An Unexpected Treat

[Jay Beckman]

Happened to fall across a Heritage Flight training session the other day
while in the vicinity of Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ:

http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/aviation_imagery

First four pics across the top of the gallery...

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ
www.pbase.com/flyingphotog

[John T]

"Jay Beckman" > wrote in message

>
> Happened to fall across a Heritage Flight training session the other
> day while in the vicinity of Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ:

Nice - even though I could never get the larger version of Pic1 to show
(always came up blank for me).

Did you plan to get all belly shots? :)

--
John T
http://sage1solutions.com/blogs/TknoFlyer
Reduce spam. Use Sender Policy Framework: http://openspf.org
____________________

[Jay Honeck]

> Happened to fall across a Heritage Flight training session the other day
> while in the vicinity of Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ:
>
> http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/aviation_imagery
>
> First four pics across the top of the gallery...

Great pix, Jay.

That wasn't Vlado flying the Mustang, by any chance?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[[email protected]]

On Mar 7, 4:37 am, "Jay Beckman" > wrote:
> Happened to fall across a Heritage Flight training session the other day
> while in the vicinity of Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ:
>
> http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/aviation_imagery
>
> First four pics across the top of the gallery...
>
> Jay Beckman
> PP-ASEL
> Chandler, AZwww.pbase.com/flyingphotog

Great pics! Wow! 2 P-51's, an F-15 and an F-4. I didn't know anyone
was still flying F-4's. I thought the RF-4 (last variant in service)
was retired a few years ago. Also a P-51 with an A-10, F-16 and an
F-22. Quite a sight!

Thanks for sharing.
John

[Jay Beckman]

"John T" > wrote in message
...
> "Jay Beckman" > wrote in message
>
>>
>> Happened to fall across a Heritage Flight training session the other
>> day while in the vicinity of Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ:
>
> Nice - even though I could never get the larger version of Pic1 to show
> (always came up blank for me).
>
> Did you plan to get all belly shots? :)
>
> --
> John T


No, I had hoped to get some frames from above and below the second Mustang
but Clay Lacy's lear was already booked and shooting back at the formation
was right out because my B25 is down for a wash and wax.

:OP

Jay B

[Jim Burns[_2_]]

Dang, don't ya hate it when that happens? :)
Nice pics. Thanks for taking the time.
Jim

[Dallas]

On Wed, 7 Mar 2007 02:37:11 -0700, Jay Beckman wrote:

> http://www.pbase.com/flyingphotog/aviation_imagery

Nice stuff Jay.. you're giving Richard Seaman a run for his money.


--
Dallas

[[email protected]]

On 7-Mar-2007, wrote:

> I didn't know anyone
> was still flying F-4's. I thought the RF-4 (last variant in service)
> was retired a few years ago.

The F-4 is actually a QF-4E drone. They are flown by units at Tyndall AFB,
Florida and Holloman AFB, New Mexico. The QF-4s are flown manned for many
sorties, and when their time is up, they are flown unmanned and expended as
missile targets. The drone units each have four or five airplanes that were
given new paintjobs loosely based on camouflage paint worn by the F-4 during
its operational service to fly at airshows. The QF-4E in the photo is one
of those. Those particular airplanes have just a certain number hours
they'll be allowed to fly (until their next major inspections are due) and
then they too will be expended as targets. There have been a few QRF-4Cs and
as the F-4E supply at Davis-Monthan gets depleted, there will be more. Early
in the drone program all of the F-4G Wild Weasels were expended, with the
exception of a very few that made it to museums or permanent static
displays.
The Phantoms have been very popular for Heritage Flight displays, and I've
read the Air Force plans to increase the numbers in new paintjobs for the
program. One more note for those who care: the ugly hump on the top of the
fuselage seen on drones up until now is going away; they've changed the
equipment and the hump is no longer required for the drone conversion.
Scott Wilson

[Jay Beckman]

> wrote in message
...
>
> On 7-Mar-2007, wrote:
>
>> I didn't know anyone
>> was still flying F-4's. I thought the RF-4 (last variant in service)
>> was retired a few years ago.
>
> The F-4 is actually a QF-4E drone. They are flown by units at Tyndall AFB,
> Florida and Holloman AFB, New Mexico. The QF-4s are flown manned for many
> sorties, and when their time is up, they are flown unmanned and expended
> as
> missile targets. The drone units each have four or five airplanes that
> were
> given new paintjobs loosely based on camouflage paint worn by the F-4
> during
> its operational service to fly at airshows. The QF-4E in the photo is one
> of those. Those particular airplanes have just a certain number hours
> they'll be allowed to fly (until their next major inspections are due) and
> then they too will be expended as targets. There have been a few QRF-4Cs
> and
> as the F-4E supply at Davis-Monthan gets depleted, there will be more.
> Early
> in the drone program all of the F-4G Wild Weasels were expended, with the
> exception of a very few that made it to museums or permanent static
> displays.
> The Phantoms have been very popular for Heritage Flight displays, and
> I've
> read the Air Force plans to increase the numbers in new paintjobs for the
> program. One more note for those who care: the ugly hump on the top of
> the
> fuselage seen on drones up until now is going away; they've changed the
> equipment and the hump is no longer required for the drone conversion.
> Scott Wilson

Interesting...

