F4 Phantom Picture
 

I've just had this emailed through as part of one of those 'unusual aircraft picture' powerpoints.

Most of the pics seem to do the rounds, with the odd new one once in a while, but this one certainly caught my eye.

Anyone any idea where it's taken, when maybe, or more importantly, were you part of the crew?

He does look to be dragging that approach somewhat, but I stand to be corrected!

Enjoy.

Cheers,

http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o...20Comps/F4.jpg

19 Squadron, looks like Germany to me (RAFG Wildenrath maybe?)

I think it's the UK, the cars on the correct side of the road and it looks like a bobby blocking the traffic.

If I recall, it's one of the traditional training bases...Scampton? I've seen the same picture with a JP in it and one where a truck had been hit by a landing aircraft.

The cars are on coming on the right hand side of the road.

Good point, messed up mind, too early in the morning.

Looks like somewhere in Europe to me - church in the background looks distinctly Italian but given the greenery that would suggest somewhere in the North. Would love to be able to look left and see how close to the boundary he is - wouldn't be the first F4 to land short at a strange airfield. Happy days:)

Oh its definitely the fighting 19th!
I believe its Bruggen. Not 100% sure though.
I also think its a redo of a 19(F) Lightning picture in similar config.
Last time I saw that photo was in a crewroom in Shawbury many years back.
Nice to see a real aeroplane:D

The picture is also on the 'Phantomeers' website, which states that it was taken by a Dutch photographer, Liewe Hofstra, using a 50mm lens!
A comment from a squadron member said it was at Gilze-Rijen in 1984.

The Mighty Phantom

Well found Gibbo, I've taken the opportunity to post the info here:

John Lovegrove says:

This picture was taken by Dutch Photographer Lieuwe Hofstra, who states:

"I was expecting this 19 sqn Phantom to hit the public road, but as I took this picture the pilot pushed to full throttle and missed the airfield fence by inches.....I Was a little shaky and deaf after this experience. I took this photo with a 50mm lens...that's why)."

John Says, "I was with 19(F) at Gilze-Rijen on Tactical Air Meet in 1984 when this picture was taken, however I had no idea until I saw this photograph how close we came to loosing this aircraft at that time, the aircrew never let on to the ground crew. They kept it to them selves or maybe they were not aware how close they came to certain disaster!"

Clearly is Gilze-Rijen - picture was later taken from the same location as here:

SPOTTERS

(see pic 026 with the NF-5 Freedom Fighter coming into land)

Power... Power... POWER!!

I'd love to have been at that debrief.:)

Still looks better than most of my landings!

Just had a look at Gilze-Rijen on Google-Earth / Google- StreetView. Threshold IS a bit close to the road!
The Google earth view of this (and other Dutch) airfield(s) is obscured. Not seen this done any where else in the Google world.

The F5 picture was pretty exciting but the Phantom must be 4 or 5 feet lower, oh and still not crossed the road!!

I wonder what a Health and Safety Wallah would have to say about this kind of caper.:D

FB

Bit late on the round-out again, Hoskins. :eek:


(With apologies to Flight/Straight & Level/Roger Bacon)

Looks very much Gilze Rijen to me , not that im a spotter or anything but that road is where they all hang out

It's Gilze-Rijen for sure. The runway starts just 30 feet/10 meters to the left of the road.

Another "There but for the grace ...." pic.

Taken at SND in early '80 it shows GBEPE landing on R/W 06.... about 200 yards to the right of the pic and across the road!!!

Note the AOA. Usually 5deg ND on the approach until roundout...

I was used to landing a Buccaneer and this was quite unnerving! Bob Reynolds was the Captain and I recollect it was a VAT-10kts approach....

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