During 1972 Easter Offensive in Vietnam, F-4 pairs did night afterburner takeoffs from the nearby air base. The ground shook when the burners cut in with a huge flame trail. The noise continued until the pair was a mile after takeoff then all was quiet. Sleep impossible, might as well watch.
We were Huey pilots and grateful for the close air support. I asked a F-4 driver how the aircraft actually flew and he couldn’t answer except there was so much horsepower it didn’t matter how small the wing area was.
“F-4 pairs did night afterburner takeoffs from the nearby air base.”
Used to watch that from the other side of the ramp in Terre Haute, all the time. Fun to watch.
F4 Phantom....physical proof that if you put big enough engines in a brick it will fly