F-4 Phantom: The Original Top Gun Fighter Jet

See the F-4 Phantom, the original Top Gun jet, like never before with air-to-air action footage, flying inverted and formation, going supersonic, knifing ridge tops. Hear the howling fiery engines, and more!

[@fredtomlin]

This gave me goose pimples at times throughout. I flew a F4C and F4D in '65 to '67, spending some time in Viet Nam. The F4 is a fantastic bird holding some records that have not been broken. I loved feeling the power it had especially when going to full power, pulling back on the stick and going ballistic. I originally had a rough time adjusting for the G forces but learned quickly how to compensate for them. I MISS THAT GREAT BIRD!!!!

[@dannyd7714]

Look up the Heatblur F-4E trailer that's just released. You'll be able to fly her again soon.

[@SmoggyFroggy]

Thank you for your service. o7

[@jiceBERG]

Sounds like a BS story to me.

[@hpdblues]

Respect to you sir!

[@rf4c1018]

Whoever called the Phantoms double ugly must have been blind! The most beautiful fighter ever! I was honored to have been crew chief on two of them. PS 641017 was in the Nevada National Guard but this was one that I personally crewed myself. Great video, fellows. Thanks, Ike

[@stephendecatur189]

Beautifully done. I made my first flight in 1967. I couldn't watch this without getting a bit choked up. Those days will never return.

[@dronepilot260rc]

Thank you for your service! 🫡

[@RedFail1-1]

Could always play DCS. The F-4E is being released soon. A lot of former Pilots have been getting into DCS the last few years.

[@ernestlmorellsr]

You made an old Navy vet felt real good watching these guys do their thing for the last time.

[@rf4c1018]

I was the crew chief on the RF-4C out of RAF Alconbury, England for two years. For a while, I crewed two Phantoms by myself. I am so honored to have been a part of the Phantom family. The most beautifully designed fighter ever, in my humble opinion.

[@jwingate2060]

Job well done fellow chief!!! I did the same in Homestead Fl on a TDY and also Torrejon Spain. It used to be a website that tracked tail numbers and you could find out what was the final destiny of your bird. One of mine crashed in the desert in the middle east, I don't know if we were in operation or was it sold.

[@rf4c1018]

We too did TDY to Spain

[@mackho8888]

How have I never seen or heard of this documentary until by accident today?!? The F4 Phantom was my first favorite jet when I was about 7. One of the most beautiful aircraft even conceived. I have no idea how anyone can say it is ugly. It is a big smoking rocketship of FREEDOM!!

[@SmoggyFroggy]

Gas Guzzling, beautiful, MONSTER of FREEDOM!

[@maverick6457]

Thanks for a great video! I was a Marine Com/Nav technician on RF-4B's with VMFP-3 from 1978-1981. Did one deployment in 1980 aboard the USS Midway, CV-41. Great memories. I'm now an avionics FSR on MQ-9's.

[@craig4867]

F-4 Phantom is one of the coolest and futuristic looking aircraft to ever fly!

[@rogerramjet7567]

I was in VF 21, 69-70, NAS Miramar. F-4J. Went aboard the Ranger, CV 61. What an experience!!! I wouldn’t trade it for anything. AE-5.

[@SmoggyFroggy]

Thanks for your service. o7

[@1947acw]

Still the best looking ,jet fighter, ever built.

[@3601christopher]

One of the best aviation documentaries I’ve seen

[@roodytjm9282]

yiesss ! greet, fabulous people and incredible views of these fighter jets & landscapes over U.S. - Thank You from @fr

[@GertKlimanschewski]

I think too 👍❣️ very informative and great footage...

[@jiceBERG]

Thank you for posting. Beautiful airplane and beautifully shot documentary for 1997

[@kennethharman3782]

Wow I just don’t know what to say I almost cried watching this

[@johnshields6852]

My uncle Jack piloted the F4 phantom in Vietnam, he was on leave in 1969 when I was 9, I wanted so bad to ask him questions but he didn't talk about it, I was in awe, thank God for all who serve this great country.🇺🇸🙏

[@dontroutman8232]

My Pops flew the RF-4C from 1969-1977, and was an instructor. I've loved the sound of those J-79 engines since I was 5 years old. Great film/video work.

