F-4 Phantom II all Variants

[Anna M. Wood]

Excellent work Joe and Jay at the Phantom Phinally....

[Bubak]

...nice work!

[Bubak]

McDonnell-Douglas-QF-4E-Phantom-II-72-0140 by Zdenek Kaspar, on Flickr

[Chris C.]

Great shots by all.

[Chris Janes]

Love the shots from the Phantom final flight, especially Joe's end of watch shot. Definitely could see that printed up in a nice big metal print and hung on a wall. Well done by all.

[Joe Copalman]

THE LAST LAP

Another one from the Phantom Phinale.  Love the non-standard camo on this bird.

[Joe Copalman]

Love the shots from the Phantom final flight, especially Joe's end of watch shot. Definitely could see that printed up in a nice big metal print and hung on a wall. Well done by all.

Thanks Chris.  Tempted to give it a try.

[Joe Copalman]

THE LAST GOODBYE

Easily one of my favorite shots from the Phantom Farewell last month. 

[wingsnstuff]

Excellent tribute shot Joe.  One can almost see the saddened smile on the face of this Phantom driver.  The Last Lap and Last Goodbye are both so appropriate.  It's sad to know that we'll not see them fly again.  Especially us "Old Guys" who saw them come to the inventory and perform so powerfully over the years in the defense of our Nation.  Thanks for posting.   

[wingsnstuff]

Beautiful set Jay.  Wonderful shots all.  I would have loved to have been there to see it in person.  Thanks for the posts.

[Joe Copalman]

Excellent tribute shot Joe.  One can almost see the saddened smile on the face of this Phantom driver.  The Last Lap and Last Goodbye are both so appropriate.  It's sad to know that we'll not see them fly again.  Especially us "Old Guys" who saw them come to the inventory and perform so powerfully over the years in the defense of our Nation.  Thanks for posting.   

Thanks Vance.

What left the greatest impression on me at the F-4 retirement event is that Det 1 at Holloman had just received their first QF-16 two days prior.  The F-16 is a vastly superior aircraft for the aerial targets mission - it's far more maneuverable than the F-4 and the control responses are immediate.  It is very clearly an upgrade for them.  Yet despite this, there was virtually no mention of this during the ceremony, and certainly no celebration of getting some new and improved iron on their ramp.  It really drove home just how iconic and beloved the Phantom is.  

[Joe Copalman]

NOT THE HAIR!

[Brian Corbett]

Last Roll - WAM taxiing after the final QF-4E air show performance.

[Jay Beckman]

THE LAST GOODBYE

Easily one of my favorite shots from the Phantom Farewell last month. 

Props to you Joe for thinking of the human element.  I wish I'd have cheated toward that side of the ramp a bit more...

[Joe Copalman]

Thanks Jay.  Hauled ass from the west side to the east to catch this.  Was hoping to get all four pilots during their 'dismounts,' but the set-up that day precluded it.  Getting people shots was a bit of a pain in the ass since the guy from Airman Magazine was in everyone's faces with his wide-angle lens, meaning he was in everyone else's shots, but he was there doing his job and the people shots he got were actually pretty good: https://www.flickr.com/photos/airmanmagazine/albums/72157680603016495