Great to stumble over this film. I love the F4 Phantom, still the most gorgeous looking plane ever to take to the skies in my opinion. Fond memories of watching Phantoms take off and land at RAF Lakenheath when I was a kid
The first fighter I ever saw up close, as a kid, was an F4 while doing a tour of the Nimitz. I was in awe then and still think the Phantom is an awesome looking jet.
As a 19 year-old in the summer of 1973 I was very lucky to get a summer job at the McDonnell Aircraft plant in St Louis. Although I had a clerical assignment on the very first blocks of the F-15, they were still building new F-4 Phantoms, primarily for the Germans. Its hard to believe that even after 50 years both of these models are still out there.
These were still active in the early-'90s at the McGuire AFB in New Jersey. Once I stood just off to the side of the runway as several Phantoms were landing. After each aircraft had passed the heated air in its wake was so roiled that there was a sound like ripping linen for twenty or thirty seconds. I'd never heard that sound before or since as it pertained to a jet aircraft flying just overhead.
You can feel it in your chest. I remember being on the flight line as a 19 year old, trying to remember that I wasn’t there to gawk at airplanes. I watched 7 F15E and 3 B1Bs take off within an hour and it was amazing!
I served with the 3rd TFW in S.E. Asia. We had F 4E's and F 4D Wild Weasels. They were so ugly they were beautiful! It was just awesome to see them take off three at a time in rainey season!
@@phantomtroubleshooter2793 considering I was aircrew and ended up in a fighter squadron I was qualified to fly backseat when the were available. Loved the F4, the TA4F's not so much. GO Navy, fly Navy!
@@phantomtroubleshooter2793 I was like a dog in heat after I finished the graveyard shift looking for open seats 💺. Sometimes you won.... Sometimes ehh.
In Pensacola, I shared an apartment with a Student NFO who got the LAST F-4 RIO slot the Navy had! Pat NEVER regretted choosing the F-4 and loved EVER Minute of it!
Although like many others I was a Lightning fan, the best display I ever saw was a Royal Navy Phantom display at Bentwaters, just after the Transatlantic air race. A display which wouldn't be allowed today, all at low level due to the low cloud base and at high speed.
What memories filming and editing that programme.... and the eagle eyed might just spot Lia Nici in the final credits. Today she is Conservative MP for Great Grimsby!
Great to see the Australian Air Force's tribute to the aging Hornet. Hopefulle the Dutch airforce will say goodbye to the F-16 in the same spectacular way.
When we were in the Falklands long before MPA was built we had a detatchment of 'Tooms' basd in Stanley for air defence. Every morning we would get a rude awakening when they would send 2 aircraft across the islands in what was know as 'Operation Burning Lance'. This was to test our defences. Someone on seeing the approaching 'bandits' coming would shout out 'BURNING LAAAANCE' and we would all pile outside to see them. They would drop down over our base at Kelly's Garden in San Carlos and ROAR overhead. One one occasion SO LOW the wing tips caused vortices in the dirt which curled up behind the departing beasties! INVERTING over the mountains to prevent negative G on the airframes as they flew over them - on the very last time them came over they pushed them 'through the gate' and went into reheat!....the aircraft goes past in silence.... a few seconds later WHAMMO you get the sound....UNFORGETABLE. The Lightning and Phantom were the 2 best aircraft the RAF ever had! I still have a couple of faded photos somewhere of this!
When I was about ten , Exeter air day had one flying , it was so loud and those afterburners scared the shit out of me but years on I just came to love them thought its design is awsome an to me its like the jet equivalent of the spitfire in jet form : ide love to see another fly whilst still here , 57 now , hope it happens 👍😉
I remember visiting RAF Valley in the early 90's and by pure chance the entire compliment of F4's from 56 Sqn I think it was (red tails) came in and stayed all day. Pretty sure they were retired shortly after that..
Every kink in its wings, every strange angle, every unique design choice, was a fix for a design that was not very good from the very start. But our pilots made it work. It had enough power and enough wing and the great big brass balls of its pilots made it a legend.
Basically, because they were fatter! The UK Phantoms were reworked to take the Spey engine. This work made them larger & less aerodynamic. If you can find a 'front on' picture of an F4J & compare it with an FGR2, you'll see the difference.
@@marioshadjikyriacou3381 No, not at all. The Rolls Royce Spey that powered the RAF version had 12,140 lbf of dry thrust & 20,500 lbf of re-heat thrust. The US General Electric J79 had 11,870 lbf of dry thrust & 17,900 lbf of afterburner thrust. The RAF Phantom was just 'fatter'.
