Phantom Friday
 

Last Friday on Twitter there was a #PhantomFriday thread which prompted a number of cracking F4 images to be posted. Quite a few US images but a good showing from the RN and RAF from various sources :ok:

Just thought that the PPRuNe F4 "connoisseurs" might like a heads up ...

https://twitter.com/search?src=typd&q=%23Phantomfriday

Here are a couple of examples ...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BmFwhXfIEAAbkMm.jpg:large

I particularly liked this 23 Squadron shot ... clearly taken way down south.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BJ7TMXTCYAEio-c.jpg:large

To those that posted these images ... a BIG thanks for sharing :D:D:D:D

CS,

Your second shot is a classic, but I love the first one, with the ground crew bowing to the two-winged master race. ;)

Absolute quality Coff, thanks for posting

Is the second photo the following one in the sequence where the F4 is just above the wire and of course to the right and out front of the farm ?

Maybe someone who knows who did what can say.

More here - http://oldafsarge.********.co.uk/

Pic 1 is Leuchars and I guess early 70`s before the Jubilee radome paintwork.

1976 (if you look at the 'uncropped' version [found via Google 'Search by Image' function] - if you scroll down the page that is linked it shows, I think, the jubilee radome paintwork mentioned above - although the '77' in 1974 is a bit confusing!)).

Curious why they all appear to have the same tail letter (R) - they have different nose numbers. Is/was this a FAA thing?

PPRuNe small-mindedness strikes again. :ugh:

Try here instead.

Chant du Départ

Wrathmonk,

The letter R indicates that they are from HMS Ark Royal. 892 NAS had a hard base at Leuchars when ashore.

The "R" was to denote the ship they embarked on, the Ark, the numbers were codes, similar to tail codes.

Yes Wrathmonk, the "R" on the tail stands for "Ark Royal". Each aircraft carrier was/is/will be assigned a different letter for identification purposes. FAA bases have two letter tailcodes, i.e. "VL" Yeovilton.

I thought it was because they are a professional of Pirates, ARRRRRRRRR!

And is still called the Ark Royal hangar.

For the Phantophiles
 

After the 2014 Yeovilton Air Day, a pic similar to this appeared in the local rag (Western Gazette)

https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3916/...938dbbc5_b.jpg
the caption read:
SUPER SONIC: A Royal Navy Phantom jet on standby ahead of taking to the air. The first Phantom was the Supersonic Aircraft Carrier Fighter Jet. It was used in military operations between 1968 and 1978.

So now we know.

Here's another nice photo though. Pity 892 never received the AIM-9L.
http://m2.i.pbase.com/o9/17/747717/1...3Yeovilton.jpg


And here's an oldie you MIGHT have missed earlier:

http://theaviationist.com/wp-content...m-low-pass.jpg

Far from it, they were probably closely examining to see if the pilot was female, it's very difficult to tell, because the the two winged race were not known for being well endowed.. ;)

I think it's on 7th November.


Nothing matters very much, most things don't matter at all.

Can it be Phantom Phriday every week please?

Soon to be full of RBATs, no doubt.

Nor the ILS antennae on the fin or the ex-Cheftain sight for the Observer!

Presumably that's XV586 that used to be 43 Squadron's pet at Leuchars (Now performing a smiilar function at Yeovilton) - nice repaint!

India 4 - you stole my line! Nice pics tho..:ok:

All credit to the team that prepared her for the air day.

BTW, nice photos on Wrathmonk's link, but I think some of the RN 892 photos are dated incorrectly. 013 appears to have the RN 976-1976 flag- ( I believed this was taking the pi** out of the USN on the American bicentennial) AllanSheppardArt shows same pic dated '76.

The F4 is still a fine looking aeroplane ... even by today's standards :ok:

Nor would it have had the RWR on top of the fin in those days. Nice preparation and pic though x 2.

Yes it would, FAA FG.1's were fitted with fin top RWR towards the end of their service lives... :)
http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../3/2146342.jpg






-RP

I took these in 1974 :p

http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/1...al+1974+06.jpg


http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/1...al+1974+07.jpg


http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/1...+Ark+fly+1.jpg

Phantom FG1 RWR
 

I stand corrected - that surprised me as some of the RAFG FGR2 aircraft still didn't have them in 1978 !


This pic is from March 1977:

http://sg-etuo.de/media/xpb/grondste...Grondstein.jpg


This pic is from July 1977 - Queen's Silver Jubilee:
http://www.92sqdn.brushhouse.co.uk/pics/XV499-2.jpg

And even later than that... There's a photo in one of Ian Black's books, of XV430 of 19 Sqn, taken in early 1984 still lacking the RWR pod!

-RP

Wonderful pics RAFEngO ...

I'm sure there are other PPRuNers with either logbook or other keepsake snaps of this magnificent beast they'd like to share :ok:

Feeling a bit left out here...one for the RAAF chaps!:ok:

Photos: McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

Can't put a pic up from the iPad for some reason.

Dum move buy us to send them back to USA when the lease expired

Could have bought them for a song

Decision was probarly made by the cleaner at headquarters

Regards

Col

The recent refurbishment of RAF Coningsby's Gate Guardian under 41 Squadron colours looks spectacular ... :ok:

http://i1004.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1520ed78.jpg

Image Credit : Twitter : RAF News Reporter

Very nice job!

Have very fond memories of the might Phantom (groundcrew Coningsby late '60s and Brüggen start of the '70s) but never took any photographs, cameras being strictly verboten on the flightline. However, mid 70's at Valley was more relaxed in that respect and below is one of a pair of F4K's, probably taken on departure day after an open day.

PS - great link, that to the #Phantomfriday!

http://www.kmercerphotography.co.uk/...hantom_950.jpg

That's a cracking pic of the mighty Fighting Cocks Lyneham Lad :ok:

Thanks, Coff. As a confirmed FGR2 phanatic and recently (then) ex 14 Sqn, I had to overcome my prejudices in order to press the shutter button! ;)

And just to prove it, here is Lima, the sister ship crewing-up.

http://www.kmercerphotography.co.uk/...antom2_950.jpg

Friday +24 :E

For those interested ... the latest issue (24) of GAM covers the continued use of the Phantom by USAF.

http://global-aviation-magazine.com/...am-is-out-now/

Free to access and download :ok:

Bit of a shame that this is the last issue of GAM ... but the GAR Web Site will continue ... see editorial.

I hope when the QF-4 drone programme is finally finished, that the USAF keep a few of those beauties flying with the Heritage Flight...

-RP

Thanks, everyone, for the great pictures. I may have to go for a lie down now!

Courtney ...

Before you do that old chap ... have a canter back through the Herc Thread (sorry can't recall the page number) as there are some stunning Phantom Herc AAR pics from down south :ok:

PS ... That's Pages 39/40 ;)

But don't read #1050

:eek: