An Unexpected Treat

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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 ca 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

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

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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

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

"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
news
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

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


Jay Beckman wrote:
"Dudley Henriques" wrote in message
news
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