G.J.S

True words brother. It always amused me - “fast jet” - stating the obvious! Aircraft being the correct and broad term for machinery that commits aviation. ‘Jets’ is just being lazy. The Heatblur stable is sure gaining some true thoroughbred icons.

Did I mention I have the memory of a goldfish? Did I mention I have the memory of a goldfish? Did I m . . . .

True. South Korean too.

Legends never die - they just keep going! The use of “Ph” instead of just an “F” was rife within the Phantom world, almost any opportunity to substitute them was taken, aviation mechanics for instance were “Phantom Phixers”. Pilots “Phantom Phlyers”. It used to be funny, but it kind of started to wear out.

Which in itself just says “quality”. The HB hallmark.

Knew him well - also went under the name Tim Laming. Had many discussions with him whenever I was in the Sheffield area, where he lived up until his death early November 2015. Good friend, missed. One of the few who could actually take a whole sortie without thundering up his last 12 meals in the rear seat.

All true, except the F.3 bit - was never used as it caused confusion with the paper shufflers with the ADV Tornado.

I knew at least one! Aussie Phantoms could have “Bruce”.

F-4 Phantom by Bob Prest.

Out of a ‘G’ , nice!

Steam gauge F-5. Get used to the way the systems generally behave, including the sights.

The only GE birds were the 15 J’s that were bought to bulk up the Air defence role, I believe they were “re-lifed” at NAS North Island in California. All the actual RN/RAF birds were Speyed, over 20000lb installed per side, requiring the intake trunks to be widened. It’s to these - the FG1 & FGR2 - that I was referring to, on re reading my initial reply I didn’t make that clear, my apologies Sir.

Around 6000lb more thrust than the J, and generally less smoke. J shines more at higher altitude. Much better suited to the higher areas.

Certainly the ‘tash!

Thank god I don’t have to keep quiet anymore . . .

It doesn't need a warp drive . . . . .

Its real (as in its on the ground in Cyprus), somewhere north-east of Nicosia. Don't know the story behind it however.

An ‘E’ is good - has a long history, and was successful commercially, historical ‘B’ & ‘C’, the ‘G’ would be the cream. But an ‘J’ and ‘S’ would be sublime, and can only hope for an FGR2 - very different innards but certainly one that gave many opponents that cold ammonia stab to the heart. *loving sigh

Looks very ‘war weary’ , fantastic work fella.

The differences between variants is quite pronounced, and between blocks within a variant there can be stark differences, country dependent for instance. You could never make a B from an E, nor vice Versa. Equipment fit, landing gear, engines, wing, stabs, canopies, the list goes on with differences. Each variant in essence will be a new aircraft in its own right. Im hopeful however to get reacquainted. . .

True. On the aerodynamic front also - the canopies are different on several versions, as in the coke bottle effect differs.

Hiya chap - yes I did, but in NTTR.

. . . At night anyway. Mission flown at 00:00, waters shouldn't be this visible!