Blue Angels and The F4 Phantom Era

[SeatbeltDetroit]

Best rock song for this video," My Little F4"...would be perfect.

[mrx1427]

Great video! Thanks for sharing.

[makemeshake]

@ironcitydevildog - that is cool, he was shot down jan. 27, 1973 11 hrs before the end of the war. he hasn't never been brought home. he must never be forgotten

[datacreed]

Carl Ginsberg - My Day

He's an independent artist and made his own comment on this video a few years ago.

Thanks for watching.

[PsychoCheese1337]

Anyone know the music used in the video?

[makemeshake]

looking for footage from 1970 and 1971 blue angels with harley h hall as the leader, give me a shout if you have any

[ironcitydevildog]

@makemeshake My dad served under Harley Hall as Boss!!!!!

[harvarddoc73]

Great video and movie. I had the opportunity to meet many of the pilots in this movie, after I started a year-long project to write a book on the Blue Angels F-4 Phantom teams - "Phantoms and Angels." Check it out online.

[sld454]

The gratest flight demonstration team flying the gratest airplane

[MacPro8CoreMan]

CONTINUED: I saw the Blue Angels a couple of years ago and the were good, but the F-18 is much more quiet, and not as bad-ass. I wonder what the next the next planes will be for each...

[MacPro8CoreMan]

@maximadog Must of been 1974 Bro. Blue Angels flew the Phantom from 1969 to Dec 1974. Great story though! I'm with you, I saw them in the Phantom when I was 10 and the F-4 was so bad-ass, so LOUD, and I just loved it. For Christmas that year I got a model kit of the f-4 and my dad helped me build it as a Blue Angel. Now the tables have turned. The USAF Thunderbirds are my favorite. The F-16 is loud and beautiful. I saw the Blue Angels a couple of years ago and the were good, but the F-18 is mu

[LouistheHedgehog]

Good music, all I can say.

[discofishing]

@MrDeathrider1 I can't tell the difference. I heard the exhaust nozzle was different and there were some modifications to the intakes. There's so little information about this.

[discofishing]

@MrDeathrider1 No, the Israelis tested the PW1120 (F100 derivative) in an F-4E for a bit. As impressive as the results were, the engines were never fitted to the fleet because McDD was trying to push the F-15 Eagle at the time. The F-4E Kurnass went operational with the typical J79. If countries were to fit the Phantom with an OTS engine now, the F414 would probably be the best fit. It is smaller and lighter than the J79.

[maximadog]

The last time the Blue Angels came to the Erie Airshow in Erie, Pa. was 1975. I was 14 years old. The feeling of awe as those bruiser ultra cool F-4's would come sweeping in low over the tarmac and leave you in the wake of their thunderous exhaust was visceral; palpable. You could feel the power through every pore in your body. It was perhaps the most memorable day of my young life.

[datacreed]

@maximadog

Fantastic memory.  Thanks for sharing.

[mikecuzins]

@maximadog cool story bro

[stoa66]

@maximadog

from 1974 to 1986 the blue angels flew the A-4F Skyhawk and not the F-4 Phantom

[maximadog]

@stoa66 Regardless, it was an awesome experience. I guess after so many years my recollection of exactly which planes they were using is hazy.

[StreetRodDude]

@maximadog Gives me chills, I got some back seat time in them while I was stashed waiting for flight school. Would not trade it for anything under the sun.

[discofishing]

60,000 is MTOW. I bet these guys were a good bit less than that. I bet this demonstration team would have benefited from the leading edge slats fitted to F-4S and F-4E variants. Upgraded engines would have been a plus as well. The only modern engine I can think of that might have fit a Phantom would be the F404/F414 series.

[fiverats1]

Blue angels FTW

[mondo78]

Never saw them in the F4's. First time I saw the Blue Angels they were flying the A4's and then the second time they were in F18's. I still think the F4 is one of the best looking fighter jets of all time, looks mean.

[PhotosbyHank1]

Great historical footage, thank you for sharing!

[Nighthawkwill7]

Damn, The Phantom looks alot more maneuverable than I thought it would be.

