Some oldies - British RAF F4 (Phantom II) + (56k'er warning)

[iwatkins]

Hi All,

Inspired by this thread (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=61895) I've gone and dug out some old pictures from my days of working on a front line airbase in the time of the Cold War.

I've lots more, but most are still in print and haven't been scanned yet.

Cheers

Ian



http://www.asrv84.dsl.pipex.com/Stuff/F4-1.jpg

http://www.asrv84.dsl.pipex.com/Stuff/F4-2.jpg

http://www.asrv84.dsl.pipex.com/Stuff/F4-3.jpg

http://www.asrv84.dsl.pipex.com/Stuff/F4-4.jpg

http://www.asrv84.dsl.pipex.com/Stuff/F4-5.jpg

http://www.asrv84.dsl.pipex.com/Stuff/F4-6.jpg

http://www.asrv84.dsl.pipex.com/Stuff/F4-7.jpg

http://www.asrv84.dsl.pipex.com/Stuff/F4-8.jpg

http://www.asrv84.dsl.pipex.com/Stuff/F4-9.jpg

http://www.asrv84.dsl.pipex.com/Stuff/F4-0.jpg

[PhotosGuy]

I've always been impressed by their look - very "Iron Eagle"!

[CyberDyneSystems]

I love it Ian,. the last one is a classic,. and te flight shots are amazing :)

When this bird was "new" everyone thought it was "ugly"... it had nicknames like "Flying brick" etc...

I absolutely love this bird,. and I think it and the tiny A4 have a "delta fighter" classic look to them that defines the era they came from.. (oh and the Sepecat Jaguar too)

[Moppie]

I. and I think it and the tiny A4 have a "delta fighter" classic look to them that defines the era they came from.. (oh and the Sepecat Jaguar too)


And don't forget the Mirage F5!


My first real model plane was an F4, they are IMO one of the funkiest looking aircraft ever made. Almost pure functionality!

[PhotosGuy]

Almost pure functionality! "Iron Eagle" with a Robert DeNiro attitude, right?

[Ian_H]

Nice shots Ian, I really like the b&w ones.


Cheers
Ian

[iwatkins]

Thanks all.

Looking back through these brings back some good memories (and a few bad).

Most were shot on 35mm film using either an EOS650 or an Olly OM10. Oh to have had a 10D and the 100-400L in those days. :)

Cheers

Ian

[Ballen Photo]

I wish I could comment here, but all I see are ten lovely Red X's. :cry:
-Bruce

[iwatkins]

Bruce,

There appears to be problems with my web space at the moment, i.e. beyond my control. Check back later, hopefully it'll all be OK again by then.

Ian

[Moppie]

"Iron Eagle" with a Robert DeNiro attitude, right?


Robert DeNiro yes!

Iron eagle?
I don't think so :rolleyes:
(possible 2 or 3 of the worst movies ever made!)

[PhotosGuy]

(possible 2 or 3 of the worst movies ever made!) Haha! You're right, but I ment it IS an iron eagle. ;-)

[quickben]

Ian, was that 229 Sqn by any chance ?

[iwatkins]

Quickben,

Our home squadrons were 56 and 74. We did get a lot of visitor Phantoms, mainly from Leuchars (they ran Northern QRA, we ran Southern, hence they would quite often drop in to refuel after chasing off "bears" over the North Sea).

From what I remember, 229 Sqn. were an OCU unit at Coningsby converting pilots from the Phantom to the F3 ? Vaugely rings bells, but it was a few years ago. :)

Cheers

Ian

[BoySpot]

Going to show myself up here but it was 229OCU. Don't think it had a shadow squadron number but could be wrong on that. Notice some 92Sqn and 19Sqn machines from Wildenrath there as well. Wildenrath is now gone and has become a train testing facility for Siemens. Some of my colleagues have been there since we buy a lot of trains from them.

Glad to see you got a back seat ride in the beastie. Not sure how good the view was from the back of a Tomb but I bet it was still quite a ride.

