I love the latest generations of fighters. F-15, 16 and 18s are still going strong. But the venerable F-4 Phantom will always hold a special place in my heart as my favorite fighter of all time. One of the greatest fighters in history, and still defending skies overseas after 50 years!
@@AxCYeR still in service in Japan turkey and some other places. Think Japan is looking to retire them or just recently did though. These planes were/are in service for ~60 years.
I was a weapons mechanic on load crew . I was the #2 man . I got to sit in the pilot seat and throw the switches . I was Vietnam Era U.S.A.F.. The F-4 will always be a part of me. The fighter jet was a badass and just looked mean . I think my favorite job on the F-4 was at end of the runway pulling the safety pins before flight and installing safety pins so the bird could park on the flight line. Going underneath the F-4 while running at the end of the runway was a powerful experience . That was forty - six years ago . Seems like it was just yesterday . I sure it will be flying through my mind the day I die .
The first time I ever saw the thunderbirds they flew the F-4E model! That was a show! My hole 20 year career was with the F-4’s, the wild weasel‘s at George or the RF-4 C’s at Bergstrom. There will never be another fighter like the F-4, it can do it all. The most beautiful plane ever!
I was also at George from 78-80. I was assigned exclusively to the wild weasels. I was in MA shop. I was near the lox building in 79 when the f4 crashed after takeoff. It flew about 40 feet over my head before crashing
My dad served on the Saratoga during Vietnam. And all throughout my childhood he would tell us stories about the phantoms. How they had a few close calls with migs and the F4s saved the ship. He also said even when you were below decks, you could tell when the big bad F4s were doin flight ops. He had a thing for the old Phantom. I miss hearing those cool stories of his service on that ship, and of the F4.
As a kid who grew up next to MCAS El Toro I say thanks Spencer for this awesome video. I will miss the Phantoms and never forget how awesome they were flying over my house back then.
The F-4 Phantom is my favorite jet. It's had an enviable combat record. I know a few retired F-4 pilots and the stories they tell are great. The books the retired Phantom drivers write are mind-blowing. These are my 3 favorite aviation books: - Topgun by Dan Pederson - F-4 Phantom: A Pilot's Story by Robert Prest - Scream of Eagles by Robert Wilcox - Great Fighter Jets of the Galaxy 1 by Tim Gibson
I once knew a pilot that said he flew the U-2 as his job, never elaborated, but he did speak of flying other aircraft including the F-4. He said it was like flying a bus, a very powerful and fast bus, he was speaking to the size of the F-4. He also said it was one of his favorite aircraft. I remember being in ROTC in the late 70s, Seymore Johnson still had F-4s and F-16s were coming online, B-52,were there too, as a student it was hard to pay attention in class with these badass aircraft doing touch and go's. Love seeing F-4s, incredible aircraft. Thanks for posting. 👍👍
Love watching the F-4 Phantoms at Ellington AFB when we were kids! We watched just outside the base at the end of one of the runways next to a sand pit. Come screaming over us with that very distinctive F-4 howl! Best looking warbird ever!
As long as the Collins Foundation has their F-4, 1 will always be flying. I hear they are trying to get a F-101 also. It'll go along with their A-4, and F-100. Excellent vid. Thanks
Always my favorite aircraft! Worked with a guy that helped develop the nose cone radar atMac Air! Learned more about airplanes from him than I could ever imagine.
Sitting here watching Spencer's Train vids with my son and I'm like..hey I wonder if someone has an F-4 Phantom air show.... Search and this is what comes up. Spencer never fails. Keep up the good work.
TheMustang137 , yes i egree. I did. Sometimes exercises with C 160 escorted by F 4 f from Neuburg, Germany. Greetings from an old Commander C160 from Landsberg AB.
Just got back from Nellie 2019 it was without a doubt the best air show I have seen they reanacted close air warfare with eagles hogs raptors uh. 60 s and lightning 2s. So awesome.
Heard these were strongest and most durable jets in US history... these were de-commed when I served USN 97-06, AO, loved the F4, but F-14 breaking sound barrier at sea level & sonic boom rippling on water surface during calm sea was top 5 awesome thing I've ever seen.....Remarkable naval aviation F-4 Phantom & A-6s also...... missed out on 2 great jets
You haven't lived until you're holding a center line fuel tank up with your ear muffs around your neck and then you look down the runway at the end and see two F-4's getting ready to launch and all you can do is cringe, I probably still have some hearing loss due to it! Oh and that big bomb looking thing under it's belly IS the centerline external fuel tank, they also have wing external fuel tanks for longer sorties!
