F-4

[badlander45]

Hi all, today on Atlanta center at about 12:15 eastern heard center speaking to an F-4 on UHF with the call sign "chevy1 " it was indeed an F-4 because center was asked many times by other aircraft on VHF if it really was an F-4. Does any know what agency or service would still be flying this F-4?

 

[JungleJett]

I think they still have pilots in the cockpit of some drones out of FL. The Germans out of Holloman and the Collings Foundation flies one too.

 

[Huggyu2]

The 20th FS at Holloman got rid of their F-4's about 2 years ago.
The USAF is providing an F-4 demo. The one I saw has got a real nice paint job. I believe the pilots (and jets) are part of the Eglin/Holloman test group.
The Collings Foundation's jet is based at Ellington Field in Houston.

 

[jetjock6]

I saw one at the Air and Sea Show down in FLL a few years ago that was owned by a private company. If I remember right it was been flown by Steve Ritchie.

 

[badlander45]

Thanks everyone.

 

[JimNtexas]

The Collins Foundation operates an F-4D, usually flown by VietNam ace Steve Richie.

A while back they auctioned some backseat rides on cross countries from their base in Houston to various airshows. These rides sold for over $15,000 each!

Now I know I was underpaid when I was a WSO!

 

[AlbieF15]

Tyndall still has some QF-4s. Some of them are painted in their historic colors (60s, 70s, 80s) and are gorgeous.

 

[LR25]

QF-4's on the airshow circuit/ Heritage flights. I believe 5 F-4's are doing this.

 

[Huggyu2]

Steve Ritchie was doing the flights until a couple of years ago. He had a falling out with Mr Collins and left. "Cowboy" Keck has picked up the pilot duties. Cowboy is quite a character, I might add. And a very good F-4 driver, I'm told.

 

[CFI2766]

Did a quick google search; not much in the way of results for schedules or times to see a Phantom doing a heritage flight.

I'd definately go out of my way to see a Phantom flying again.