Yes, nice pics Marcel! Thanks for sharing. Good to see the old bird still flying.

On July 30th the Phantoms at Wittmund Airbase, Germany will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Phantom, with one bird wearing a "special" dress..:wink

Don`t know if I can find the time to go there.

Most of the Air Forces listed still fly the F-4. Moreover Greek and Turkey have upgraded there F-4's to the 2000 series of modernization. Egypt still fly's the F-4 and there aircraft in the beginning of there use with Egypt's Air Force had issue's with maintaining those aircraft. It then decided to bring those personnel up to speed on the maintenance of these aircraft. Moreover those F-4's requiring depot level work are flown to the US for that level of care. There was a rumor some years ago when the F-4G's were on the way out the Greek Air Force was going to equip some of there F-4's for the same mission. But have seen nothing to the effect if indeed this did happen.

It has been great seeing all those Phantoms posted recently. Please keep them coming.

Hi, here are some greek examples I made last November during the open days:










Best Regards

Here are some more germans F-4, from last week out of Wittmund:





... more to come


and to never forget the WTD 61 F-4, made in Manching 2007

Unfortunately I was not able to go to Wittmund for the Phantom pharewell. They expected 130000 visitors this weekend.

The Phantom is still a tough bird to bring down, i.e., the Terminator varaint in the Turkist Air Force is no slug in the Air to Air areana. The Slotted tail plane gives the F-4 very good manuerability, moreover modern avionics add to the upgrade package. Even in the US with the Drone program the F-$ can and is a hard kill to make even in this modern age. The Italy proved that with the F-104 in a rare engagement with the USAF and NATO allies in simulated one on one combat. SO jsut because the Aircraft is over 10 years old does not mean the is it not an asist to any air force. What has been the down fall of any Aircraft is the "Maintenance Man Hours" assoicated with that is cost of the aforementioned. The F-4 is always in the hanger every 100 hours of flight for the throughly check of system and air frame. So in the end it is the cost of maintaing the aircraft that send tot he scrap yard NOT wether or not the aircraft is a vital assist or not.

Regards

UPDATE: The last flyable QF-4's have been grounded at Holloman AFB. The F-4's will be stripped and then towed out into the desert to be used as ground targets......Sad end to such a GREAT Aircraft.

To answer your question those F-4s that were part of the Heritage fight were grounded as well and will follow the others as ground targets. No more heritage flights with the F-4s.