Phodocu

Very soon there will only be 3 countries left in the world operating the mighty F-4 phantom, which is loved by so many enthusiasts around the world for its beautiful lines. With the end of the F-4 use by the Republic of Korea Air Force in just a few weeks here a photo of one of their last F-4E's made early 2023. It is seen here returning to its home base of Suwon, South Korea carrying a dummy 'Popeye' missile.

In May 2023 Phodocu visited the only Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace dedicated air defence unit at Base aérienne 116 Luxeuil-Saint Sauveur. During this visit phodocu was shown the current activities and interviewed members of this unique community flying the Dassault Aviation Mirage "DASH 5'. For the full article go to our website: www.phodocu.com.

Happy new year to everyone! We are hoping this year for a healthy joyful adventurous ride!

tba

Merry Christmas to all who follow our page. For today we have a special 'Happy Holidays' Tomcat. F-14B 162911/AG-210 of VF-11 'Red Rippers' at Oceana on January 8th 2004. It has special holiday markings and 'hawg' santa.

U.S. Air Force Materiel Command NKC-135R 61-0320 of the 418th FLTS at Edwards Air Force Base March 2014

航空自衛隊 Japan Air Self-Defense Force RF-4E 47-6901 of Hyakuri AB 501 Hikotai at the December 2019 Phantom farewell airshow.

F-4E-2020 'Terminator' of the Türk Hava Kuvvetleri (Turkish Air Force) at Konya AB, Turkey during exercise Anatolian Eagle, June 2014. Under the left wing It is carrying a Lockheed Martin ATM-142A, an unarmed training version of the AGM-142A Have Nap missile which is a U.S. derivative of the Israeli Rafael 'pop-eye' missile.

U.S. Air Force Materiel Command mission modified KC-135R 63-7980 'speckled Trout' of 412 FLTS, also nicknamed 'speckled Trout', at Edwards Air Force Base March 2014.

Oregon Air National Guard 173d Fighter Wing F-15C 81-0053 is flying over Oregon State on a training mission March 2004.

Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force) EF-18BM CE.15-10/12-73 of Ala 12 with special tail marking to commemorate 25 years of F-18 with Ala. Seen here at the Turkish Air Force base of Konya during Anatolian Eagle 2014.

Israeli Air Force F-15I Ra'am of 69 squadron 'The Hammers squadron' is coming in to land at Nellis AFB September 2002, after a Red Flag mission.

U.S. Navy Grumman F-14 Tomcat F-14D 164341/AJ-201 of VF-213 'Black Lions' at Naval Air Station Oceana January 2004. This specific aircraft made the final operational F-14 catapult launch from the USS Theodore Roosevelt on July 28th 2006.

Belgian Air Force Alpha Jet AT-18 of 1 Wing celebrated the 25 years of Alpha Jet service in the Belgian Air Force and is seen here at Kleine Brogel AB, Belgium July 2005.

航空自衛隊 Japan Air Self-Defense Force (R)F-4E 77-6397 is an F-4E modified to carry a recce pod and is part of 501 Hikotai reconnaissance squadron, at the December 2019 Hyakuri AB Phantom farewell airshow.

F/A-18A 162834/AF-201 of VFA-201 'Hunters' at Forth Worth Alliance airport February 2007. VFA-201 was stationed at NAS Forth Worth and was disestablished later that same year.

Swiss Air Force F/A-18C flying a demo at Base aérienne 116 Luxeuil-Saint Sauveur during the open house rehearsal day September 17th 2021.

B-1B 85-0091/EL of the 77th Bomb squadron 'War Eagles' going towards the runway for take off from Nellis AFB for another Red Flag mission April 2000.

Republic of China Air Force (中華民國空軍) F-16B 6814, with special anniversary tail, of the 22nd Tactical Fighter Group approaching Chiayi AB, Taiwan November 2019.

EA-6B 158802/NL-500 of Electronic Attack Squadron 137 Rooks (VAQ-137) at NAS Whidbey Island March 2004.

Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130J 160614 of 436 squadron on Força Aérea Brasileira (Brasilian Air Force) base of Natal during Cruzex 2013.

UH-60J 58-4595 of the Japanse Air Self Defense Force Rescue Training Squadron (Kyunan Kyoikutai) is seen here fitted with an air refueling probe, something which not all JASDF UH-60J are fitted with. Seen at the 2019 Nagoya-Komaki AB open house.

Boeing KC-767J 87-3603 of 404 Hikotai arriving at Nogaya-Komaki AB in Japan during the open house March 2019.

U.S Marine Corps CH-46E 157702/YX-607 of HMM-166, with some great art on the side, at MCAS Tustin November 8th 1993.In the background one of the 2 wooden blimp hangars on this base.

Naval Strike AIr Warfare Center, or 'Top Gun' F-16A 900946/55 at Naval Air Station Fallon March 2004. NSAWC is now named the naval aviation warfighting development center. This F-16 is one of 28 F-16 originally build for the Pakistan Air Force but never delivered after an embargo was put in place by the US gouvernment in 1994. After having been stored in Arizona for almost 20 years they were delivered to the U.S. Navy as adversary aircraft at 'Top Gun'.

In 2004 the Bundeswehr hosted the Tiger Meet of the NATO Tiger Association at the German Air Force base of Schleswig-Jagel. 51 Tigers Schleswig 'Aufklarungs Geschwader 51' was the hosting unit and Torndado IDS 43+96 was their special painted aircraft in this event.

U.S. Air Force Materiel Command F-35A 09-5006 of the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron / 53rd Wing at Edwards AFB March 2014.

Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (French Air Force) Mirage 2000D 667/3-JZ of EC 02.003 'Champagne' during the NATO tactical leadership programme at Florennes AB, Belgium September 2006.

Republic of China Air Force (中華民國空軍) F-16A 6677, with colorful tail markings, of the 26th Tactical Fighter Group approaching Hualien AB, Taiwan November 2019.