[@EPstroker]

Great program....the f4 has always been my favorite fighter jet. Still one of the best looking fighters to this day. The f15 and f22 may be a tad faster but the ol girl still isn't far behind in top speed performance. MD did a wonderful job designing this bird.

[@bearowen5480]

I had the great privilege of flying the awesome RF-4C for 14 years in the 173rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 155th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, "Hustlin' Huskers", Nebraska Air National Guard, based at Lincoln, NE. When I joined the Guard I transferred from the Marines where I had flown two versions of the A-4 Skyhawk, and the A-6 Intruder in Vietnam. I had always wanted to fly the Phantom, and finally in the Guard I got my chance! It was an overpowered and lightning fast beast of a machine, and a total joy to fly. We did a lot of low level navigation flying, both day and night, to locate and photograph simulated military intelligence targets such as bridges, dams, power plants, etc. The documentary didn't make clear the reason for low altitude flying. The purpose was for evading enemy radar detection during ingress into and egress from the target areas. We were individually qualified for low level flying at 100 feet in daytime and 500 feet at night, and speeds up to 600 knots which is about 675 MPH. It was a total rush! We had a highly sophisticated infrared camera for night reconnaissance work that took unbelievably detailed photos in complete darkness. At night we used the terrain avoidance and terrain following features of the radar, swapping modes with the Reconnaissance Systems Operator, RSO, also called WSO, Weapons System Operator, or "Whizzo" in the back seat who was using the radar for navigation to the target. It took a lot of training and crew coordination, especially at night, to get the aircraft accurately over the target and bring the film home for processing and detailed analysis by our highly skilled photo intelligence technicians. The standard for developing the film, printing the photos, and delivering the prints onto the Commander's desk was one hour from engine shutdown. During Desert Storm, General Schwartzkopf was begging for more tactical reconnaissance assets to get the battlefield Intel he needed for execution of his battle planning. He had some recce Phantoms in country, and the Navy was also providing its share with F-14 Tomcats mounting TARPs (Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pods). By then, most of the deployable RF-4 squadrons were in the Guard or the Marines which had three total active duty squadrons. A number of us Huskers volunteered to go, but the war was over so fast that we didn't get the chance to show what we had trained so hard to do. We also made regular overseas deployments to fly with our NATO counterparts in the Turkish Air Force. The Turks had the more powerful RF-4E variant of the Photo Phantom, and they also had talented pilots, RSOs and ground crews. We had a fantastic time flying with them, scaring he'll out of the sheep all over Turkey! Those 14 years in the Lincoln Guard were the best years of my life and flying career. This excellent documentary of our compatriots in the High Rollers of Reno brought back a flood of great memories!

[@jangrunebast7792]

I'll recomend this to my father. He was a mechanic on the German F4 F. This plane is his baby... he was working on the phantom from the mid 80s all the way to its and his retirement in 2013 at Wittmund AFB. When i was a boy he told me that his job is to hunt the phantom spook inside the plane. He took me often with him to work and thats why im crazy about the phantom aswell.

[@jasoncopple1311]

My dad is in the video a couple of times. He was a crew chief in that unit during filming.

[@luigivincenz3843]

If anyone was paying attention, Jester (original Top Gun) was flying the F-4 and 'gave Mav the fits at Top Gun. It is an iconic jet.

[@brucemangrum8292]

I was a plane captain with Navy Squadron VF-32 from 1971 to 1972. Great memories!😀

[@Elysian_Angel_]

This was 1h 45min of my life very well spent! Thank you! 🙏

[@terryfralick1465]

Awesome video. Brought back some great memories. I served active duty from 1974 to 1994 . As a jet engine technician, I spent 14 years of 20 keeping the J-79 -15 & -17 engine going. And on a rear occasion, I go to ride in one as a Technician.

