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

A Greek F4 is due at RIAT this year so your eyes may have been correct!

RIAT, F4 is I believe Greek.

I'm off there shortly to help with traffic control.

You were cheated, there should have been 2 of them, both bound for Fairford!

I believe the support aircraft went to Brize.

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 ;)

Don't forget the USAF... ;)

-RP

there was 2 mighty tombs in the sky!!!

ahh the memories!!!

I assume they were descending into Fairford... thought I saw a C-130 with them too!

Are we talking about Viet'nam or Chelt'nam ? ;)

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.

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

Two Greek F-4Es touched down at Fairford yesterday.

Greek AF Phantoms arriving at RIAT 2016:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXEgP5KsKJE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OwtVpV4mvM

Until I saw these videos I never knew some F-16s had conformal tanks above the fuselage. Learn something new every day.

For the sake of their crews I sincerely hope you are wrong...

Oops! What an unfortunately worded mistake!

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:

http://www.jetwashaviationphotos.com...n%208-5-08.jpg

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

*UPDATE*

20 QF-4E's left at Holloman now.
74-1626 (AF-309) was 'expended' today... :sad:

-RP

One of your bunty mates has been splashing photos of them all over Facebook.. :)

My son (one of the ATC cadet helpers) took a nice shot of one of the F4s on the ground last night, will try and post later.