Happy Birthday to Mr Mac's Phinest...
 

57 years old today and still going strong! :)

http://www.thephantomshrine.co.uk/ph...000/5057-1.jpg

-RP

Phantoms phorever!!

Phantoms for Phreedom !

D.

Mr Mac's finest?

I don't think so.


http://theaviationist.com/wp-content...-wing-F-15.jpg

The F-4 was Mr McDonnell's finest. The F-15 depending on how much you want to nit pick the timeline was McDonnell Douglass's finest.

Yes, Happy Birthday to the Mighty Phantom! IIRC, James McDonnell wanted to name it "Mithras".

glad rag, not sure why you felt the need to include an F-15 image, which was a McDonnell Douglas product...
As alluded to by West Coast, the F-4 was indeed Mr.Mac's phinest, as it was designed by the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. Notwithstanding the fact the image I posted is in front of a McDD hangar, I never actually mentioned McDonnell Douglas...

-RP

Notwithstanding the change of ownership to MD, glad rag's picture is way more relevant than you may think. Stepping out of the F-4 into the F-15 is an easy transition. Or was an easy transition, whatever. And one of the most noticeable things for me was how obviously the two had come from the same stable. Systems, handling, even the MacAir rattle at high aoa. Clearly one was a generation ahead of the other, but they are both, very much MacAir.

I did remark to my instructor on my transition course that the 15 is a bit like a grown-up Phantom. As an ex-f-4 man he smiled, agreed, but pointed out that I really shouldn't say such things out loud.

The Israeli jet in the picture, as I'm sure you all know, is testament to the MacAir build quality, common to both airframes.

So, good post, glad rag. :ok:

Anyway, you can't have too many Eagle pictures

Yes you can, in this thread! It was meant to be a respectful nod towards the F-4 reaching the ripe old age of 57, not a debate about the bloody F-15!

And breathe... ;)

-RP

OK, how about a family portrait?

http://www.google.fr/url?source=imgl...RZq09-XzGLASTA

Anyway, I was most certainly not being disrespectful to my first love. Quite the opposite. Still, glad you picked up on a light-hearted jape for your mini-rant instead of my more sincere remark. ;)

That's better, CM! And I know you weren't being disrespectful to the F-4, I've read your blog/website thingy and it makes for fascinating reading... :)

-RP

Thank you! :ok:

Yeah well sorry, ya old fart! :E

The only thing wrong with the picture is it's missing the nose/radome cap, which if my addled memory is correct was also the same as fitted to RAF [and other non integral gun 'tooms]... hah! :8



and a wing too...:cool:

I first saw an F4 at the 1961 Paris Air Show at Le Bourget when a US Navy F4 flew past at the show, together with an A5 Vigilante. They'd both flown in from a US Navy aircraft carrier in the English Channel.
Both very cutting edge in 1961 (54-years ago). I took some 8mm cine film of them as show below. Excuse the definition, but 8mm screen grabs are not brilliant - they look much better when moving!


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps7ed6873d.jpg


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...psc6c3e44c.jpg


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...psc8a628d6.jpg

I'm not that old yet, glad rag... ;)

But on a sad note (especially on it's birthday!) the last two Tyndall QF-4E's were 'expended' today (71-0237 & 74-1631), this brings an end to Tyndall AFB QF-4 ops. The last 3 will now transfer to Holloman AFB, to join another 20 odd that are already there. These will carry on for a couple more years while the QF-16 programme gets up to speed...

-RP

Phan-Phreakin'-tastic air-Phrame! :D

The Echo had enough muzzle horsepower mid burst to wipe quite a few kias off.

Wish i knew her as intimately as some of the mates did . . :{

As a youngster I made loads of airfix model kits including the NA Vigilante; but don't remember it looking "that" weird.....

..however on reflection the model was of the RF version, it had a housing added along the centre line for the recce equipment, this would give the fuselage added depth, so I'm guessing the one above would have been the attack/strike version with the novel rear weapon delivery system??

North American, now that’s in your face...halcyon days of American aircraft production :sad::sad::sad::sad::sad::sad: