SPA Modeler

Stikpusher wrote:In US service it served from the Cuban Missile Crisis to just before 9/11. It served around the world in the airspace over every continent and all the oceans, in the colors of so many nations, in war and peace. Kind of hard to top that record.

Yeah. That’s quite a record. The last time I heard and saw an F-4 Phantom is when I was dating my wife and Griffiss AFB in Rome had their air show. This going back around late 80s a few years prior to the base realignment and eventual closing of Griffiss. It was a big blow to the area. Any base closure is devastating to any city.

I think that the last time that I saw one fly at an air show was at Edwards in ‘83. I saw them fly a few times here and there when I was on active duty in the 80s, but most of the time it was low, fast, loud, and gone in a flash.

The Phantom is definitely one of those iconic aircraft! Nice work but it is difficult to make out in the photos. I would suggest adding a bit more lighting at your work bench!

Where I saw them the most was at Fresno, when they replaced the F-106's. I hated them because the F-106 was so elegant and graceful while they were, well, ugly. But watching two go off at once after dark was quite the scene. They were also at Reno, RF-4C's in that guard unit. I also saw them around Woodland because we were close to McClellan, where you would see just about anything during the Viet Nam times.

Confession time - I've never actually built an F-4, well not to the extent that I finished one anyway! I'd really like to get an 80's F-4E or G as part of my USAFE collection.

The last time I've seen a Phantom was not too long ago at an airshow. I think one of the Warbird groups around here has one that was going to be a unmanned target.

My F-4/RF-4 experiences are quite limited, too. In the CAP, we used to fly low-level route surveys in KY with a couple of crew from the F-4s. We had members that were Backseaters as well. It was a hoot, 1500 feet, or lower, marking towers and other obstructions for their maps. Great guys and hard work, but fun. I was coming back from western KY following a route at 2,500 feet and ATC told me there were some F-4s at 1,500 feet. sure enough they flew right below me. What a great sight. We also had some low-level B-52 routes in east central KY that were fun to watch.

LyleW wrote: I was coming back from western KY following a route at 2,500 feet and ATC told me there were some F-4s at 1,500 feet. sure enough they flew right below me. What a great sight. We also had some low-level B-52 routes in east central KY that were fun to watch.

That sounds awesome Lyle - I bet that was a great view!

It was...for a couple of seconds.

Stuart wrote:Confession time - I've never actually built an F-4, well not to the extent that I finished one anyway! I'd really like to get an 80's F-4E or G as part of my USAFE collection.

No Phantoms either?! Boy, we need to get you straightened out double quick!