There's a F-4 in Thunderbirds colors at Pima air museum. Along with many rare and historic air craft. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7, all right Thunderbirds, let's run 'em up!
77-81 proud member of VF-102 F-4J’s. USS Independence CV-62. AO-2, launching off carrier in afterburner standing 20 feet away would make your teeth rattle. Awesome sight.
One of my fave jets....lovely looking bird shes sexy....the low sloped nose and the shape....just made for speed...RAF used to fly em over my house regular.....Indeed Barry Taylor I agree...unmistakable sounds....and looks.
My first Red Flag was at Nellis...blacked flagged to South Korea...SSGT crewchief/mechanic F-4 was a close girlfriend.. Slept under, ate under it and she raised pure hell when needed!!
While an infantry officer in the Corps, tried without success to get a ride in the "back seat." A very short and thin Huey pilot I knew at the time, who lost over 20 pounds in 'Nam in his first two months, opted for F-4 training when ordered to go back. He loved the Phantom. If I were capable of envy, this I would envy. Only other plane I like as much is the P-38 Lightning. Sure would be nice if a billionaire or two would take up antique plane collecting.
The J79 turbine engine which the F4 Phantom has 2 of them, burns 1.5 - 2 gallons per second per engine in full afterburner. So, when you see the orange glow coming from the exhaust pipe, it's burning 3 - 4 gallons per second combined at $5 per gallon of jet fuel.
I live near Seymour Johnson AFB, back when these were flying you could here them and see them coming. They were loud and always smoking like they were burning used grease rags. But they were a sight to see flying almost everyday.
Up close front row seat of this this model jet in action several times, while doing convoys in Vietnam. This monster would just show up unexpectedly and lay down some massive hurt on the Viet Cong . They missed a few of the enemy at Ben Luc , and just after we traveled across the Bridge on highway 4 that day in '68 on a convoy supply run from Dong Tam base near My Tho, to Long Binh the Cong dropped the Ben Luc Bridge into the river. It's flyin..Low , slow and smoked like a brand new locomotive ✌🇺🇸
Pilots of the F-4: "Mannnn, didn't know grandad had to deal with all these instruments, and very low visibility in the cockpit. Much respect, But glad my F-22 is more advanced"
NHseacoast the USAF has been using them as drones for a while. that's what this is, but it has also retained capacity to be pilot by man. however, they just retired the last qf-4 drones in the last couple months
I don't care what anyone says, there is NOTHING like the sound of two J-79 engines in full burner flying low overhead. Absolute raw POWER!!
Austin The J-79 the sound of freedom stay the course Bruce
You can hear them coming for MILES............
MORE POWA BABY!
Oh wait wrong video, but who cares :v
Because you are dumb & inbred, so you think so
I see your two J-79s and raise you TWO J58s 😉
In 1972 I was on a FSB near Bien Hoa. The sky was full of these in April, all headed north. My favorite jet.
Thank You for your service... 🇺🇸👌
I love the latest generations of fighters. F-15, 16 and 18s are still going strong. But the venerable F-4 Phantom will always hold a special place in my heart as my favorite fighter of all time. One of the greatest fighters in history, and still defending skies overseas after 50 years!
what is "defending skies overseas" supposed to actually mean?
@@AxCYeR still in service in Japan turkey and some other places. Think Japan is looking to retire them or just recently did though. These planes were/are in service for ~60 years.
@@jaceburris2534 It's still in service in Greece too, inspite of them recently requiring 24 F-35s.
I was a weapons mechanic on load crew . I was the #2 man . I got to sit in the pilot seat and throw the switches . I was Vietnam Era U.S.A.F.. The F-4 will always be a part of me. The fighter jet was a badass and just looked mean . I think my favorite job on the F-4 was at end of the runway pulling the safety pins before flight and installing safety pins so the bird could park on the flight line. Going underneath the F-4 while running at the end of the runway was a powerful experience . That was forty - six years ago . Seems like it was just yesterday . I sure it will be flying through my mind the day I die .
