PHANTOM F-4F / RF-4E "Elefantenjahre" (1972-1978)

for ol ground speed 450 knots approximately 800 kilometers per hour after 9 minutes the Elba reaches flight altitude 250 m after 15 minutes stop at the Visesa flight mission reconnaissance target from Black to Brard both targets are one behind of the other first target Landesbergen power plant sensors tilted to the left and panoramic camera cameras on sensors in operation second target tilted to the right position of the rocket eye contact for seconds cameras at night prepare report 10 seconds of photography during 90 minutes of flight Mission successful Alp bravo over J dielug over the North Sea back to For an hour we concentrate on the altimeter and on the horizon, not at 80 m above the water, but the seagulls behind the boats are the great danger - the collision of one bird can quickly lead to a catastrophe - we can see on the left in front of us the The cargo ship Munich crosses the Atlantic fully loaded with heavy lighters, missing since December 12,

1978

with a crew of 28 people north of the Azores.

For reconnaissance fighters there are rarely enough formation flights in the training program; otherwise we are always on the road. Moving alone At the same time, with the turn of the year, we say goodbye to the small airfields of Bückeburg, Ruttenburg, hungry wolf, Zeru 3 years in the reconnaissance group are coming to an end. -The bomber in the US is about to start flying in formation there, the order of the day will be reconnaissance and a little more individualism. Thanks to all of you in the black space of George Air Force, the high desert of California, 360 sunny days a year, training German aircraft pilots and fighters. observers to become instructors and weapons instructors for the subsequent greetings in Germany the pilot of the plane comes from the Fiat G91 the combat observer of the Phantom RFC months in the same team at the same school desk in the shared pool the coordination of the crew continues privately we are The first Crus for Fighter-Bomber Squadron 35 at Sowannhim, beyond the San Bernardino Mountains, behind it lies Los Angeles, invisible in the yellow-coated tactical formation.

On the way to the Song range, the other three shooters navigated the airspace to from behind and to the sides against potential attackers as they flew towards the St Valley, as in case of emergency, extreme use of terrain, speed up to 550 knots, navigation is the sword, there are no towns, just a few houses and the power lines and the highway to Las Vegas the onboard radar transmitter remains off in this plane nothing is damped every jolt goes to the bones sand rocks a single lunar landscape the plane short, hard hits due to bursts and pressure-like control movements constant search for the other three the head flies and here keep the distance cross the flight path instruments cross check empty bomb tanks controls with colleagues electronic protection measures dead radio station 30 seconds of tolerance that's a lot but we're only at the beginning the filming is becoming a burden I let the camera run blind the firing range is behind us the bombs are dropped some checks now before landing the adrenaline goes down the tension it's over car ah shit my Z sucks first we have something so nice in front of the size or what the fuck why 6 my new association the 35th fighter-bomber squadron moves to deimumanu with Phantom F4 F Italia for the original g91 squadron everything is new, the plane is a power machine with two engines and a two-man crew, new weapons Like here, the Air Air Zeitweiner rocket, we shoot at target missiles with rockets and cannons, we fight in the air and we We rush to the shooting range for the shooting range which is called tactical hunting and everyone loves it including our gun mechanic.

The back seat in the air force is. as new as the plane The old eagles couldn't find a better name than combat observer until they noticed there were some buttons on the back and called it flux. The tax assessor weapon system officer at the front is flying and the gun. the system is managed in the back all this is called teamwork of course everyone has their favorite driver and their favorite bat and everyone is 12 and they are fine very flat take off with our wooden target from the sawmill and then we are done . Let's get started, Marco.

Reder gives permission to release the dart and then the speed is reduced to 250 knots 250 knots are waiting for the dart room he starts laughing the dart does not wobble it remains stable the four attackers can come the cannon on board the cannon is being prepared rear seat speaks The pilot is in a favorable firing position in the rear cockpit, the on-board radar detects the Dart and a lockon is carried out. The crew now works closely together. The pilot now has visual contact with the Dart and approaches it. side and if all the parameters are correct, he shoots with a short shot.

A burst 50 appears on the radar in the Fraska Range aerial botchies area. On this day the cloud base is too low to drop a bomb from high altitudes. down to check the weather v when I look at you don't be so different SH makes me cry when I look at you so I cry for Rainbow's flight, a day of flying comes to an end, get out of here as quickly as possible, the briefing and simply the desire for a cold shower after I saw Rome or Casino they eat wine gelati Italian cappuccino and at the bar they fly towards their next takeoff with the fet