Happy Anniversary
 

Today is the 51st (I'm sorry; phiphty-phirst) anniversary of the phirst phlight of the orignal Rhino: the McDonnell F-4 (Eph-4?) Phantom.

Pilot: Robert C. Little.

Happy Birthday, Double-Ugly. Still 600-some jets serving, plus the drones at Tyndall.

Not sure what it means, but I actually know someone who used to fly the F-4 before moving on to the Hornet. I even have his picture as proof! My only claim to fame is 5 minutes in the F-18 tourist style simulator at the Museum of Flight. ;)

So who is still phlying them? I remember the Luftwaffe had one at Oshkosh a couple years ago.. I think someone at the airport said the Greeks were still phlying them, too. Is that all correct?

I saw an F-4 at the airshow at Moutain Home AFB last year with USAF markings on it. Was told that it is still flown by the AF as a heritage aircraft, and recruiting tool. Incredible plane. I miss seeing them fly out of the Boise airport.

Phantom Roll-Call
 

Still being phlown by:

Germany (for one more year) :(
South Korea
Japan
Turkey
Greece
Egypt
Iran (how many are airworthy is an educated guess)

The QF-4s at Tyndall have about 8 airplanes painted up for the Heritage Phlight. Very nice. The link below is a very phunny video called "QF-4 Demo Team;" a tongue-in-cheek look at their airshow performances (and governed by the same Air Force regulation as the Thunderbirds, hence the inspiration for the video).

One of the guys in that video, Shamu, is the current Heritage Phlight driver.

The last 49 seconds is hilarious...ake sure you see it!

http://www.airshowbuzz.com/videos/view.php?v=eeabb63b