Me too !! 46270 weapons loading , release , and end of runway duty . Was load crew # 4 jammer driver and then crew chief. lead crew also
The first time I ever saw the thunderbirds they flew the F-4E model! That was a show! My hole 20 year career was with the F-4’s, the wild weasel‘s at George or the RF-4 C’s at Bergstrom. There will never be another fighter like the F-4, it can do it all. The most beautiful plane ever!
I was also at George from 78-80. I was assigned exclusively to the wild weasels. I was in MA shop. I was near the lox building in 79 when the f4 crashed after takeoff. It flew about 40 feet over my head before crashing
My father flew the "double-ugly" in the late 1970s and early 80s. He still talks about it today as his favorite airplane. :)
My dad served on the Saratoga during Vietnam. And all throughout my childhood he would tell us stories about the phantoms. How they had a few close calls with migs and the F4s saved the ship. He also said even when you were below decks, you could tell when the big bad F4s were doin flight ops. He had a thing for the old Phantom. I miss hearing those cool stories of his service on that ship, and of the F4.
As a kid who grew up next to MCAS El Toro I say thanks Spencer for this awesome video. I will miss the Phantoms and never forget how awesome they were flying over my house back then.
Just the sight of the live F-4 taxiing in front of the static 4th and 5th gen jets; the offsprings of the Phantom, is something to behold.
The McDD F-4 Phantom. I’ve been in love with that aircraft since I was a little kid. Until the day I die!
Same here Marc
The F-4 Phantom is my favorite jet. It's had an enviable combat record.
I know a few retired F-4 pilots and the stories they tell are great. The books the retired Phantom drivers write are mind-blowing.
These are my 3 favorite aviation books:
- Topgun by Dan Pederson
- F-4 Phantom: A Pilot's Story by Robert Prest
- Scream of Eagles by Robert Wilcox
- Great Fighter Jets of the Galaxy 1 by Tim Gibson
50 years from now the Phantom will still be considered one of the best all timers...the original rock star!!
I once knew a pilot that said he flew the U-2 as his job, never elaborated, but he did speak of flying other aircraft including the F-4. He said it was like flying a bus, a very powerful and fast bus, he was speaking to the size of the F-4. He also said it was one of his favorite aircraft. I remember being in ROTC in the late 70s, Seymore Johnson still had F-4s and F-16s were coming online, B-52,were there too, as a student it was hard to pay attention in class with these badass aircraft doing touch and go's. Love seeing F-4s, incredible aircraft. Thanks for posting. 👍👍
My dad's bird when he flew....love that these are still flying!
USAF 1969-1973 Wild Weasel and proud to be an American. Land of the free that's all Americans. Home of the brave that's all Veterans.
Was a Crew Chief on the F-4G Wild Weasels from 1979 to 1983 at George AFB California
it was 37 years of my life, loved this bird, sad it's over
J-79s put the Thunder in Thunderbirds!!
Beautiful video, thank you!
Love watching the F-4 Phantoms at Ellington AFB when we were kids! We watched just outside the base at the end of one of the runways next to a sand pit. Come screaming over us with that very distinctive F-4 howl! Best looking warbird ever!
As long as the Collins Foundation has their F-4, 1 will always be flying. I hear they are trying to get a F-101 also. It'll go along with their A-4, and F-100. Excellent vid. Thanks
It will be a sad day when there are no F-4's in the skies!
Barry Taylor never mind that....it'll be a sad day when fighter planes become pilotless
From what I was told this was the last airshow that this team would be performing in the states Hopefully not.
Barry Taylor ...true.!!!!
Think the only civilian Phantom is owned by the Collings Foundation.
bigroy38 still we all miss it
Hard to believe that at their peak around 1969 or 1970 McDonnell Douglas was cranking out 79 of these a month!
Excellent video. Always a pleasure to see the Phantom! Thank you!
One of the coolest looking planes the air. A fantastic warrior that has kept America safe. Nothing looks like a Phantom...
Clark AB, '81, 3AGS/CRS, INS/WRCS. These planes are part of the best times of my life. Absolute paradise :D.
I saw a Phantom coming in to Barksdale AFB for an air show and that was the loudest jet fighter I’ve ever heard! It was right up there with the B-52!
in the 80es,90es,saw countless Phantoms flying!!
Sadly,the Times are gone!
