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The Time A Tanker Saved A Fighter That Was Falling Apart Over The Atlantic
On the 5th of September, 1983, 4 USAF F-4E Phantom jets were flying over the Atlantic en route to Europe along with the support of a KC-135 known as “North Star.” These five aircraft were part of a larger number of Phantoms and tankers on a routine trans-Atlantic flight. To make the crossing, the Phantoms would need to tank a total of 8 times to fill their thirsty engines. (foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com) Mehr...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Sorry so many naysayer around today, it not a debat it is story about what people do when they they need to, thanks to all that shared the story and this is from a yeasayer.
Great story. As a civilian living and working in West Germany during that time period, I remember all of the low level flyovers the Phantom jets would do while I traveled around the southern part of the country. I believe they would fly out of Zweibruecken AB. I used to call on Exchanges in Bitburg, Spangdahlem, Ramstein and Sembach. Man, were they loud.
Very cool story and good that it had a happy ending. I can attest that hardware breaks and often at inopportune times. At least the most major event in my flying carrier happened on the ground. Those in the pointy end of that tanker had some guts for sure. Even the boom operator had to know it could have gone south for them too. BZ for all involved.
...that is hands down one incredible story. A 32+ year KUDOS to the tanker crew!!
HOLY CRAP!! What a Story!! WooHoo!! WTG!! Glad all made it Safe & Sound! 2 Thumbs Up ALL the Way Around!!
I can't help but think it would be more cost effective to either have them flown onto a carrier or crained onto a carrier to float back to the states as opposed to a long flight and numerous refuels.
I'm sure the Air Force pilots were not CarQualed but if the birds had hooks, have the Navy fly them aboard.
It's just a thought.
I'm sure the Air Force pilots were not CarQualed but if the birds had hooks, have the Navy fly them aboard.
It's just a thought.
Both the Air Force and Navy/USMC F-4's used the same identical tail hook (McDonnell Douglas did that to streamline production.) As for Air Force crewmen trying to land a "Rhino" on a pitching, rolling flight deck; that just won't happen because they just weren't trained to do that. Looking at that sort of scenario, the best they could hope for is to eject into that cold ass North Atlantic water and have the carriers SAR helo pick them up before hypothermia sets in.
I was also picturing using Navy pilots to fly them aboard. But looking back, I think the Navy had give up all it's Phantoms for Tomcats long that so there was likely no one easily available to do on that side of the pond.
At most, there were probably some RA-4s somewhere around. Heck, we even had an A3D-2Q on the Ike for ESM.
At most, there were probably some RA-4s somewhere around. Heck, we even had an A3D-2Q on the Ike for ESM.