F-4 soldiers on and on...

MarkG88 · Post by **MarkG88** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:39 pm

One of the "starter jets" in Jay's MAS is the venerable F-4. It's 2008 and this classic bird is still flying and getting the job done. From strategypage.com newsletter:

ATTRITION: Only F-4 Phantoms Defend Japan

January 6, 2008: The recent grounding of 670 elderly U.S. F-15C fighters, to check for metal fatigue, led to the grounding of Japanese and Israeli F-15s, just to be on the safe side, and to check for any problems. This was a particularly difficult for the Japanese, as they had, at about the same time, grounded their F-2 (enlarged F-16) fighters because of a recent unexplained crash. That has left only elderly F-4EJ Phantom jets to guard Japanese air space for a week or so late last year.

Charles Lewis · Post by **Charles Lewis** » Mon Jan 07, 2008 8:31 pm

Gee, if they refer to the F-15C as elderly, shouldn't the F-4EJ be considered geezerly?

Rainer · Post by **Rainer** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 1:14 pm

Well, our Saab Drakens and Saab 105s must then be considered undead.

mwaschak · Post by **mwaschak** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:22 pm

LOL.

But it does affirm the starting plane's validity in MAS. If first world countries fly the F-4 in 2008, then in 2016 it is not so outrageous for mercenaries with no clout.

mwaschak · Post by **mwaschak** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 2:23 pm

Rainer wrote:Well, our Saab Drakens and Saab 105s must then be considered undead.

Oooh, those should go in the expansion

.

MarkG88 · Post by **MarkG88** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:42 pm

So F-15Cs are "elderly", F-4EJs are geezerly *snickers*, and the Saab Drakens and Saab 105s are "undead" *chortles*, then that would make the B-52.........

Charles Lewis · Post by **Charles Lewis** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:50 pm

...Prehistoric.

MarkG88 · Post by **MarkG88** » Tue Jan 08, 2008 6:27 pm

Charles Lewis wrote:...Prehistoric.

That was my thought too but I was looking for input hehe

echoco · Post by **echoco** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 11:45 am

Been trying to think of any WWII plane still in service to beat the B-52's age.........

mwaschak · Post by **mwaschak** » Wed Jan 09, 2008 1:07 pm

echoco wrote:Been trying to think of any WWII plane still in service to beat the B-52's age.........

There has to be some training plane somewhere that someone is still flying. When researching the expansion I was surprised to see how many modifications and rebuilds some very old planes have received.