Posted on 06/16/2010 8:51:11 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Korean Air Force decommissions F-4D jets
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff reporter
A squadron of F-4D Phantom fighter jets conducted its last flight Wednesday, ending its 41 years of service with the ROK Air Force.
A ceremony for the decommissioning of the aircraft was held at the 11th Fighter Wing in Daegu, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul.
Boeing-built F-15K Slam Eagle fighters will replace the older aircraft.
“Though the F-4D aircraft is fading into the mist of history, their spirit will be succeeded by the F-15K, which will further bolster our air defense,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Lee Kye-hoon said at the ceremony. Hundreds of guests, including former F-4 pilots, attended the event.
The 151st Fighter Squadron of the ROK Air Force has operated about 60 F-4Ds since 1969. The twin-engine aircraft, nicknamed “MIG Killer,” can cruise at a top speed of Mach 2.3 and has an operational range of 1,260 kilometers.
Under a 2007 deal, the Air Force is receiving up-to-date F-15K aircraft from U.S. aerospace giant Boeing.
In 2002, the F-15 aircraft was selected for the 40-plane, $4.2-billion first-phase plan of the F-X fighter modernization program aimed at buying 120 high-end fighter jets by 2020.
The Boeing Company won the second-phase deal in 2008 to provide 20 more aircraft. The deal was valued at $2.3 billion.
The F-15K can fly air-to-ground, air-to-air and air-to-sea missions day or night in any weather. It has a 23,000-pound payload and can fly at a maximum speed of Mach 2.3 with a combat radius of 1,800 kilometers. gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr
Pig BUMP
They better keep those under lock & key very tightly, the iranians are desperate and will do anything to get their hands on them.
Our Air Guard base in Reno had the F4’s fitted for reconnaissance. Got rid of those years ago and got replaced by a transport group.
I miss the roar of the F4!
God that is one beautiful bird. (Unless you were a Mig pilot)
How did the song go....
'The MacDonnel Douglas F-4 Fighter / Bomber....mostly bomber...'..
Years of maintenance on C / D / E / G models...
Great jet.
My father was an F4 driver....said it was like flying a rock with wings.
You mean Rhino bump? Phantoms Phorever! Love that old jet. First plane I worked on in the USN, starting in ‘80 and still love it.
F-4D is a maintainance nightmare. Last of the tube-fired, analog computer fighters.
We called ‘em pigs. Still got scars from 6228.
The F-4 - living proof that with enough thrust, anything will fly.
Inexpert aviation fan question here:
What’s the pod hung on the mid-line of the F-4D?
Is it one of those cannon pods?
Just curious.
My first day of training, my instructor grabs my wrist and touches the klystron. Someone says "Wouldn't you have gotten shocked, too.? " He says "Yeah...but I was ready for it." Good times.
You always remember the tail number of the jet that hurt you the worst. ;)
20mm gun pod.
And, the guys who had worked on "real" jets were worth their weight in gold the first time the BIT test wouldn't work.
My dad was a USAF pilot (not in F-4's) but he had a similar saying: "proof that enough thrust a brick can be made to fly"...
I still love the look AND sound of an F-4....
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