[@richardgraves958]

I work on the RF4C in the 67th TRW Mt. Home AFB, 1966-1968. Did Forward Looking Radar, Side Mapping Radar and the Inertial Nav System repair. It built my future in the Military and NASA civil work force.

[@jwingate2060]

Love this bird!!! Being a crew chief was one of the best opportunities of a lifetime on these things. I live in a Navy town all the young pilots that are active duty have an automatic passion when the Phantom became part of the conversation. Talk to an ex-phantom driver will put you right in the cockpit. I enjoyed every second I had as a crew chief on them. Long live the Phantom!!!!

[@warrenchambers4819]

Another F4 Phantom video????? HELL YEAH!!!!!

[@jeffpowers1199]

Love the F-4! I worked avionics on the E model in the 31st TFW Homestead AFB in the early 70s and again with the 4th TFW Seymour-Johnson AFB in the late 70s. Got to work on the Thunderbirds while at Homestead. I was TDY to Ubon RTAFB when we launched all the F-4s for the last time in 73. Transitioned to the USAFR 906th TFS at Wright-Patterson AFB and the D model in the 80s. Many, many great memories of those times. Just a beautiful aircraft to see and especially to hear.

[@looper9264]

I was at Shady J same time as you Jeff...was in the Airframe Shop 4th CRS

[@JimmyFloridatube]

I was a test cell tech in the Navy in the early 70's. I tested and worked on hundreds of the engines in the Phantom 2. I got to stand in the test cell and check for leaks while it was running.

[@paulmanson253]

You might want to watch Agent JayZ here on YT. Turbines turbines and a test cell of their own.

[@fifteenbyfive]

The awesome GE J79.

[@michaelcuff3418]

Lucky dog!! Lol!

[@artbrownsr]

Sounds like a hazardous position, and you survived to tell about it.

[@pedrotome9119]

Wonderfull commentary, Sir!! Have my respects. I am in a tinny expressless country in Europe with a tinny air force where in late 50s and early 60s my father was at the cargos aircrafts. Due to him I love airplanes. I'd love to learn from you, as I am an ignorant on this subject... Again, thanks for your comment.

[@Sp4wnK3lla]

Superb jet, videography, and storytelling! It was very enlightening to hear and see directly how the pilots operated and flew their birds. Great scenery of California and Nevada!

[@aaronl_trains_and_planes]

My fav jet of all time!! I grew up down the road from the 188th TFW in Fort Smith, AR. They flew the f-4 for years before moving to the f-16 then the a-10. I loved riding my bike to the end of the runway to watch the f-4s coming and going. Nothing like that roar when they take off.

[@richq11]

A lot of us miss the 188th!

[@allgood6760]

Plane is a legend.. thanks for this👍✈️

[@phantomthespook7588]

Thank you for uploading this video. I used to be RF-4E back seater, WSO, 501TRS, Japan Air-Self Defense Force. JASDF's F-4EJs and RF-4Es already retired. I feel a longing for those days.

[@bearowen5480]

Arigato, Tomodachi! Sad, but we have been replaced by drones.

[@bearowen5480]

Errata: the air refueling scene series incorrectly referred to the tanker aircraft both as a "C-130" and as a "KC-130". In actuality it was a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. Also the narrator described the pilot as "fastening the straps of his G-suit". Actually he was fastening the leg straps of his integrated torso harness. The G-suit, or technically an "anti G-suit", has no straps, only a hose which is attached in the cockpit with a quick disconnect fitting to the aircraft's pneumatic system. The torso harness is a parachute harness without a parachute. The parachute is integrated into the Martin-Baker ejection seat. Once seated in the cockpit, the crewmembers are assisted by the crewchief in attaching their torso harnesses to the chute and other connections to the ejection seat.

[@JulioArguello-uj4ji]

The F 4 PHANTOM IS PURE MAGIC OF IT ITSELF.

[@a.g.6224]

Great documentary,i felt so melancholy watching the Phantoms fly off in the sunset knowing this was the last time they flew,or at least that`s what they said in the commetaries.I was great to see the british Jaguars too,they don`t make them like they used too.

