The Last Phantom Pilot - The End Of The F-4 Phantom II

The last USAF F-4 Phantom II pilot, Lt Col Ron "Elvis" King, talks about his job managing the remaining fleet of QF-4 target drones and their impending destruction by the end of 2016.

The F-4 is one of the most famous aircraft in history, and had a long career of service in the US armed forces. After retirement, many F-4s were converted to QF-4 aircraft, to be flown remotely as targets for live fire weapon testing. Only 21 of these aircraft remain, and they will be destroyed by the end of 2016 or shortly thereafter. In the mean time, several of the aircraft wear special commemorative paint schemes representing the type's varied service history. These aircraft participated in USAF Heritage Flights at airshows and special events several years ago.

To see the F-4 in action, check out some of our other videos:

The F-4 remains in active service with several countries, and one civilian F-4 is owned and flown by the Collings Foundation.

Thank you to "Elvis" for taking the time to speak with us and share his unique view of this legendary aircraft!

[buzztani]

Phantoms Phorever... They never want to die!

[CMFL]

I know you can't keep them all...but it always kills me to hear they're going to be reduced to shards of flaming debris. This plane was the sole reason I wanted to be a fighter pilot when I was a kid. I'd hope they're be a few kept flying for a time and think it would be nice if the govt could demilitarize a wide variety of retired airframes and make them available for private ownership. The history of these planes definitely has a place in many people hearts

[knightflightvideo]

It's sad to see the end of this legendary aircraft.:-( Hope that some of the "Rhinos" will be preserved and shown at airshows. If I had the money I would buy all of them. SAPHE THE PHANTOM!

[ahsdla]

One of my all time favs, I wish they could restore a few and preserve these great planes for the future generations to enjoy and maybe ride in!!

[fredfungalspore]

Total disgrace to eliminate such a famous warbird that has served so many countries through out the world including Australia.The US government also had an agreement at the end of service life of the last flying squadrons of F111s to destroy more then 90 %
of the air worthy aircraft.Go figure.

[jamescooper]

I hope they have a few of these in museums and static displays around the world so people can see a real one up close. Our local VFW has a static display of an f-86 Saber and it is really awesome to see. Love to see an F-4 C/D on display.

[OUTLAW-]

Managed to get into the cockpit of the F-4E.. beautiful aircraft, When those engines were scream-checked for power, it sounded like the world was coming to an end. She served her country well.

[carlparlatore]

Lucky enough to fly the F-4 in Nam on three combat tours (over 2800 hrs) - also flew the F-16 but my first love was double ugly! In my opinion the best fighter jet of its era - all things must end but there is a tear in my eye when the use the Rhino as a target!

[Gman-]

Fantastic. Love the Phantom, Mark Berent's books about it, Robin's Old's stories about it- great airplane to go to war in. See you at Oshkosh this year Colonel, I hope.

[robertmantell]

This is an outrage Big Brother!!! Save a few of these for historical reasons! I've been lucky enough to have seen a Phantom fly, why not save 4 or 5 of these for historic flights? And while you're at it get a coupla Tomcats cherry and fly them around for the kids too. I'm sure money is involved, but why do ALL of them have to be destroyed? Surely there's a couple of defected MiG's no one gives a crap about that can be shot down instead of these??

[scottcarter]

Phantoms Phorever !!!! I do believe that as of today, Greece, Iran, and possibly Japan ??? still fly them.

[christophersbarounis]

In Greece its still in service and will be for many years to come

[jasoncato]

would love to see this aircraft fly have never seen it would be nice if it could be flown with the blues at nas pensacola for one of there airshows

[asdfsyo]

Im a Phantom pilot too, thank you DJI :D

[bobdyer]

Collins Foundation owns a few old jet fighters, F-100, A-4 and double ugly herself the F-4. Last I heard you can {for a price} catch a ride.

[warrenchambers]

"It doesn't like to turn or stop but it loves to go fast". Sounds to me the F-4 is the Classic Mopar muscle car of the skies.

[alexchubbymclynn]

I do understand that using F-4s as a target drone is commercially proven move but it kills me... F-4 is an iconic plane, one of a kind. Every plane ever produced after the Phantom is free to smoke nervously in a corner because none of them can top F-4... The legendary, heroic plane... Money rules the world. Otherwise every F-4 should proudly rest on a lawn right in front of the house of the pilot who flew it. Every family would treasure that...
F-4 Phorever!!!

[umairpk]

USAF should keep one or two for heritage flights

[ferminbf]

The type of wings used by F-4 Phantoms, could be considered as wing tips?

[terrydouglas]

There are still phantom pilots, just not in the US military. Turkey and S. Korea still fly F4's and in the US the Heritage Foundation flys the only F4D in private hands.