With considerable political and financial assistance, the Collings Foundation was able to pass many significant (and justifiable) hurdles in order to acquire this aircraft through an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill of 1999. It actually took an Act of Congress to make it possible. We are very fortunate that there is a civilian-owned Phantom II still flying at all. Robin Olds’ during Operation Bolo in the Viet Nam War. She is currently painted in the markings of 66-7680, a Phantom II flown by Col. Listed on the US civil registry as N749CF, the 1965-built McDonnell Douglas F-4D Phantom II once flew with the USAF as 65-0749. She took to the skies again in the capable hands of former US Air Force ‘Rhino’-driver Harry “D-Day” Daye at 10:50am local time on August 8th, 2017 from Ellington Field in Houston, Texas. The Collings Foundation‘s F-4 Phantom II is now the only flying example of its kind in North America. 12 and 13, 2016.The Collings Foundation F-4D taking off on her recent test flight. The final F-4 Phantom appearance at an airshow occurred during Nellis Air Force Base's Aviation Nation air show, on Nov. 25, 2016, two USAF QF-4Es made flew through the famous "Star Wars Canyon" (Jedi Transition) in Death Valley, CA, during a transit from NAS Point Mugu, CA to Hill AFB, UT. More: This is what made the F-4 Phantom II the deadliest fighter to fly over Vietnam However, the aircraft was not destroyed in the test. 17, 2016, "against" an F-35 Lightning II.ĭuring that sortie, the Vietnam-era remotely piloted aircraft was shot at by the F-35 Lightning II with two AIM-120 AMRAAMs (advanced medium range air-to-air missiles). Whilst unmanned operations ended, the last unmanned mission in a threat representative configuration was flown on Aug. 23: therefore the QF-4 flown by the 82nd ATRS Det. It flew its last unmanned mission in August 2016 and will be replaced by the QF-16 in 2017.Īir Combat Command declared initial operational capability for its replacement, the QF-16 full-scale aerial target, that has been flying with the 82nd ATRS, based at Tyndall AFB, Florida, since September 2014, on Sept. Related: This is why the F-4 Phantom II had so many fans 21, 2016.ĭuring its service as an aerial target, the QF-4 has helped test an array of weapons that have contributed improving 4th and 5th generation fighters and weapons systems. However, it continued to serve with the flying branch: re-designated the QF-4 and assigned to the 82nd ATS, 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group, 53rd Wing, at Holloman, the QF-4 has flown as manned and unmanned aerial target until Dec. Nicknamed Double Ugly, Old Smokey, and the Rhino, the aircraft was retired from the active service in 1997. Moreover, it has been the only aircraft to be flown by both the U.S. In 53 years of service, the Phantom set 15 world records, including aircraft speed – 1,606 miles per hour – and absolute altitude – 98,557 feet.
"There is no way to truly understand what this aircraft has done without talking to the people who lived it." 1, 82nd Aerial Target Squadron commander in an Air Force release. "This has been a humbling experience," said King, the Det. Air Force F-4 pilot flew AF 349, the last QF-4 Phantom II in the USAF story. Interestingly, it also shows (actually, it lets you hear) the double "sonic boom" caused by two Phantoms flying overhead.Īlso read: The F-4 Phantom was inspired by this fighter Air Force of the legendary F-4 Phantom.Īs explained by Skyes9, the user who posted it on YouTube, the long footage shows the start-up, taxi out, and flyby of the F-4s, followed by water cannon salute and then shut down of the USAF McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. 21, 2016, during the final flight with the U.S. The following video was filmed at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, on Dec.
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