Love that plane! : )

[61phantom]

Good vid bro

[metalreign1]

the F4 is what you get when you mix beauty with beast

[hawkplaya94]

1:27=win

[1stJetBlack]

Ooooooooo... I like old videos like this. They are so crisp&crunch. More life in them than nowadays HD videos.

Four thumbs up!!! ;-)

[SpeedFireARL]

this is beautiful

[amtracing4180]

Some people say it didnt matter if you flew the F-4 frontwards, backwards or sideways the aerodynamics were all the same. I dont care bout that, in my mind The F-4 Phantom is the best plane that has ever been built.

[xxchinookxx]

That's pushing the envelope at 250 AGL....Blue Angels

[ingaenterprise13]

Blue Angels in F-4 Phantom's! Such a beautiful sight! ^^

[gypsykingg]

anyone who can fly a brick in a tight formation is a good pilot in my book

[nic190]

someone should upload the whole movie on youtube

[lookingforronfalter]

This is from the movie "Threshold", which I bought on VHS in '83. It was filmed some years earlier though. Scenes in the movie from even the late 60's.

[Indarog]

I actually have the vhs that this clip is from. Awesome Movie!!!! Ive had it ever since I can remember. its what started my love for the sky!

[bladensburg1814]

5-stars! very very cool! beautiful! phantastic!...(i 'd much rather watch jets than ww-2 crap!) thankyou! / @ milwaukee

[syncade]

AMERICA!

[pck3]

Wow a good bit of movement unlike with the f-18's in formation...

[1BustedMyth]

Thanks buddy!, I've been serching for F4 footage everywhere, you made my day!

[CardShark989]

blue angels doing the same shit for more than 50 years and we never cease to amaze you

[gypsykingg]

such a beautiful aircraft

[ray274]

a flying blue tank

[marshja56]

I always think of the F-4 as heavy and the F-18 as agile but according to Wikipedia the F-4 actually had a lower wing loading (78) than the F-18 (93). Again, according to Wiki, The Phantom was a little heavier (not as much as you might think) but had bigger wings that more than made up for the weight. If that is true could the F-4 out-turn the F-18? Hard to believe...

[tug82]

@marshja56 if an F-4 could out turn an F-18 why retire the F-4 ,lower wing loading does not mean better turn rate ,how about the fact that the F-18 has a higher thrust to weight ratio

[Snailmale7]

@marshja56 I am not an engineer, but I am willing to guess that the F-18's fuselage also generates some lift. Not a great amount, but perhaps just enough to allow it to still outturn the F4. 

[pramboy09]

@Snailmale7 the f-4 handled like a dog, the a-4 skyhawk was the far better performer,i know the f-4 was bigger and faster but the a-4 was a great aircraft "down low" and far better suited for aerobatics.

[Snailmale7]

@pramboy09 Good point, not to mention the A-4 was much harder to see in the big skies. This was a bonus, and I am sure helped in combat as well.

[82Echo411]

Great video - Back around 64 I was taking Cessna hours in Sarasota FL & flew up to Tampa to catch commercial. I had to fly high over MacDill as they were transitioning USAD TAC to F-4s.

[sbd45acp]

WOW! What a big beautiful bird. I well remember seeing them perform in person at Turner NAS ( Formerly Turner Field USAF SAC base) Albany GA, in 1975 or 1976? What a show! 4 Ship diamond takeoff in after burner- LOUD!! I truly feel honored to have seen it- just not the same in Skyhawks

[donzaliko]

BF vietnam ^^

[thehoaxbuster]

I saw one F-4 Phantom in an airshow today and it was louder than hell. Now when I imagine six of them flying in formation or one doing a sneak pass...

[550spydr]

RIP CMDR Harley Hall.Ex Blue Angel leader. Killed on last day of hostilities in Vietnam.

[550spydr]

RIP CMDR Harley Hall ex Blue Angel killed on last day of hostilities in Vietnam. google it

[Rick9368]

I lvoe the sound track to this, great video to

[Rick9368]

I love the sound track to this and it is a great video.

[Hawaiifive01]

Saw them in '74 and/or '75 in Lake Charles, LA. Big and LOUD. Each one had a numbered power cart and lots of ground crew. Unfortunately one of them crashed when he got behind the power curve during a "low & dirty". I've got most of it on Super8. But Pop ran out of film about 1 second before the impact.

