F-4 v. F-16

[AA717driver]

I signed up to be a WSO in the FWA unit when they had C models. I backed out because I started taking flying lessons and learned the airlines were hiring people with less than 20/20. But I sure regret not going through with it. That's gone and you can't get it back...

We have property right under the confluence of a bunch of low level routes in Southern Indiana. Back in the early '80's, it was an airshow every Saturday. F-4's from INANG and AFRES, A-7's from OHANG, A-10's from GUS. IT ROCKED!

As a newhire at TWA, taking lunch out in the parking lot and watching the MOANG "E" models in the pattern with green F-15's, F-18's and Harriers. All the McD flights doing the Viking Climb off RW 24. Priceless.

You guys who got to do that have a great gift. It will never be that way again.

Thanks!

TC

 

[ExAF]

Yep

Did car alarms even exist when the T-Birds flew f-4's?

Yep....they did, but they weren't standard equipment like on today's cars. They weren't as prolific.

 

[Freebrd]

If you want to talk about a real mans plane, we need to be discussing the THUD!

so correct, not saying F4s aren't either, just read any Thud book on what those patriots went through in 'nam, their missions, think they lost almost half of the production run of 105s there, plus that thing had a 4 stage burner I think, cool when they took off and that thing lit up

 

[Diesel-9]

I really enjoyed this book. "Bury Us Upside Down" Story about the F-100 Fast Fac's and the battle for the Ho Chi Minh Trail. http://www.amazon.com/Bury-Us-Upside-Down-Pilots/dp/0345465385

 

[HoserASA]

I really enjoyed this book. "Bury Us Upside Down" Story about the F-100 Fast Fac's and the battle for the Ho Chi Minh Trail. http://www.amazon.com/Bury-Us-Upside-Down-Pilots/dp/0345465385

I just finished reading Col Bud Day's book, "American Patriot" (believe that's the title), and it was awesome. Col Day started the F100 Fast Fac program and this book tells about that and his tour in Vietnam, subsequent capture and time spent as a POW. Col Day also is the most highest decorated Officer with the Medal of Honor among his numerous decorations. The Col is one tough dude!

 

[Captain Morgan]

I really enjoyed this book. "Bury Us Upside Down" Story about the F-100 Fast Fac's and the battle for the Ho Chi Minh Trail. http://www.amazon.com/Bury-Us-Upside-Down-Pilots/dp/0345465385

I own it and love it!

 

[AdlerDriver]

Col Day also is the most highest decorated Officer with the Medal of Honor among his numerous decorations. The Col is one tough dude!

I'll second that. Colonel Day presented me with my AF wings when I graduated UPT and tossed back a few with me at the O-club later. What an honor and a day I'll never forget.
:beer:

 

[414Flyer]

so correct, not saying F4s aren't either, just read any Thud book on what those patriots went through in 'nam, their missions, think they lost almost half of the production run of 105s there, plus that thing had a 4 stage burner I think, cool when they took off and that thing lit up

F-105s were really fast. One of the jokes from the short timeframe that both appeared at Red Flag or William Tell was them telling the F-15 guys - "Check 12", but then thats about all the F-105 could do was just run like heck and try to get away.

 

[AdlerDriver]

A Thud two-ship got split up over Vietnam after hitting the target and dodging multiple SAMs. The lead pilot had plenty of adrenaline flowing and was using the best feature of the Thud to get out of dodge.

#2: "Waco 1, say your position."
#1: "South, heading south."
#2: "Say airspeed."
#1: "1000 knots"
#2: "Can you pull it back?"
#1: "Nope."

 

[Scrapdog]

I really enjoyed this book. "Bury Us Upside Down" Story about the F-100 Fast Fac's and the battle for the Ho Chi Minh Trail. http://www.amazon.com/Bury-Us-Upside-Down-Pilots/dp/0345465385

Thanks for the rec. I'll def. check it out.

 

[BoilerUP]

Spring of 2002 I was a freshman in college/AFROTC and had the great honor of meeting Col. Day during a tour of Eglin AFB. Toward the end of describing his ordeal, the man pulled his MoH from his suit jacket pocket like it was a watch and held it out in his hand for all of us awestruck cadets to see.

 

[bagasticks]

kind of obscure and hard to find (see amazon). but check out "Pak Six" by Geno Basel. Excellent read about a thud driver's existence as a young captain at a time when you had 60% chance of getting shot down prior to 100. Unlike Thud Ridge or When Thunder Rolled, there's little politics in this book, just gritty life and death stick and rudder flying. .

http://www.amazon.com/Pak-Six-G-I-Basel/dp/0515090050/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1300910416&sr=8-1

 

[Captain Morgan]

I'm reading "Phantom over Vietnam" by John Trotti. I just started it and it's a good read. Looks like you Zoomies didn't have all the fun! :laugh: