RAF F-4 for Nick

[Splitpin]

An aircraft from 1435 flight ...The Flight goes by the motto of "Protect the Right" while the motto of the Falkland Islands is "Desire the Right"."
As you know, the F-4's have been replaced by the Typhoon's. There were four of them down there, taking their names from the Gladiators that defended Malta...but the fourth one had its own name which I can't remember.
Not sure if 1435 is still operational.

[chopper_nut]

Looks pretty good. 1435s and indeed all F-4s were strictly in the air defence role by this point though with the ground attack responsibilities moved over to the Jaguar and Tornado GR1 forces. The reason the RAF ended up with the F-4Js is because a detachment was sent to the Falklands and the Js were needed to keep up the RAFs NATO commitments. The fourth aeroplane was nicknamed 'Desparaton' and when the Tornado F3 came along and was a little bit sorted out, the Phantoms were withdrawn and replaced by F3s. The FGR2s were sent back to the UK and the F-4Js were retired. As you say, the Tornados have since been replaced by Typhoons at Mount Pleasant.

[Splitpin]

'Desparaton' ...that's it. Thanks for looking and the background information.

[chopper_nut]

Phantoms Phorever.

Watch on youtube.com

Watch on youtube.com

[Splitpin]

Nick, amazing YouTube links....they will both be watched a few more times....thank you YouTube, and Nick for finding it.
It's also amazing what you discover in the most random places (outside of the internet).

I was talking to a teacher aide at work this week, and she was telling me about her Grandmother who was one the those who flew new aircraft from the factory to the squadrons.
Those women were amazing, basically thrown a flight manual ...and off you go.
Sorry to get off track there.

[simonh]

Nothing like an F-4 to quicken the pulse. Despite its less flattering nicknames of Double Ugly and Rhino, it was a great aircraft.
The Turks refer to theirs as Terminators..a more apt title.