Cookenbacher Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 Last week, I got to attend PhanCon, the annual meeting of the F-4 Phantom society, with Procopius himself at Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, NM. The attendees were former Phantom pilots and maintainers, aviation professionals, aerospace press, and two overawed modellers that you may recognize. Each day, we were driven in buses to the end of the Holloman runways and two of the last Phantoms in USAF service would take off and fly low and loud. They would signal their return 45 minutes later with a pair of sonic booms. Incredible stuff. PC and I did our best to point the camera (borrowed from my sister) at them as they zoomed by. Occasionally, an F-4 would appear in frame when we managed to click the button, but rarely in focus. Here are some of the best we got. The steely-eyed Procopius raises his lens. We also got to visit the flight line. 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted September 22, 2016 Author Share Posted September 22, 2016 In addition to the Phantoms, Holloman is also host to two F-16 training squadrons who graciously allowed us to visit one of their hangars and ask questions of an instructor pilot and aircraft crew chief. I can't help but think that this F-16's chosen departure technique may have been influenced by seeing a gaggle of photographers at the end of the runway. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted September 22, 2016 Author Share Posted September 22, 2016 If that wasn't enough, we were also invited to attend a talk given by a leading member of the German Air Force contingent at Holloman about Tornado training operations at the base. Pretty much the best week ever. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 Duuuude! I had no idea you got those F-16 shots. Nice. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 Amazing stuff, would love to have been there! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 That last phantom with very very well worn finish......yummy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan B Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 Oh to walk a Phantom flightline again.....! What a very lucky pair you are, I bet there were grins from ear to ear all week long. Thanks for making me very jealous and for the great photos too (I now want to break out that Hasegawa F-4E and paint that worn looking Toom). Duncan B (ex Phantom Phondler) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonf45 Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 That looks a fantastic place to visit!!! Great shots 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Evil Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 Who cares the piccies are blurry, the fact that the camera couldn't keep up will only add to the legend of the MIGHTY TOOM! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stosh65 Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 Not jealous. Not at all. Just might kill you in your sleep given half a chance. Some good shots of what must have been an awesome experience. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 1 hour ago, Stosh65 said: Just might kill you in your sleep given half a chance. Pretty common sentiment among those who've met me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritag Posted September 25, 2016 Share Posted September 25, 2016 Wow. I had no idea the USAF still operated a few F4s. Not sure we get skies that big and blue in the UK On 22 September 2016 at 1:19 PM, Duncan B said: What a very lucky pair you are, I bet there were grins from ear to ear all week long. Thanks for making me very jealous and for the great photos too Echo those sentiments. Jealous - very jealous. Love to sit in an F16 again.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 25, 2016 Share Posted September 25, 2016 On 22/9/2016 at 14:19, Duncan B said: What a very lucky pair you are, I bet there were grins from ear to ear all week long. Thanks for making me very jealous and for the great photos too (I now want to break out that Hasegawa F-4E and paint that worn looking Toom). Duncan B (ex Phantom Phondler) Can only echo this comment myself (including the Hasegawa F-4E thing ). And the F-16s and Tornados are super-cool too! You and PC, lucky b... guys Thank you so much for sharing, Cookie! Ciao 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PZRGREN Posted September 25, 2016 Share Posted September 25, 2016 Not jealous one bit!! Thanks for sharing!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Procopius Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 Cookie left out the other photo he took of me: 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 Just goes to show you have to kiss a lot of F4ogs before you meet your Prince (If it's not an F4 please go with it... like 'art', humour has its own rules) 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 That's a great pic @Procopius ! You should hang it on every wall at home! 1 hour ago, CedB said: Just goes to show you have to kiss a lot of F4ogs before you meet your Prince Ciao 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted September 26, 2016 Author Share Posted September 26, 2016 On 9/22/2016 at 6:19 AM, Duncan B said: I now want to break out that Hasegawa F-4E and paint that worn looking Toom. Duncan B (ex Phantom Phondler) On 9/22/2016 at 5:34 AM, ozothenutter said: That last phantom with very very well worn finish......yummy Here are a few more shots of the well worn Phantom for you guys - it certainly captured my attention as well. On 9/25/2016 at 1:41 PM, Fritag said: Love to sit in an F16 again.... Stories please! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
giemme Posted September 26, 2016 Share Posted September 26, 2016 But I know I would disappoint someone if I do an F- 4 that worned out Ciao 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted September 27, 2016 Share Posted September 27, 2016 Is that adc grey over lizard over sea? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted October 12, 2016 Author Share Posted October 12, 2016 I think you're right Ozo, it appears to be all three schemes stripped to various layers. I would guess the grey layer may be the Hill Scheme/Egypt 1 rather than ADC, but it could well be either or both! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bozothenutter Posted October 12, 2016 Share Posted October 12, 2016 (edited) I think you're right.....this is a must build! Slatted E with long gun and some generic decals.....plus one hell of a paintjob! Edited October 12, 2016 by ozothenutter 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted October 12, 2016 Author Share Posted October 12, 2016 I did a little digging, and here's a pic of 68-0464 in Lizard/European 1, and here in SEA. I can't seem to find a pic of her in grey, but it's quite obvious that she was at some point. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 Wow! Excellent work you lucky .......... A long time ago, 30 years in fact, I lived in a collection of portacabin type thingy's at the end of the runway at RAF Mount Pleasant in the Falklands and would spend many a happy time listening to and feeling the Phantoms depart. A similar amount of time was spent in the Land Rover watching and smelling them return, and yes Chief Yeoman that is what I was doing! I watched them depart from RIAT a couple of years ago on the Monday morning while stood in the field near the green car park, what a thrill to hear and feel it again! Possibly the most beautiful jet ever built. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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