(Image: Abandoned America, reproduced with permission)
Loved by enthusiasts and revered by others, the F-4 Phantom family of fighters, reconnaissance, ground attack and, more recently, target drone aircraft is highly regarded as one of the most successful and lethal jets of 20th century aviation. Over 5,000 were produced between 1958 and 1981. Widely exported, the Phantom remains in service with several air forces to this day, including its secondary role with the US armed forces. But in April 2013, as the ‘Last One’ departed ‘the Boneyard’ at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona set for a potentially ominous fate as a QF-4 flying target at the mercy of fifth generation warplanes, those left behind will ultimately be condemned to the scrap heap, rather than a midair explosion.
(Image: Google Maps)
The atmospheric photograph (top) by urban explorer Matthew Christopher depicts an early model F-4 wearing the faded green paintwork of Vietnam-era US Air Force jets. Devoid of landing gear like the other redundant F-4 in the picture, this old fighter bomber probably donated some parts to more active Phantoms but otherwise remains intact, its tanks and weapons pylons still slung under its wings. Above, Google Earth reveals a group of the last Phantoms at Davis-Monthan.
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