[@kennethharman3782]

Wow miss those days in the Air Force 73-77 watching these powerful beautiful plane take off wow

[@MongooseTacticool]

Awesome film! Looking forward to flying it in DCS World when it is released.

[@mikedrop4421]

In these days of Action and 360 cameras that section about the effort required to get these shots is definitely appreciated. It's easy to forget that until recently you could just stick a HD camera anywhere and everywhere since they are so cheap.

[@thepaladin8554]

WOW Great video guys. I was an airman in the 70s and worked on the RF-4Cs from Bergstrom AFB. Not sure but 002, (BALLS 2) sure does look familiar. This really brings back some memories. Thanks! Loved it...

[@Impedancenetwork]

I worked on the RF-4C at Bergstrom AFB 1985-87.

[@mdrobtx]

I was at Bergstrom '78-'82 as an Avionics Sensor Systems tech. Humped many a camera out of that nose gear. But we had no 1965 models then. Our were 67-69 models.

[@BatGS]

Greetings: I lived in LVNV, (actually on the lake), many years in the 70s. I went out 2 Nellie every chance I could. Ppl were amazed I could identify boats and aircraft, amongst other things, by their sounds. Indeed the F4 was not a hard ident. It always has been my favourite fighter jet. It is such a shame 2 C it retired. Thx Nellie crew. Great job Jim. I depart with my salute. 82nd AZ ANG Ret'd.

[@charlesglaser4868]

Now that, was A Great Documentary!! Thanks So Much!

[@Ed-eq8ui]

If a documentary could have a Top Gun rating, this would have it.

[@groggg1962peeler]

well done. my dads buddy flew in 3 wars and this stuff is so cool to hear about......

[@bobbyhumphries2929]

I was at Homestead AFB when the Phantom was phasing-out for the F-16.

[@rafaelmora7983]

Amazing!! Just awesome!! My salute for all the military pilots in u.s.a.

[@isaachartford8354]

Absolutely incredible footage. Real labor of love here from all involved

[@LoPimpski]

This was a top tier watch 👏🏻👏🏻

[@lt.petemaverickmitchell7113]

9:10 my F14 Tomcat did well at Fighter Weapons School also 😂

[@jamespawlowski4310]

I was at Shaw AFB in SC, 64-68. We had RF-4Cs, RF-101s and RB- 66s,,, they all took awesome pictures,,, but the RF - 4C was the best.

[@LanceRomanceF4E]

My dad flew the Rf-101 at Shaw during that time…I flew the F-4E with the 3TFS at Clark AB Philippines before transitioning to the F -111

[@jcheck6]

@@LanceRomanceF4E That was an unusual follow on a/c.

[@user-jo8dd1qk3i]

The f4 is so badass

[@captaincrustyradio]

Magnificent camera work and storytelling. You captured the essence for pilots as well as crew chiefs. When you recorded the sounds of the -60 APU starting up on the flight line, it took my right back to 1978 at Shaw AFB, SC, and RF-4Cs. I was a crew chief on the RF-4C. I later went from active to guard. Then switched to Army Guard to go to warrant office flight school to fly helicopters. On one of our AFTPs , I rode in the seat behind and between the pilots to film a complete start-up and flight to show random guard flight of the 1980s in a UH-1H Huey. I really enjoyed your video. PS, as a kid I saw the Thunderbirds flying Phantom IIs at an airshow at what was Douglas Airport in Charlotte, NC. I was about 10. I have seen them in all other airframe since but the thunder of the Phantom II put the show over the top.

[@EGLately]

just over here waiting for this beauty to come to DCS! Can't wait to fly it!

[@lordvalentine471]

I was a hydraulic mechanic on these for 3 years at Yuma air station in the when I was in the Marine Corps vmfat-101 Sharpshooters

[@jernejfunkl8300]

The best video about this plane I've seen so far. The F-4 is my favorite plane. I really like its rugged shapes :)

[@jeffharper9703]

AIRBLAESHD WITH F-4 ! ☝

[@F-4E-58-MC]

Amazing footage.

