And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Monday, January 17, 2022
Colorful But Deadly
I guess Japan just retired their last ones, although Iran may still have a few airworthy F4's.
Not positive but they may still exist in Greek and Turkish inventories. Used to see F-4's all the time when I was a kid - I remember when the Thunderbirds actually flew them - what an impression they made.
It was a shock to see F-16's and fighters of that generation zipping along without huge smoke trails behind them. Decades later I was out for a run in Greece when I heard the familiar sound, looked up and saw those wings and all that smoke. It must've been thirty years since I had seen an F-4, aside from some gate guards here and there, but I remember thinking [while wheezing along], "As old as that thing is...it's better maintained than I am."
As big of maintenance hog that they were, it's hard to believe Iran has flyable ones without a major rebuild or most systems not functioning. We had issues in the 80s trying to get some parts.
Never worked on them, but I served with guys that did. The most requested tool they wanted added to their tool boxes was a can opener so they could get access to the components. For example to change a generator you had to remove an engine.
heard a story that there was FTD course for battle damage repair. to get damage to repair they would have an auction, the winner got three swings with a fire axe any where they wanted on the sheet metal. The training detachment was never lacking for funds given how high the bids went.
It's doubtful the Iranian ones are anything but magnets for rust or cruise missiles, at this point. They haven't had any proper parts available for over four decades.
An awe inspiring photograph.
ReplyDeleteArt static or kinetic. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteNot positive but they may still exist in Greek and Turkish inventories. Used to see F-4's all the time when I was a kid - I remember when the Thunderbirds actually flew them - what an impression they made.
ReplyDeleteIt was a shock to see F-16's and fighters of that generation zipping along without huge smoke trails behind them. Decades later I was out for a run in Greece when I heard the familiar sound, looked up and saw those wings and all that smoke. It must've been thirty years since I had seen an F-4, aside from some gate guards here and there, but I remember thinking [while wheezing along], "As old as that thing is...it's better maintained than I am."
F4`s were proof you could make a brick fly with enough power.
ReplyDeleteProof that given sufficient thrust, a brick can fly.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, MarkD, take away the power and the F-4 and the brick had pretty much the same glide characteristics.
ReplyDeleteThe world's leading distributor of used MIG parts.
ReplyDeleteAs big of maintenance hog that they were, it's hard to believe Iran has flyable ones without a major rebuild or most systems not functioning. We had issues in the 80s trying to get some parts.
ReplyDeleteNever worked on them, but I served with guys that did. The most requested tool they wanted added to their tool boxes was a can opener so they could get access to the components. For example to change a generator you had to remove an engine.
ReplyDeleteheard a story that there was FTD course for battle damage repair. to get damage to repair they would have an auction, the winner got three swings with a fire axe any where they wanted on the sheet metal. The training detachment was never lacking for funds given how high the bids went.
It's doubtful the Iranian ones are anything but magnets for rust or cruise missiles, at this point. They haven't had any proper parts available for over four decades.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite nickname for the F4 comes from the German Luftwaffe: Luftverteidigungsdiesel ("Air Defense Diesel")
ReplyDeleteThere is one for sale at Controller.com for 1.5 Million. 1954 edition I believe
ReplyDelete