The last F-4 departs Davis-Monthan

[pat038536]

The final F-4 regenerated from storage at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group performed its last flight over Tucson, Ariz., April 17, before heading to Mojave, Calif.



http://www.acc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123345044

 

[maddawg308]

I heard the last of the Phantom QF-4 drones would be expended this year, and then that David-Monthan would begin converting the early F-16s and F-15s into Q target drones. Is this F-4 Phantom II above the last one in the target drone effort?

 

[pat038536]

I do believe so.
AMARG will continue to support the FSAT program's fourth generation of drones when they begin regeneration of the first F-16 Fighting Falcons for the drone program in June.

It does seem at least to me, that there is a lot of time and money spent getting this aircraft into flying condition again, only to turn it into a flying target to shoot missiles at it.

 

[73m819]

A fully armed F-4 drone would have a lot more punch then one of those "LITTLE" drones, maybe we may be getting ready to send Iran or N korea a message.

 

[missleman]

Seems like a good idea. Would make a nice piece for a museum. Would be even cooler in my yard!

 

[Recovry4x4]

Bittersweet. Would have loved to see the final takoff of the bent wing bug sucker. Sad to picture its demise. I would pay big bucks to have a short ride in the RIO seat.

 

[swbradley1]

A fully armed F-4 drone would have a lot more punch then one of those "LITTLE" drones, maybe we may be getting ready to send Iran or N korea a message.

Except that the F-4 produces a smoke screen visible from a long way off.

 

[axshon]

Except that the F-4 produces a smoke screen visible from a long way off.

And is about the loudest jet I've ever heard! I was in Greece doing cross training back in the day and they were running them along with F16's. You always know it's a Phantom.

 

[Carlo]

What a story this fighter has made. I would love to see the flight log on the aircraft!

 

[vtdeucedriver]

Bittersweet. Would have loved to see the final takoff of the bent wing bug sucker. Sad to picture its demise. I would pay big bucks to have a short ride in the RIO seat.

Here ya go kenny!!
http://www.collingsfoundation.org/Houston/tx_f-4dphantom.htm
Bring your wallet and you can go for a spin.

 

[Dodge man]

Wow this makes me feel old. This was the front line fighter when I was at Korat RTAFB! Hearing that they're going to start using F-16s as drones makes me feel even older. They weren't even in service when I was in the USAF!

 

[marchplumber]

I LOVED the joke about the B-52 and the F-4 arguing about which was the "superior" aircraft! LOL Glide factor of about the same as a clay brick! LOL Awesome bird to see and hear!

God bless,
Tony

PS, Will write joke if there is interest in it.

 

[jonster]

In all the years I spent at the University of Arizona, I pretty much saw everything fly over (UofA is in the pattern) from A 747 carrying the space shuttle, to the F17. I never saw an F4. I did catch a Blue Angel show in 1974, being that I was five don't remember much, just have the pics.

 

[unclemikey]

Still has to be one of the baddest looking war birds of all time. In all my days, nothing looks more like the Harvester of Death than an F-4 coming at you with throttles at full power.

 

[jonster]

It is a cool jet. I once asked my best friends Dad (Naval Aviator) why American planes and helicopters look so much cooler than the Russians. He explained how the Russians have no bidding process for their stuff, they just build to meet requirements. In the U.S., many companies may build perfectly sound platforms, but in the end the best looking one that meets the criteria usually wins. Makes sense. The F4 and the F14 have always been my favorites.

 

[wreckerman893]

When I was at Fort Campbell in 73-74 they did a Napalm drop during a "Dog and Pony show" for Armed Forces day. The bombs were dropped by Phantoms. They came screaming in over the drop zone, dropped the Napalm, hit the afterburners and were "gone in 60 seconds". We were a little too close to the drop for my taste and I remember feeling the heat and the rush of wind as the fires sucked up the oxygen. We then had to "assault" a position on the other side of the DZ which meant going through where the fire had been. We were told not to touch any residue of the Napalm or it would burn us bad. I really do love the smell of Napalm in the morning.

 

[Cannoncocker]

Those F-4 drivers wrote the book when it came to close air support. We called, They came, and Charlie got a bloody nose. Sad to see the last one go.

 

[dangier]

Dodge man "Wow this makes me feel old. This was the front line fighter when I was at Korat RTAFB! Hearing that they're going to start using F-16s as drones makes me feel even older. They weren't even in service when I was in the USAF!"

When were you at Korat? I was there in '72 and we had the F4's, EB66's, and the F105's. Used to love them rolling taxi to takeoffs.

 

[saddamsnightmare]

September 12th, 2013.

I hate to see an F-4 go that way, but at least they can now start reducing the surplus F-14/16/18 population at Davis Monthan, perhaps doing them up as armed drones would send a message much louder then a Predator drone, but I do believe that an F14/F16/F18 would be easier to spot on anti aircraft radars....

 

[TucsonVTXF]

F14's were crunched real fast so Iran couldn't get parts via back door means.