[@lugeroaccordion9957]

Thanks for sharing. Cheers.

[@AvengerII]

I saw 2 RF-4Cs fly over the Dayton Air Show in 1990. They made a LONG turn, a lot of noise, and that was it for their participation in the air show! The largest formation of F-4s I ever saw fly overhead was a diamond formation of 6-8 planes?!? They overflow high school graduation in 1988 because one of the seniors was attending the Air Force Academy. He dropped out after a year because he didn't care for it. I'm fairly certain those F-4s were ANG planes assigned to a unit in Ohio, probably Rickenbacker AFB/ANG base. My high school was in Northwest Ohio. The ANG units nearest us (Toledo) were still operating the A-7D at the time and didn't convert to F-16s until the early 1990s (1993?). [Note: I double-checked after I typed and I can find NO RECORD available in half a minute of any Ohio units, ANG or USAF, operating the F-4 in Ohio. Those F-4s in 1988 were probably from another state and visiting Dayton, Rickenbacker, etc. They have a lot of planes flying in and out of Wright-Patt. It's not unusual to see fighters fly around Dayton. The direction they flew in makes me believe they came from south so that would be Dayton/Wright-Patt or Rickenbacker most likely. Again, there were no F-4 units assigned to Ohio that I can see. They used to have 3-4 F-16 squadrons from the 1990s to at least the 2010s but now I think the only fighter group in-state is in the Toledo area. It's the same ANG unit that operated A-7s until the early 1990s.] Most of the more modern fighters exhibited at Dayton 1990 were noticeably quieter -- especially the F-16 and F-18. Only the F-14B (they were still calling it the F-14A+ until 1991) with its 2 GE F110 engines was anywhere near as loud as the RF-4C. I think a B-52 might have flown overhead that there and was louder than any of the fighters. No Soviet planes (MiG-29, Su-27) that year/1990! They arrived later in the decade but I didn't attend any of those shows.

[@ianmangham4570]

Watched these with rolls royce spey 🇬🇧and j79🇺🇲 at R.A.F Finningley 70s 80s 🤟⚡💪

[@benjamindickinson6988]

Very awesome! I’m 47 and I believe this guy narrates a video called sky fury, a consolation of the Reno air show…also very worth the watch

[@jimfulgham6866]

The first 2 months in VX-4 at NAS Pt. Mugu, I had so many "Phantom Bites." Also had a buddy of mine sliced the top of his ear on an access panel door.

[@4shink]

My first "job" job was as a runner for the main engineering department at then McDonnell Aircraft Co at Lambert Field/St. Louis. I delivered various blueprints etc between various line departments that gave me a first hand experience to witness piles of various metal parts become a Phantom. In my opinion the F-4 was a supremely ugly piece of metal but simply ozzed "attitude" as a hold-my-beer aircraft that in the right hands and with the correct tactics could do ANY mission assigned to it.

[@rbrtjbarber]

The manufacturer was originally McDonnell Aircraft Company. It didn't become McDonnell Douglas until it merged with Douglas in the -70s.

[@jamesthackeray7421]

Fantastic documentary about Iconic aeroplane thank you very much for upload enjoyed immensely👍😉

[@clarencehopkins7832]

Excellent stuff bro

[@freddytate2699]

WHEN THE F4 FIRST WENT TO WAR IT DIDN'T HAVE A GUN . I PUT MANY GUNS IN THE NOSE OF THIS GREAT FIGHTER JET

[@taproom113]

I wondered where Stringfellow Hawke went after "AirWolf" ... turns out, he's flyin' Rhino's and going by the name Jeff Turney now! Skal ... ^v^

[@gunchief0811]

Iconic Jett aircraft.

[@GertKlimanschewski]

This is really a great documentary....❣️❣️❣️ As a kid I glued the Phantom as a Revell Modell 😁🙄 great footage, much information, interesting plots ....❣️❣️👍❣️❣️ Flying is a great adventure especially in such a beasty warmachine 👍😨😱🖖😅 maybe having them avoids WAR..??!!

