Phancon 2004 was held at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico (where the F-117 Stealth Fighters are stationed) last Thursday and Friday. Thanks to the special efforts of Major Schreiner of Holloman, and of the Phancon organizers, I was able to get the necessary security clearances, and sort out other organizational matters, at the last moment.
On Thursday we were taken out to the ramp to see the American QF-4 target drones:
Two of the QF-4s were painted up in South-East Asian markings, unfortunately none of the QF-4s flew while we were there, because of a software glitch:
After viewing the QF-4s we were driven all of 100 yards by bus to see the German Air Force F-4Fs take off. They train here because of the vast empty spaces available for practice:
Unfortunately the weather turned crummy so the photos of the F-4s flying aren’t anything to write home about:
The next day we were treated to a lunch with the German contingent (never did find out what was in that Weisswurst), and then we were taken onto their ramp for static photos and then shots of the Phantoms taxying out for takeoff:
We were then taken out to the golf course, which is the best place to see the aircraft break for landing. Suddenly the weather gods decided to smile on us:
You can find this last photo in computer wallpaper format here:
I’ll put up a few pages after I’m done with the Vandenburg, Indio and Nellis airshows over the next 3 weekends!
Richard.
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October 25, 2004 at 3:08 am