I had no idea there were enough airworthy (with a human aboard) airframes to
do this. I would have bet dollars to donuts that it was the Collings
Foundation's F4.

I should call DMs PubAff office and ask.

Jay B

[Jay Beckman]

> wrote in message
...
>
> On 7-Mar-2007, wrote:
>
>> I didn't know anyone
>> was still flying F-4's. I thought the RF-4 (last variant in service)
>> was retired a few years ago.
>
> The F-4 is actually a QF-4E drone. They are flown by units at Tyndall AFB,
> Florida and Holloman AFB, New Mexico. The QF-4s are flown manned for many
> sorties, and when their time is up, they are flown unmanned and expended
> as
> missile targets. The drone units each have four or five airplanes that
> were
> given new paintjobs loosely based on camouflage paint worn by the F-4
> during
> its operational service to fly at airshows. The QF-4E in the photo is one
> of those. Those particular airplanes have just a certain number hours
> they'll be allowed to fly (until their next major inspections are due) and
> then they too will be expended as targets. There have been a few QRF-4Cs
> and
> as the F-4E supply at Davis-Monthan gets depleted, there will be more.
> Early
> in the drone program all of the F-4G Wild Weasels were expended, with the
> exception of a very few that made it to museums or permanent static
> displays.
> The Phantoms have been very popular for Heritage Flight displays, and
> I've
> read the Air Force plans to increase the numbers in new paintjobs for the
> program. One more note for those who care: the ugly hump on the top of
> the
> fuselage seen on drones up until now is going away; they've changed the
> equipment and the hump is no longer required for the drone conversion.
> Scott Wilson

The "buzz" number on the nose gear door is 434 (maybe 494) and AF-308 is on
the blister between the nose cone and the formation light.

I did a really quick search but came up empty.

Jay B

[[email protected]]

On 7-Mar-2007, "Jay Beckman" > wrote:

> The "buzz" number on the nose gear door is 434 (maybe 494) and AF-308 is
> on
> the blister between the nose cone and the formation light.

That would be QF-4E 72-1494, assigned to Tyndall AFB (tail code TD), and the
"blister" is an air conditioning intake, fwiw.
Scott Wilson
Phormer Phantom Phixer and current Phantom Phan
149TFG, Kelly AFB, F-4C 1980-82
35CRS, George AFB, F-4E 1982-83
526TFS, Ramstein AB, Germany, F-4E, 1983-86

[Jay Beckman]

> wrote in message
et...
>
> On 7-Mar-2007, "Jay Beckman" > wrote:
>
>> The "buzz" number on the nose gear door is 434 (maybe 494) and AF-308 is
>> on
>> the blister between the nose cone and the formation light.
>
> That would be QF-4E 72-1494, assigned to Tyndall AFB (tail code TD), and
> the
> "blister" is an air conditioning intake, fwiw.
> Scott Wilson
> Phormer Phantom Phixer and current Phantom Phan
> 149TFG, Kelly AFB, F-4C 1980-82
> 35CRS, George AFB, F-4E 1982-83
> 526TFS, Ramstein AB, Germany, F-4E, 1983-86

Scott,

Thanks for filling in the blanks.

Jay B
www.pbase.com/flyingphotog

[Dudley Henriques[_2_]]

Hi Jay;
Par Favor?
When you get a moment, can you possibly make a file of that Mustang
Sunset that will fill a 1024x768 screen that I can use as a desktop and
email it to me?. New email is
That's a gorgeous shot!
Dudley

Jay Beckman wrote:
> > wrote in message
> et...
>> On 7-Mar-2007, "Jay Beckman" > wrote:
>>
>>> The "buzz" number on the nose gear door is 434 (maybe 494) and AF-308 is
>>> on
>>> the blister between the nose cone and the formation light.
>> That would be QF-4E 72-1494, assigned to Tyndall AFB (tail code TD), and
>> the
>> "blister" is an air conditioning intake, fwiw.
>> Scott Wilson
>> Phormer Phantom Phixer and current Phantom Phan
>> 149TFG, Kelly AFB, F-4C 1980-82
>> 35CRS, George AFB, F-4E 1982-83
>> 526TFS, Ramstein AB, Germany, F-4E, 1983-86
>
> Scott,
>
> Thanks for filling in the blanks.
>
> Jay B
> www.pbase.com/flyingphotog
>
>

[Jay Beckman]

"Dudley Henriques" > wrote in message
...
> Hi Jay;
> Par Favor?
> When you get a moment, can you possibly make a file of that Mustang Sunset
> that will fill a 1024x768 screen that I can use as a desktop and email it
> to me?. New email is
> That's a gorgeous shot!
> Dudley

Incoming!!!

;O)

Jay B

[Dudley Henriques[_2_]]

Got it. Many thanks.
See back channel incoming.
D


Jay Beckman wrote:
> "Dudley Henriques" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Hi Jay;
>> Par Favor?
>> When you get a moment, can you possibly make a file of that Mustang Sunset
>> that will fill a 1024x768 screen that I can use as a desktop and email it
>> to me?. New email is
>> That's a gorgeous shot!
>> Dudley
>
> Incoming!!!
>
> ;O)
>
> Jay B
>
>