"Viggen" (viggen37)
09/01/2016 at 18:33 • Filed to: Planelopnik, Aviation, QF-4E, Phantom II
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"Viggen" (viggen37)
09/01/2016 at 18:33 • Filed to: Planelopnik, Aviation, QF-4E, Phantom II | 6
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Something for the aviation and history fans on Oppo. And any fellow Phantom Phanatics.
The QF-4E above (sn: 72-166) flew the last unmanned FSAT (full scale aerial target) mission on August 17, 2016. It was in support of an exercise for the F-35 program. The missiles, which were inert and rely on a proximity fuse rather than direct contact “hit” the target. Mission complete, the aircraft came home, made an arrested landing and with engine shutdown, ended yet another chapter in the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II’s long, illustrious history. Detachment 1, 82nd Aerial Target Squadron will continue to operate the QF-4E into December, when they will convert to the QF-16.
The F-4 first flew in 1958 and entered service with the Air Force in 1963. Serving in Vietnam and during Operation Desert Storm, the F-4 was retired from combat use by the Air Force in 1996, when it began use as a target drone.
(Source: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! )
So, being the Phantom Phanatic and aviation nerd that I am, I went and tried to look up more history on 72-166. It’s an F-4E-53MC, one of only four that was operated by the US, with the rest of the variant going to Iran or Israel. In 1985 it was stationed in Germany assigned to the 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron. I hope that she along with the surviving QF-4Es will make their way to museums.
facw
> Viggen
09/01/2016 at 18:47 |
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Wikipedia says we have hundreds of Q-4s. Enough for any museum that wanted one to have I’d guess. I don’t imagine many will go that route though, it’s not like there’s been a shortage of F-4s for museums that wanted them.
Chasaboo
> Viggen
09/01/2016 at 18:53 |
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Flying Dump Truck, I salute you.
McMike
> Viggen
09/01/2016 at 19:01 |
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I kind of expected to hear that the QF-4 almost shot down the F-35.
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Viggen
> facw
09/01/2016 at 19:04 |
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F-4Es remaining in AMARG are there to supply parts to Turkey, Greece, Japan, and South Korea. There’s also a small number of F-4B/C/D/J/N/S at AMARG awaiting scrap or museum donation.
Some of the QF-4Es are painted in the South East Asia camouflage and attend airshows. More than likely they’re in a good enough condition for museum display as well.
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Viggen
> McMike
09/01/2016 at 19:05 |
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No, I prefer to read through the sensationalist media about the F-35 to find the true facts about the program.
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McMike
> Viggen
09/01/2016 at 19:19 |
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As a Phantom fan, I thought you might have appreciated that joke about an unmanned drone Phantom challenging a critizided modern fighter.
I was wrong, I apologize.
John Norris (AngryDrifter)
> Viggen
09/01/2016 at 19:39 |
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5,195 F-4 Phantoms produced in 23 years. That’s back when we really made airplanes.
4,573 F-16's produced so far in 43 years. Probably not going to catch the F-4.
Of course they made 15,000 P-47's and P-51's in a matter of a few years. That’s back when we really, really made airplanes.
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Viggen
> McMike
09/01/2016 at 19:56 |
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No, you’re fine. I’m just tired of all the F-35 bullshit posted by the likes of Rogoway. Armchair generals and tacticians who’ve never actually had to wear a uniform.
It would be interesting though to see how well an F-4 flown by a good crew could do against a modern aircraft. Maybe not a fifth generation like an F-35, but perhaps a 4.5 like a J-10.
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Viggen
> McMike
09/01/2016 at 20:01 |
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I didn’t mean to take it out on you.
daender
> Viggen
09/01/2016 at 20:06 |
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I actually saw a drone F-4 at the Shaw Air Force Base show a few months ago. I’m not sure if this one got shot down or if it’ll live long enough to see The Boneyard or a museum.
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Viggen
> John Norris (AngryDrifter)
09/01/2016 at 20:16 |
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It’s interesting to look at the change in aircraft production rates as technology advanced and aircraft prices went up. Of course, war also effects that, especially something like WWII.
I think the biggest reason the F-4 ended up being produced in such great numbers was that it was the right aircraft at the right time. A fast, long legged missile toting fighter capable of dropping a payload that would have taken several B-17s to carry. Add in Robert McNamara’s cost reduction through program consolidation, Vietnam, and the British 1966 Defense White Paper and it really becomes noticeable.
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Viggen
> daender
09/01/2016 at 20:19 |
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That QF-4E’s been a bit of a celebrity at the airshow circuit for a couple years now. Hope she survived.
R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
> Viggen
09/01/2016 at 20:20 |
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I wonder how the f35 will do on range to and from target. Part of what makes the F-18 such a beast is its adaptability. I will stop hating the F35 once it performs downrange and we start building fire plans with them. I drew up so many fire plans with F22s in mind that never came on station for me.
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Viggen
> R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
09/01/2016 at 20:37 |
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I’m curious too. We’ll just have to wait and see.
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John Norris (AngryDrifter)
> Viggen
09/01/2016 at 21:14 |
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... the biggest reason the F-4 ended up being produced in such great numbers ...
It helped to have the two biggest Air Forces, USAF, and USN, both on-board with it.
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R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet
> Viggen
09/02/2016 at 07:43 |
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I was Air Naval Gun Fire LIaison COmpany