I love this bird so much😍👍👍👍 Thx for this video😊
Nice video. Nellis has changed since I was there 50 years ago!
I was there!! My 1st time seeing a Phantom FLY!! So awesome!
Glenn6one9 It was also your last.
Met a QF4 pilot and his mount in 1999 Airshow at Langley. I was amazed at what the pilot knew of the aircraft and its inner workings.
Very well done video. And a classic warbird! Thank you.
Nothing like the "Phantom Howl" when they turn downwind in the pattern.
Always my favorite aircraft! Worked with a guy that helped develop the nose cone radar atMac Air! Learned more about airplanes from him than I could ever imagine.
brings back a lot of memories...did the f-4c,d,e in phoenix 75 to 78. loved it
F-4 still in my top 5 and always will be..
Rst28 it's my number one
And is in the top ten for speed of all jet fighters!
Same! I wish they could of made them stealth..
Fuck you
I think I'm going to cry. RIP, F-4 Phantom. Man, I can't believe it's the final flight for this jet.
Great video!!! Love those Phabulous Phantoms!!! 👍
And I don't care what anyone says, The F-4 is beautiful! And I miss her. All of the hers...
A snapshot of the mid 70's. Nellis had a ramp full of Phantoms.
Sitting here watching Spencer's Train vids with my son and I'm like..hey I wonder if someone has an F-4 Phantom air show.... Search and this is what comes up. Spencer never fails. Keep up the good work.
Thank you spencerhughes2255........ your airshow videos are the best!
The F4 Phantom is one of my all time favorite fighter jets!
TheMustang137 , yes i egree. I did. Sometimes exercises with C 160 escorted by F 4 f from Neuburg, Germany. Greetings from an old Commander C160 from Landsberg AB.
TheMustang137 same with me. my all time favorite is the F-15 but this one is up there I only saw it once but man that thing ripped up the skies
Just got back from Nellie 2019 it was without a doubt the best air show I have seen they reanacted close air warfare with eagles hogs raptors uh. 60 s and lightning 2s. So awesome.
Heard these were strongest and most durable jets in US history... these were de-commed when I served USN 97-06, AO, loved the F4, but F-14 breaking sound barrier at sea level & sonic boom rippling on water surface during calm sea was top 5 awesome thing I've ever seen.....Remarkable naval aviation F-4 Phantom & A-6s also...... missed out on 2 great jets
I was there and loved every minute of it!! This was my one hearing protection fail.... And it was worth it!!!
You haven't lived until you're holding a center line fuel tank up with your ear muffs around your neck and then you look down the runway at the end and see two F-4's getting ready to launch and all you can do is cringe, I probably still have some hearing loss due to it! Oh and that big bomb looking thing under it's belly IS the centerline external fuel tank, they also have wing external fuel tanks for longer sorties!
Love the sound of those J79’s cranked up.
FANTASTIC VIDEO!!!!!!!!! Also, Spencer, do you know the fate of the final 8 QF-4'S from the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron?
I was at the show,this bird is beautiful!!!
Greatest fighter jet … ever!
Pound for pound!
There's a F-4 in Thunderbirds colors at Pima air museum. Along with many rare and historic air craft.
1,2,3,4,5,6,7, all right Thunderbirds, let's run 'em up!
F-4 Mc Donald Douglas, a steed of Robin Olds.
McDonnell . EX MAC Tech Rep.
Sitting next to an f-22, f-35, and a super hornet. Definitely got that "watch this kiddos" vibe
My favourite since I was a little boy many many years ago
This was the last public display of a usaf phantom. I was there for both days and what a privilege.
77-81 proud member of VF-102 F-4J’s. USS Independence CV-62. AO-2, launching off carrier in afterburner standing 20 feet away would make your teeth rattle. Awesome sight.
Nice ... thank you for posting this video
Love the sound!
This plane represents American muscle. My childhood favorite
One of my fave jets....lovely looking bird shes sexy....the low sloped nose and the shape....just made for speed...RAF used to fly em over my house regular.....Indeed Barry Taylor I agree...unmistakable sounds....and looks.
I feel so miserable for having missed this!!
Stormsquad it was awsome
Stormsquad I saw it static at Miramar. I was hoping to see it fly.
I would be too
The prettiest girl on the flight line that day hands down.