[epoman16]

didn't know the f4 was that fast in the barrel roll....

[jmcclard]

Great video of a great aircraft being flown by the masters. Thanks for posting.

[Catfish223]

i remember this movie.

[SkyHawk024]

top notch i will be getting an f-4 for fsx ounce i get my computer fixed and i will be doing this hopefully.

[hipiloto]

The Phantom was hard to fly PERIOD.But to make it do what you wanted it to do took some serious skill.These men made it look effortless!!!

[yblocker]

wow amazing!

[mchale20201]

Awesome footage. It's hard to believe how something that looks as cumbersome as the Phantom can move like that!

[xxwzaebd]

F4 Phantom much better than mig 29.

[tug82]

MadUek1 ......u chatting shit, what look meaner

than a F-16 .................NOTHING !!! the F-16 is the best invention since the wheel !

[MadUek1]

Best plane, best airshow team, best performance...and the Oscar goes to...........THE BLUE ANGELS!

[Flyboy207]

@MadUek1 Thunderbirds are better to me, but the F-4 conquers all.

[MadUek1]

Saw both, both perform great, of course nothing beats the old mighty Rhino!

I personally like the F-18 more and the dark blue paint sheme, Hornets looks meaner than the Viper. But again, only personal comment. Big cudos to both!

[tug82]

peterswold518 you are the boss, i couldn't have said it any better, and ye i wish it was me in there too !!!

[Petersworld518]

Oh my God.... This is so beautiful I almost cried... I wish I had been alive to witness the mastery of such a machine as the F-4 and I envy those that have.  But more so, I envy the men inside.

[DardanellesBy108]

Outstanding video, thanks for sharing this!

[datacreed]

No problem. Glad you enjoyed it.

[jdhiner1]

The f4s had less thrust than the f18

[bradstrains]

@jdhiner1 That isn't true. F-4s had 2 j79s each rated at nearly 18000 lbs thrust. the F-18 had 2 F404 rated at 16000 lbs thrust - 17000 lbs thrust. The lighter f-18 has a Thrust to weight ratio of .98 to the F-4s .86 but the F4 could carry 18000 lbs, its like flying on one engine. The phantoms could climb as fast and go mach 2.23. The F-18 was limited to mach 1.8+, do to the fixed intakes,

which operates best at subsonic speeds.

[discofishing]

@bradstrains Imagine putting a pair of F414 (EPE) engines in an F-4. That's approximately 25,000lbs of thrust each. I bet the intakes can supply the F414 with enough air.

[maldmc2]

@discofishing superphantom

[thesixtiesguy]

The deck's commin up fast at 1:50. I'm not a pilot but those Phantoms sure look a lot harder to fly than the Hornet does. A lot heavier and harder to manuever, but a heck of a lot more thrust.

[ginz111]

Thanks for using my track in this great video! Anytime you want to do another feel free!

Thanks

Carl Ginsberg

[datacreed]

Thanks Carl. Nice work on "My Day". Are you still on the Independent Artists' site? I haven't checked that out in awhile.

[iTotallyShred]

Russia let's their MiG's do this stuff! Why can't we?

[nonsquid]

The Angels of the 70's were allowed to do more than they do now. I remember an Angel air show in Fallon, Nevada (1973) that had much more speed, lower passes, head on approaches and spiral ascents than the mild formations of today's shows. Thanks to lawyers and insurance companies, we now have a timid reflection of what this country was.

[justforever96]

I love Phantoms! Funny, the Angels hardly needed smoke ejectors with them smoky old GE's! Love the low-level pass at 1:38, and the dive-in at 1:41 and pass from the plane is just sick. I'd love to do that someday; 600 mph ten feet off the deck.

[Icarusdecending82]

Goin to see the Blue Angels in Houston this weekend...im stoked!

[sniffsnarff]

that's cool. much more interesting than the Hornet, imho.

[Sreybk]

Awesome.

[ChiHarley]

the music is new though the artist is GinzIII he's my brother-in-law so if you like the music check him out on iTunes

[datacreed]

Thanks, I'll check it out.. Tell him "nice work" on this track..

