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F-4 Crashes In California

USAFHummer From United States of America, joined May 2000, 10685 posts, RR: 54
Posted (11 years 1 month 5 days 6 hours ago) and read 1546 times:

Just saw this on the local news...

In Ventura, California, at an airshow, an F-4 crashed. They showed home video, and looks like the aircraft was making a low pass, then two puffs of fire from the engines following by the aircraft nosing over into a right banking descent out of control, 1 crewman ejected but the plane crashed right after he departed and there was a huge fireball...both crew are dead...

Who did this plane come from? I thought all F-4's were gone from the USAF/RES/ANG...

Greg

Chief A.net college football stadium self-pic guru

17 replies: All unread, jump to last

Contact_tower From Norway, joined Sep 2001, 536 posts, RR: 1
Reply 1, posted (11 years 1 month 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 1396 times:

The German Air force training det. at Holloman maybe? They fly the F-4. Smile

L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29350 posts, RR: 62
Reply 2, posted (11 years 1 month 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 1392 times:

No, It was a QF-4

The Q means that it was an F-4 that was converted to be an aerial drone. It can be flown with a crew or by remote control. Most of them will be blown up testing missiles.

OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.

LY744 From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 5536 posts, RR: 11
Reply 3, posted (11 years 1 month 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 1387 times:

Can anyone tell me more about the German F-4's at Holloman that Contact_tower mentioned? The organizers of the 2002 London Airshow promise an F-4 appearance that they say is based out of Holloman AFB. Is it going to be a German a/c, then?

LY744.

Pacifism only works if EVERYBODY practices it

Rene From Germany, joined Nov 2001, 55 posts, RR: 0
Reply 4, posted (11 years 1 month 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 1378 times:

There are 23 F-4F Phantoms based at Holloman, alongside 42 Tornados. They are used by the German Air Force Flying Training Centre. The Phantoms are operated by US-Personnel and flying with USAF emblem and 'HO'-Tailcode.
The Centre has a homepage which is available in German and ENGLISH: http://www.flgausbzlw.net/

LY744 From Canada, joined Feb 2001, 5536 posts, RR: 11
Reply 5, posted (11 years 1 month 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 1367 times:

If the F-4's are flown by Americans and wear USAF color schemes, what's the German connection? Smile

LY744.

Pacifism only works if EVERYBODY practices it

Rene From Germany, joined Nov 2001, 55 posts, RR: 0
Reply 6, posted (11 years 1 month 4 days 15 hours ago) and read 1359 times:

I'm sorry. My English is not the best one.
What I meant was that the Phantoms are used to train German fighter pilots but are maintained by US Personell. I'm not sure if they have American Instructor Pilots too. Maybe someone else has more informations Smile/happy/getting dizzy

Blackbird1 From Germany, joined Mar 2002, 220 posts, RR: 6
Reply 7, posted (11 years 1 month 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1334 times:

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LY 744 and Rene,

below find a picture of a Holloman based F-4 used by German crews for flight training:

Click for large version

Photo © Gerhard Plomitzer

Ciao
Blackbird1

I'd rather be flying!

TEDSKI From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 8, posted (11 years 1 month 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 1326 times:

I thought the F-4 was retired from US service and are being converted into remote control target drones?

2912n From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 2013 posts, RR: 9
Reply 9, posted (11 years 1 month 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 1318 times:

The one that crashed was a QF-4, which would make it a drone, but they also use them as manned a/c for a varieety of purposes. Just becausse it is a drone does not mean it always gets shot at/down.

Hamfist From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 614 posts, RR: 4
Reply 10, posted (11 years 1 month 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 1323 times:

Tyndall AFB has a lot of QF-4's also. They are indeed used as aerial targets for the USAF. However, some flights are "manned" whenever the aircraft needs to be tested.

Must feel really strange sitting in a fighter jet being flown by someone on the ground. I could see an endless bag of potential gags.

CaptainMatt From United States of America, joined Feb 2002, 76 posts, RR: 0
Reply 11, posted (11 years 1 month 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1317 times:

I was on my way to that airshow, but I was turned away, I live 20 minutes from Point Mugu NAS. Point Mugu has the largest squadron of F-4's. The phantom is used extensively for testing out new flight equipment like different kind of radars and stuff like that. That particular phantom flew for VX-9. Point mugu has one of the biggest naval sea test range. also
Matt

ILOVEA340 From United States of America, joined Oct 1999, 2100 posts, RR: 5
Reply 12, posted (11 years 1 month 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 1313 times:

I was ther and watched it happen. It was horrifing
I turned to my dad after the engine flamed out and told him that the plane was going to crash and 5-10 sec. later it hit. One pilot ejected just before impact but was to low for the chute to open.
It was an F-4 stationed at Point Mugu.

Tomh From United States of America, joined May 1999, 960 posts, RR: 3
Reply 13, posted (11 years 1 month 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 1303 times:

Obviously not the F-4 you are talking about, but for the last couple of years there has also been a flying F-4D with "OY" tail code and Euro1 camo at US airshows. This one is painted to represent a USAF Vietnam-era ace whose name I forgot.

Contact_tower From Norway, joined Sep 2001, 536 posts, RR: 1
Reply 14, posted (11 years 1 month 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1274 times:

"I'm not sure if they have American Instructor Pilots too. Maybe someone else has more informations "

From http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com

"F-4's do not formally belong to the FlgAusbZLw, but as 20th Fighter Squadron they are part of the US Air Force's 49th Fighter Wing, which also flies F-117 Nighthawks and T-38 Talons. Nonetheless, command of the squadron has recently been taken over by a German squadron leader, and most of the flying instructors are German Air Force personnel as well. Maintenance has been handled since November 1999 by Dyn Corp."

Hamfist From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 614 posts, RR: 4
Reply 15, posted (11 years 1 month 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 1266 times:

The pilot you are referring to is retired General Steve Ritchie. We had him at an airshow on Randolph AFB in 2000. Also had a chance to meet him when he spoke at my ROTC unit back in 94/95 timeframe. Seemed like an OK guy, but I've heard from others who have had less-than-pleasant encounters with him. I hear he can be a jerk sometimes.

ILOVEA340 From United States of America, joined Oct 1999, 2100 posts, RR: 5
Reply 16, posted (11 years 1 month 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1260 times:

You are correct it was a GF-4 arial radar and target plane basesed at either Mugu or Tyndall.

Tomh From United States of America, joined May 1999, 960 posts, RR: 3
Reply 17, posted (11 years 1 month 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1211 times:

Yeah, that's the guy. I was going to put his name in my reply, but I couldn't remember if Ritchie was USAF or USN. Anyone know if there were any USMC aces in 'Nam?

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