[@p51wildfyre]

most masculine looking fighter plane louder than Metallica!

[@garyleibitzke4166]

While in the Navy I fixed the AWG-10 and AWG-10A radar for the F4-J's from 1975 - 1978.

[@jimporter7602]

Worked in the F 4E engine shop at Homestead AFB in 69-70 then in Udorn RTAFB Thailand RF 4C and F 4D engine shop 70-71

[@freddytate2699]

I FLEW MORE MISSIONS THAN MOST PILOTS RIGHT FROM THE COCPIT OF THE A/B/ & E MODELS AND TH K& M FOR THE UK / AND I NEVER LEFT THE HANGER THERE IN ST. LOUIS MO. I ALSO INSTALLED THE NOSE GUN WHAT A CHAMP THAT OLD F4 WAS.

[@danielleahy15]

The Narrator: but it didnt have a gun

[@ernestlmorellsr]

Thanks!

[@RobertSantos-rw8dy]

Thank you..

[@dalemay7498]

I was an Air Defense operator in the military. Talked with f-4 pilots

[@9HighFlyer9]

I always loved the fact that the original mockups were so terrible they had to notch and bend the wings and bend the horizontal stab downward to get a decent plane out of it.

[@jeffharper9703]

UP THE POOVIES AND DOON THE GALLONDER IN THE SKIES WITH THE F-4 ! ☝ JUST SMASHING DADDY'O 👍👍👍

[@otutehotuteh1704]

This technology are amazing God bless you USA

[@dronepilot260rc]

You’ve done well with this video. I am now subscribed 🎉

[@kennethharman3782]

I wish I could see one again 😢

[@parsaebrahimi9601]

فانتومها هرگز نمی‌میرند. فیلم بسیار قشنگی گذاشتین خیلی استفاده کردم ممنونم

[@jinenjuce]

The amazing thing about Topgun was how they take the jets the Navy have and push them to their limits. And in the case of the F-4, way past what the limits the designers said they were.

[@abolfazlghaderi9143]

Really I can`t believe that you are the best F4 fighter pilot!!!!! look to Iranian F4 pilots on the time of Iran and Iraq war!!!!!Unfortunately US Pilotes are not number one

[@ballesvalencia]

greattt movie!!!!!!!!

[@thaihi2188]

I was disappointed that the Top Gun school was mentioned but not the Air Force Combat Sage school . I was station in Thailand from 71 to 73 0n F4 weapons and radar then the Philippians Combat Sage.

[@user-jb1os7fk3n]

Good wonderful 💯💯💯💯❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@jaisrobins1545]

Had to laugh when the subtitles in English came on for the British pilot speaking English , 😂😂😂😂😂😂💀

[@warhawk4494]

Good video

[@JSFGuy]

🤔... How do you know? You posted your comment and then after they posted the video.

[@warhawk4494]

@@JSFGuy because this guy makes good content.......eh

[@thegrinch8161]

I just can’t explain why but the f4 is my favourite fighter and if I had the wherewithal and land I’d have one as a gate guardian

[@williamcollins2022]

Had to laugh when i heard a former F-4 Navy pilot said once....."the F-4 proves that given enough power, even a brick wall can fly"!

[@goldenschlong4846]

Top 5 all time 😊

[@crusader5989]

Excellent. What year was this filmed?

[@stewarthawkins1554]

Proof that with a big enough engine a brick could fly

[@kwh1871]

F-4 Pantom is greatest !!!

[@bobpisarski2610]

The largest distributor of mig parts . long live the thunder pig.

[@gianniminicucci7462]

great war plane in its time! the f15 evolved from this f4, the rest is ALL HISTORY !!

[@acts29today]

I was stationed at NAS Miramar fighter town USA plane captain VF-121 San Diego 68-72 before it became top gun😮

[@jwb7734]

VF 1/21 was a Framp squadron not Top Gun

[@randywilson944]

Rock the casbah 🎶