[iwatkins]

BoySpot

I'm not sure on the details of OCU. Yes, some "Wildenrats" in there as well. Some shots were taken when there were approx. 50+ Phantoms from all over at Wattisham for some big fly past (Queen's Birthday ?). Can't remember.

#5 is actually taken from the side door of a C130 over the North Sea. I used to go up with the C130s from Lynham for fight affiliation training for them. 1 on 1 or 2 on 1 missions were fun. Basically rolling around in the back of an empty C130 while the pilots tried to not be "shot down" by the Phantoms. Always good for very long high G turns. (barrf).

I was lucky enough to get a back seat jolly in a Phantom just before the Phantoms left. Did a low level sortie up throgh East Anglia then a high level super sonic transit over North Sea then back down low for a mock attack of the airfield. Great fun and was even allowed to "fly" it for a few minutes over the North Sea. Wasn't sick once, until about 2 minutes after climbing down, then was sick like a good 'un. :) I didn't take te camera (wasn't allowed) but I have some photos taken by a friend with me strapped in and rolling out of the HAS site.

Cheers

Ian

[BoySpot]

In my old job I had a back seat in a Hawk through the Welsh valleys. One of the most enjoyable things I have done. Felt quite queezy but held it down - just. First question everyone asked when I got back was did I lose my lunch? Had a little play at altitude over the Irish Sea and then back to Warton. When getting changed afterwards, I fell over in the showers. Would have been mighty embarrassing to get through the trip and then break something in the shower! Happy days.

[quickben]

Ian, which one were you on, 56 or 74 ?

I was on 56 Sqn about four years ago at Coningsby. It's the F3 OCU now and it's gone up to Leuchars where it'll stay until they get rid of the F3 fleet. 229 was indeed at Coningsby when the F3's came in and then it turned into 56(R) Sqn. I'm at Lossie now, and it's dire. :-(

Trying desperately to get back there.

Cheers for memories

Gary.

[Ballen Photo]

Ian, Now that I can see them, YES! Really nice shots you have here. :D
-Bruce

[iwatkins]

Thanks everyone. :)

Gary,
No, wasn't on a squadron, or even in the RAF, was the MetMan (worked for the Met Office). So got the best of both worlds, got to go fly in lots of stuff and got paid to look out of the window all day, but got to go home at the end of the day (or night) shift. Still had to play at exercises (remember TACEVALS ?) etc. and always seemed to be being gassed and wearing rubber and charcoal gear etc. :)

Feel for you stuck at Lossiegob, did a 3 month detachment up there once, wasn't the best of places. Mind you, could be worse, you could be at Valley. ;)

Ah yes, fun times. :)

Cheers

Ian

[booggerg]

Good reminder of how much better film looks over digital...

[adamsti]

If you guys like F-4's head here: http://www.fencecheck.com/forums/index.php?topic=1174.0

[Jetmech1]

In it's time the F-4 was a great aircraft. Love those pics. When I was in the USAF stationed at RAF Alconbury we had F-4C models. The F-4 is a great looking warbird. Didn't the RAF F-4's have Royal Royce engines in them? I believe the USAF birds had P&W J79's

John

[iwatkins]

John,

That's right, us Brits always do that. We buy American aircraft then spend years trying to shoe horn a RR engine into them. :)

I think we replaced the J79 with the more powerful Rolls Royce Spey engine, but I understand it made the planes maximum speed actually slower ;)

Cheers

Ian

[Jetmech1]

John,

That's right, us Brits always do that. We buy American aircraft then spend years trying to shoe horn a RR engine into them. :)

I think we replaced the J79 with the more powerful Rolls Royce Spey engine, but I understand it made the planes maximum speed actually slower ;)

Cheers

Ian

Also on the RAF aircraft the fuselage was 1 - 2 inches wider to accept the RR engine. That may acount for the additional drag that slowed the RAF down a bit. (Is this correct?) Also the RR engines were smokeless if I remember correctly and the J79 powered aircraft smoked badly. I have some fairly good shots of F4's from when station at RAF, but they are all on film.

John

[PhotosGuy]

We buy American aircraft then spend years trying to shoe horn a RR engine into them. It worked for the P-51! ;-)