[stretchmark8]

superb,those pilots are the best,the phantom is big and heavy and to fly it like that is just so difficult .

[Dietpepsivanilla]

The first time I ever saw the Blue Angels was when they were flying the Phantoms in 1972.

[datacreed]

Awesome, wish I was old enough to remember those. I vaguely remember a few air shows out at Wright Patterson AFB in Dayton though..

Thanks for watching..

[DonRoccoCiciarelli]

This was from a documentary called "Threshold" made back in the early 70s. It was narrated by Leslie Nielsen and traced the Blue Angels in their Phantoms at several shows and in Hawaii! It is hard to get.

[imnazhole]

FLY LIKE A MAN GODDAMMITT!! WHIP THAT SHIT! Number two is trying to swap paint with the lead.

[sithwriter]

Nice work on the model planes. I always wanted to get into that hobby..

[sslusshy]

Man f4s are so badass!

[eaustind81]

Don't wear G-Suits? Your either lying to the boy or you don't know squat. Of course they had to wear them or they would pass out and die. The G-Suits have been around as long as jets have, since the 50's

[betsyblueangel]

it's true. They don't wear g-suits.  The inflation can get in the way of the stick.

[thijselzc]

The suits don't really matter, however it does make life a lot easier for them. Red Bull Airrace pilots don't wear them either and the amount of G they pull is way higher.

Nice clip!

[kblackav8or]

Nope the Blues don't wear them and they don't die. They don't wear O2 masks either. The Thunderbirds wear both. If you are G aware and are trained to it you can fly around at 4-6 G's without a suit without much trouble and if you know what you are doing even an occasional short excursion above that is fine. Most of their G maneuvers are not very long in duration which is important.

[csczdust]

They may not wear G suits, but they do die. Kevin Davis died a few years ago due to G-LOC (gravity induced loss of consciousness) while performing as Blue Angel #5. The Thunderbirds wear the suit because they have a sidestick, and the mask is because the EPU uses Hydrazine (very toxic), while the F/A-18 does not. As for eaustin81, he's a retard.

[justforever96]

Why Hydrazine? Seems stupid to use toxic chemicals. And why does a sidestick mean that you need a suit? Do you mean the FBW system will pull harder G's, or what?

[shortygasp]

No, the thing is that with the precision needed when flying like the Blue Angels do has to be sooo perfect.(As you probably can understand...heading face 2 face in +-4-500 mph, its gonna suck if you knee/leg even touches your stick 3millimeters..ur dead then rly)..So, they wear no G-suits, basically just to have safer manouvering...well, you get what I mean meh thinkz:)

[justforever96]

Yeah, I think I get what you mean. My life has no purpose unless I learn something new every day LOL. Although that makes me realize I don't know how a G-suit works. I'm guessing sort of like a blood-pressure cuff to keep all the blood inside your head at hi-G's, so you stay awake. At least I have something to look up on Wikipedia tonight. =) How much would a Phantom move from 3mm deflection of the stick? I know F-16 barely moves at all, but the F-4 has direct linkage. G-loc = Gangsta rapper?

[csczdust]

G-suits inflate with little air bladders that squeeze your legs and puff up to keep blood from draining to the lower extremities. The BA's can't wear them, because they have a center stick, and they rest their elbow on their knee while they fly. It'd really mess them up if they were wearing a suit. The thunderbirds have a side-stick, so they don't have to worry about that.

[shortygasp]

hehe, been some time so I guess you figured it all out:D anyway, 3mm might have been to under-extraminate(or w/e its called:P) but like 1cm from a heavy G turn would be absolutely fatal...maybe even 0.5cm:) G-LOC is when you pass out due to G's:D(gravity induced loss of consciousness) as csczdust mentioned:) Have a merry christmas and a happy new year!:)

[virginianboy1012]

did they have g suits in the 70s?

[bygonejohn]

They did but the Blue Angels don't wear G-Suits

[virginianboy1012]

o ok

[PJNARS]

Excellent choise of music. It fits the "text" very nice. Who is the musical artist?

[datacreed]

Carl Ginsberg - My Day