Believe me I been to Bruntingtorpe you get the shell of the aircraft but , if you look closer someone has been into all the systems , wires , etc with an axe if your enthusiast good luck with that mate certain aircraft phantom , harrier etc you got no , zero , nada , Bob hope
Various - this was all shot over 5/6 years in the 1990s - a period where we were shifting to professional gear. If you're lucky the old man will chime in and give you a run down on all the kit (a bit before my time).
Yes, RF 4C. Depending on mission, it had forward looking camera, and horizon to horizon camera. Also infrared camera in detachable belly tank (modified 600 gallon fuel tank). That was secret, made to look like fuel tank.
Great to stumble over this film. I love the F4 Phantom, still the most gorgeous looking plane ever to take to the skies in my opinion. Fond memories of watching Phantoms take off and land at RAF Lakenheath when I was a kid
I've always been in love with the Phantom, thank you for posting.
Good memories with this jet, working on it, flying in it.
Many happy days working om the Mk1s at Leuchars, great lads, great memories, miss it a bit.
meanwhile in Greece we still enjoy watching them ,the other day a group of four did a low pass over my house !
Jealous!
Lucky!
When new RAFALLES come to Greece, they will be out of service
What about Turkish Phantom? They still fly?
@@hansenkho3835 yes maybe, with upgrade Terminator 2020
The first fighter I ever saw up close, as a kid, was an F4 while doing a tour of the Nimitz. I was in awe then and still think the Phantom is an awesome looking jet.
Meanest looking supersonic fighter ever.
Beast of an aircraft; robust, athletic, and all around badass. It’s sad to see all these birds being replaced.
As a 19 year-old in the summer of 1973 I was very lucky to get a summer job at the McDonnell Aircraft plant in St Louis. Although I had a clerical assignment on the very first blocks of the F-15, they were still building new F-4 Phantoms, primarily for the Germans. Its hard to believe that even after 50 years both of these models are still out there.
These were still active in the early-'90s at the McGuire AFB in New Jersey. Once I stood just off to the side of the runway as several Phantoms were landing. After each aircraft had passed the heated air in its wake was so roiled that there was a sound like ripping linen for twenty or thirty seconds. I'd never heard that sound before or since as it pertained to a jet aircraft flying just overhead.
You can feel it in your chest. I remember being on the flight line as a 19 year old, trying to remember that I wasn’t there to gawk at airplanes. I watched 7 F15E and 3 B1Bs take off within an hour and it was amazing!
Memories from Working on phantoms and at RAF Wattisham in Suffolk UK
Never gets old ❤
I served with the 3rd TFW in S.E. Asia. We had F 4E's and F 4D Wild Weasels. They were so ugly they were beautiful! It was just awesome to see them take off three at a time in rainey season!
SUPERB, just superb. Thank you
What a phantastic sound. I wish I could’ve seen the RAF phantoms. I’m glad I got to see the Luftwaffe birds, right up to their retirement.
What's not to love about the Double Ugly. Phantoms Phorever.
Great footage I've never seen before! Thanks.
Former Phantom Mech here to say that the F-4 is still the most Badass aircraft ever.
Riding in the backseat of this aircraft was the biggest thrill of my life, second to the birth of my son.
Were you a RIO or a lucky mech?
@@phantomtroubleshooter2793 considering I was aircrew and ended up in a fighter squadron I was qualified to fly backseat when the were available. Loved the F4, the TA4F's not so much. GO Navy, fly Navy!
@@edsauer4702 cool, I almost got a back seat ride, long story.
@@phantomtroubleshooter2793 I was like a dog in heat after I finished the graveyard shift looking for open seats 💺. Sometimes you won.... Sometimes ehh.
@@edsauer4702 sorry, what’s a TA4F?
In Pensacola, I shared an apartment with a Student NFO who got the LAST F-4 RIO slot the Navy had! Pat NEVER regretted choosing the F-4 and loved EVER Minute of it!
I caught Phantom Phever long ago, dam what an aircraft. To me the F4 is the Mustang of the jet age.
My favourite aircraft Memories of 111 & 43 squdns at Leuchars also FAA from HMS ARK ROYAL thanks for the video
Although like many others I was a Lightning fan, the best display I ever saw was a Royal Navy
Phantom display at Bentwaters, just after the Transatlantic air race. A display which wouldn't be
allowed today, all at low level due to the low cloud base and at high speed.
...and what a revelation (in the intro) talking about "global warming" over 25years ago!
What memories filming and editing that programme.... and the eagle eyed might just spot Lia Nici in the final credits. Today she is Conservative MP for Great Grimsby!
Great to see the Australian Air Force's tribute to the aging Hornet. Hopefulle the Dutch airforce will say goodbye to the F-16 in the same spectacular way.
