% of the drag.
Conformal Fuel Tanks for F-16
Polish aircraft here:
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 588
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
F4's
2 x Greek F4's and 2 Greek F16's photoshoot prior to RIAT arrivals. Camera ship was a Beech 99 operating from Staverton. I was in the RHS Link to Facebook photos.... https://www.facebook.com/175620062644054/photos/pcb.492385404300850/492384784300912/?type=3&theater