Japan’s Air Force 302 Hikotai (Tactical Fighter Squadron) of the 7th Air Wing of the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force based at Hyakuri Air Base in the Ibaraki Prefecture of Japan plans to move to Misawa in February next year. At that time, the squadron, that has already started retiring its Phantoms, will start operations with the F-35A Lightning II 5th generation aircraft.
Until then, 302 Hikotai will continue to operate with the F-4EJ “Kai” (“extra”) variant, a modernized version of the original F-4EJ that features among the other things, the AN/APG-66J pulse-Doppler radar, a Kaiser HUD (Head Up Display), an AN/APZ-79 IFF system, as well as the ability to carry an AN/ALQ-131 advanced multimode electronic countermeasures pod and to launch the AIM-7E/F Sparrow and the AIM-9L/P Sidewinder AAMs (air-to-air missiles).
But before moving to Misawa, the unit has prepared a new special painted Phantom (07-8428) that was unveiled to the public with a post on Twitter on Jul. 3. The aircraft sports a large red bird on a white background as well as the traditional bird badge of the 302 on the tail (that is a very stylised representation of the Hikotai number: head and body being the ‘3’, the white tail ‘0’ and the blue wings the ‘2’)
On Dec. 2, 2018, Hyakuri Airbase will celebrate the end of the 302 Hikotai’s operations with the F-4 with an airshow.
Beginning next year, the JASDF will operate only two Phantom squadrons at Hyakuri: 301 Hikotai with F-4EJs and 501 Hikotai with a variety of RF-4E and RF4EJ used in the reconnaissance role. The last flight of a “Samurai” Phantom should be in March 2021.
Two cool clips show Greek Phantoms performing a head-on low apex attack during an airshow.
These clips were filmed in 2016, during Flisvos Marina Air Show.
They show two F-4E AUP Phantoms, belonging to the 338 Squadron of the Hellenic Air Force, from Andravida air base, performing a Low Apex Attack. It’s a kind of visual pop-up attack with the aircraft approaching the target at very low-level (below 500 ft) and high-speed (480 Kts). At the PUP (Pull Up Point) the aircraft starts to climb. At the Pull Down Point, the aircraft starts to roll so that the Apex is below 5,000 feet and turns to assume the final attack heading, diving towards the target. At the release point, the jet drops the bombs and breaks, performing an evasion maneuver pulling 5-6Gs to reduce exposure to the ground threats. Jinking is usually performed to prevent the flight path from being predictable.
As you can see, the F-4s release plenty of flares while approaching the simulated target, to face possible IR-guided surface-to-air missiles.
The following crazy cool video was filmed as the two aircraft that took part at the airshow, piloted by Lt. Col. Ron “Elvis” King and by Lt. Col. (Ret) Jim “WAM” Harkins, departed Nellis AFB to return to their homebase.
The footage, filmed with a camera attached to the flight helmet of WAM, lets you experience the afterburner formation takeoff, the rendezvous with a T-33 for short air-to-air photo session and then the flight over the amazing scenery of the Grand Canyon, as if you were strapped into the cockpit of one of the last USAF F-4s.
At 04:56 into the video you can also get a clear view of the Grand Canyon West Airport, close to the famous Skywalk.
H/T to Giulio Cristante for the link to the stunning AirshowStuff video!
Located in central eastern Japan, Hyakuri airbase, hosts all the remaining F-4 Phantom units of the Japan Air Self Defense Force: 301 and 302 Hilotai, flying the F-4E, and the 501 Hikotai, flying the RF-4E. Needless to say, for this reason, this base is the place to visit for Phantom lovers.
The following video provides some really cool footage about the daily activities of the Japanese “Rhinos” at Hyakuri: all-weather take-offs, landings and taxis, along with high-speed passes in slow motion.
Last week, UK’s air defense was once again put to the test by two Russian strategic bombers that flew off Cornwall during a routine long-range patrol over northern Europe.
The following footage, shows the UK QRA, Quick Reaction Alert, at work against possible Soviet threat 45 years ago.
At that time, the Royal Air Force interceptor was the mighty F-4 Phantom.
According to the user who uploaded the footage to Youtube, the video shows scenes shot RAF Wattisham, involving the Southern QRA. A commenter says the footage comes from a RAF recruiting film titled “Intercept” which was filmed at several locations across the British Isles to cover the whole UK Air Defence System and RAF units that supported it.
Anyway, enjoy a few minutes of cool Phantom Phootage!
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