When we were in the Falklands long before MPA was built we had a detatchment of 'Tooms' basd in Stanley for air defence. Every morning we would get a rude awakening when they would send 2 aircraft across the islands in what was know as 'Operation Burning Lance'. This was to test our defences. Someone on seeing the approaching 'bandits' coming would shout out 'BURNING LAAAANCE' and we would all pile outside to see them. They would drop down over our base at Kelly's Garden in San Carlos and ROAR overhead. One one occasion SO LOW the wing tips caused vortices in the dirt which curled up behind the departing beasties! INVERTING over the mountains to prevent negative G on the airframes as they flew over them - on the very last time them came over they pushed them 'through the gate' and went into reheat!....the aircraft goes past in silence.... a few seconds later WHAMMO you get the sound....UNFORGETABLE. The Lightning and Phantom were the 2 best aircraft the RAF ever had! I still have a couple of faded photos somewhere of this!
I was at Kelly's mid 84 on 1310 so we may have met? also got posted to Leuchars on 228 (F4) OCU in 88 until 90.
When I was about ten , Exeter air day had one flying , it was so loud and those afterburners scared the shit out of me but years on I just came to love them thought its design is awsome an to me its like the jet equivalent of the spitfire in jet form : ide love to see another fly whilst still here , 57 now , hope it happens 👍😉
I remember the Phantoms at Leuchars and the Lightnings before them.
I have a picture of 74s Phantoms chopped up in to little pieces, very sad! 😭
0:42 Love how the narrator says the words 'global warming' like it's just putting on a warm jumper
Underrated content
I was there, my fellow painter and dopers done the plane at 0:12.
I remember visiting RAF Valley in the early 90's and by pure chance the entire compliment of F4's from 56 Sqn I think it was (red tails) came in and stayed all day. Pretty sure they were retired shortly after that..
phantom is one of my favourite British jets
I would love to know the gallons per minute whilst on full reheat? I think they were RR Speys but not sure.Noisy beasts without reheat if so.
Not 100% sure but I heard it could empty the fuel tank in 14 minutes on reheat.
Worked on Tombs at St Athan 4 Sqdn I think
The phantom of the opera is there
Inside your mind
Iran and Turkey still use Phantom (with upgraded avionics)
It was great seeing this. I didn’t think porn was allowed in RUclips.
Unfortunately „Hawker Hunter Aviation“ did not manage to buy the remaining German F-4F fleet for their MOD contractor work in 2020 😞
Loved these planes but, in my humble opinion, it needed a different tale section. It wasn't very maneuverable but is was powerful.
Every kink in its wings, every strange angle, every unique design choice, was a fix for a design that was not very good from the very start. But our pilots made it work. It had enough power and enough wing and the great big brass balls of its pilots made it a legend.
Fantastic video! outstanding quality.
Why were the RAF phantoms top speed not as fast as the US versions?
Basically, because they were fatter! The UK Phantoms were reworked to take the Spey engine. This work made them larger & less aerodynamic. If you can find a 'front on' picture of an F4J & compare it with an FGR2, you'll see the difference.
@@steveashforth5097 thanks for that, didnt know
@@steveashforth5097 plus, RR engine was less powerful than the American one??
@@marioshadjikyriacou3381 No, not at all. The Rolls Royce Spey that powered the RAF version had 12,140 lbf of dry thrust & 20,500 lbf of re-heat thrust. The US General Electric J79 had 11,870 lbf of dry thrust & 17,900 lbf of afterburner thrust. The RAF Phantom was just 'fatter'.
@@steveashforth5097 👍ok
Believe me I been to Bruntingtorpe you get the shell of the aircraft but , if you look closer someone has been into all the systems , wires , etc with an axe if your enthusiast good luck with that mate certain aircraft phantom , harrier etc you got no , zero , nada , Bob hope
David whatshisname...
F444444444ssssss
Spooks..For Ever.....🤘⚡
Phantom also was single seat jet ?
No, the F-4 Phantom was a two seater design. It's predecessor, the F3H Demon, was a single seat fighter.
miss the J-79's....back in the states
“Make their contribution to global warming” I love it, you would never get away with saying that now.
Camera model ?
Various - this was all shot over 5/6 years in the 1990s - a period where we were shifting to professional gear. If you're lucky the old man will chime in and give you a run down on all the kit (a bit before my time).
@@planestv Thank you, i am waiting.
Yes, RF 4C. Depending on mission, it had forward looking camera, and horizon to horizon camera. Also infrared camera in detachable belly tank (modified 600 gallon fuel tank). That was secret, made to look like fuel tank.
F4 over tornado everyday
The narrator is...
His delivery is certainly...different...
Türkisch F4 2021 looks at the Brothers all Dead 25years later
Old yes..but a few dozen stationed in the Falklands in the 80's wod of made the Argentinians think twice about invading
There should be More Contributions to Global Warming, like these 😍💖💕💞
Turkish Air Force will be flying them until 2030.
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