RAF F4 Phantom in the 70's
 

I don't think this has been posted before (apologies if it has) ... cracking bit of film of a cracking aeroplane :ok:


And a little something for our man from 43 :ok:


Coff.

Great - reminds me of the RAF that I loved, lots of aircraft, different types most very noisy

Oh I could watch it all day. Mrs C just commented, "fine looking beast." I wonder if she was refering to me or the 43 Sqn F4?:ok:

Yup!, I was on 41 (F).

A Big, Ugly, Noisy, Powerful and Menacing presence.
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AND we also had Phantoms. :)

CM - Nah, more likely next door's cat. At least would be here

Naaa. She hates cats. Can't be that. Any better ideas?:eek:

There's a few Fighting Cocks around! Great video Coff.:D

BRITISH PHANTOM PILOT
 

For even more nostalgia, I recommend the phollowing DVD, which includes:

Intro: Includes lots of carrier shots of UK Phantoms phlying from the USS Saratoga.

Phantom Pilot (1973, 39 min): RAF phlying training via. Biggin Hill, Henlow, Church Phenton, Leeming, Valley and TWU to Coningsby.

Oversight (1976; 25 min): Made using real actors, a good account of sqn pressures on groundcrew and the resulting loss of a Phantom due to insecure wing pins.

Low Flying Training (1971; 23 min): Really ham stuff! It was replaced by a less awphul 'Low Level Navigation' philm a phew years later.

Phinally, a composite of various US Phantom clips entitled 'F-4 Phantom USA' made in 2008.

Available from all the usual sources - just enter the post title into your search engine.

Mercifully, only about 15 sec of clattercopters - and I don't think I spotted anyone wearing pongo pyjamas either....just blues, overalls or phlying suits.

I'm glad that brightened up the evening for some of you chaps :ok:

This pic also appeared earlier this week in support of the forthcoming Leuchars Airshow ... truly a magnificent beast (hardware that is chaps) ... the 70's camouflage scheme just looked the dogs bo11ocks IMHO.

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7a437be1.jpg

Any claims to being in the picture either driving or naving :ok:


If only I had been a better aviator :(

Coff.

Very nice, I am most appreciative. PH4s Phorever!

Beagle, that Oversight film did the rounds and got the point across very well. Like the best of the flight safety films it was based on a real life situation. Another good one is the Harrier/Belize/ejection seat pin story with Richard O'sullivan in the lead role.

More Phantastic Phantoms
 

Not all 1970s - some later:


(others on same channel)



Let's not forget how hairy landing the Phantom FG1 on HMS Ark Royal must have been for the FAA and RAF aircrew on 892 Sqn - not a lot of margin for error on a deck much smaller than USN Forrestal / Nimitz Class carriers of the day:


HMS Ark Royal alongside USS Nimitz

File:HMS Ark Royal USS Nimitz Norfolk1 1978.jpeg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brilliant, thanks for all of those chaps. Finest jet I ever worked on and probably the best time in the RAF.

OCU 74-78.

Edit: OT but does anyone know what happened to Bob Prest? I heard he was flying freighters somewhere but that was a while ago.

Great! Would it be too much to ask for some Logbook "keepsake" pics to be shared on the thread :ok:

Beautiful picture, I was on 43 Sqdn:ok: at the time as a Nav Inst tech. Managed to get a flight in XV576 "D", just visible in your picture. It had just finished major servicing and the flight purpose was an air test. Pilot was Flt Lt Richmond, top man ! Great times, any more gems like this picture lying around ?

thing
 

Saw Bob P at the F4 TDPU last year, it was, I think, his first appearance. He and another chum, John S......n pitched up together. Bob is flying for Qatar Airways and lives out there, John is another airline pilot, though he mentioned some slight medical problem. Bob hasn't changed a bit since we met in 1973. Great bloke. :ok::ok:

Great photo.

So why did we have such humungous registration markings under the wings in those days?

They originated post WW2 to stop bored aircrew doing low level stuff for the fun of it, made them easy to identify.

Dictionary Entry -

Warplane : See F4 Phantom