BannedCR500Riders.com

I still remember that day when I reported to the squadron commander at the 33rd TFW at Eglin.
It was at the top of the hangar bay and I got to walk down the stairs inside the bay after that.
Standing at the top of the hangar bay looking down at the most aggressive looking aircraft I had ever seen.
An F4 Phantom.
BAD ASS is all I could think. I may have had wood, I don't remember.
Then I walked over to the line delivery area and saw F4's loaded to the gills wingtip to wingtip with weapons and extra fuel tanks.
There must have been at least 20 of them ready to go.
The Sandinistas had just overthrown the government in Nicaragua.
I wasn't going, I had just got there.
Nothing happened and it all calmed down after a while.
A solitary 2 seat F15 was in the bay also and we transitioned to the F15 over the next year.
Watching those F4's take off was an awesome experience until I saw the F15 take off and go vertical right after wheels up.
Another awesome experience was hearing the 20mm gatling gun in the distance being sighted in.
This vid takes me back. Damn I love fighter planes.
http://youtu.be/V30f88a8OTA

The Phantom was the plastic model I always use to build as a kid. I've built more of those than any other model. I saw the Blue Angels Phantoms perform at an airshow back in the early 70's and that's what started the whole craze. I was 8 or 9 yrs old at the time.

The Phantom is an awesome plane.
I've heard it's pretty much a school bus with 2 rocket engines.
No matter, it served with distinction.
The F86 is the model I used to play with when I was a kid.
Really sux getting old.

not sure if they are still in use but....

I know they went into Iraq to take out the anti aircraft radar installations