My first Red Flag was at Nellis...blacked flagged to South Korea...SSGT crewchief/mechanic F-4 was a close girlfriend.. Slept under, ate under it and she raised pure hell when needed!!
One of best looking aircrafts of all time.
While an infantry officer in the Corps, tried without success to get a ride in the "back seat." A very short and thin Huey pilot I knew at the time, who lost over 20 pounds in 'Nam in his first two months, opted for F-4 training when ordered to go back. He loved the Phantom. If I were capable of envy, this I would envy. Only other plane I like as much is the P-38 Lightning. Sure would be nice if a billionaire or two would take up antique plane collecting.
Awesome show!
Anthony Cornelius seriously if you like military aviation it was better than miramar in my opinion
I would always see phantoms fly over when I was little I lived near Ellington field and would hear that whistling sound
The J79 turbine engine which the F4 Phantom has 2 of them, burns 1.5 - 2 gallons per second per engine in full afterburner. So, when you see the orange glow coming from the exhaust pipe, it's burning 3 - 4 gallons per second combined at $5 per gallon of jet fuel.
If you ever stood in the hush house when the run man cracked 'burner, you came to appreciate their power.
Duane Palmore. I can imagine. You probably feel thankful that it didn't explode.
SanFranciscoBay I've never heard of that happening. I was speaking to the amount of air the engines draw when the throttles are advanced.
SanFranciscoBay I'd pay out of my own pocket just to fuel this jet if I could. The Phantom is a true legend.
Great video!
Reminds of a sexy muscle car, miss seeing these birds flying around in Niagara Falls 107th fighter division
Still commands respect as she taxis by her USAF and NAVY succesors...an icon of the jet age.
what a gorgeous aircraft!
Still the baddest looking plane in my opinion. I loved it when they were used by the USAF Thunderbirds in the early 70’s.
PHANTOMS PHOREVER!!!
Who ever is operating the camera they did a hell of a job doing it
I live near Seymour Johnson AFB, back when these were flying you could here them and see them coming. They were loud and always smoking like they were burning used grease rags. But they were a sight to see flying almost everyday.
F4`s forever !
awesome video. Wish I could have been there
Old but gold
Love the phantom. Great close air support act. Semper fi
This aircraft can describe in one phrase
"Raw Power"
Always loved this plane growing up, there isnt anything like a flying brick lol.
Still #1 in badass.
Ich liebe die Phantom
Wish we had a solo phantom display in uk but doubt it we to soft to pull something like that off nice video mate
Phantom Phorever!
You can clearly see those leading edge slats of the F-4E on the first bird during takeoff. :D
That engine startup = instant nostalgia from “Threshold: The Blue Angels Experience”
Twin J79s! Never will hear anything like those screaming again....sad. Best jet ever.
This F4 is from Tyndall AFB, Fla.
Miss these sounds from MCAS El Toro
That's awesome!
Looking at one makes my ankles hurt.
Up close front row seat of this this model jet in action several times, while doing convoys in Vietnam. This monster would just show up unexpectedly and lay down some massive hurt on the Viet Cong . They missed a few of the enemy at Ben Luc , and just after we traveled across the Bridge on highway 4 that day in '68 on a convoy supply run from Dong Tam base near My Tho, to Long Binh the Cong dropped the Ben Luc Bridge into the river. It's flyin..Low , slow and smoked like a brand new locomotive ✌🇺🇸
NAVY rag squadron VF121 out of Miramar. the best time of my life!!
Its amazing the size and thickness of the plane, yet its able to carry a massive bomb load.
Avionazo loco!!!!!!
An incredible killing machine. Checkout the exhaust at 4:47. Damn.
That is real power!!!!!
My cousin used to fly the F4 as he was a fighter pilot.
Pilots of the F-4: "Mannnn, didn't know grandad had to deal with all these instruments, and very low visibility in the cockpit. Much respect, But glad my F-22 is more advanced"
красавчик!!! "Фантик" просто супер
I did not know the US AF was still flying F4 Phantoms, is this a active aircraft? if so in what capacity?
NHseacoast the USAF has been using them as drones for a while. that's what this is, but it has also retained capacity to be pilot by man. however, they just retired the last qf-4 drones in the last couple months
John Clayton you're an idiot.. Pilots don't fly the drones. They are launched remotely . SMFH