F-4J Cabriolet

[tc2324]

On the 18th May 1988 Rich Lepman, a US exchange pilot assigned to the Tigers, was lined up on the runway at the annual APC at RAF Akrotiri with his back seater Steve Smyth. They were part of a pairs take off for the sortie flying F-4J(uk) ZE362/V with a standard gun pod fitted. The start of the take off sequence went smoothly and as normal, but just as the Phantom went into V1, the front canopy detached much to the surprise of the crew. They then had to flying around for 20 minutes Phantom Cabriolet style until the runway was cleared of debris and a normal landing was made.

https://flic.kr/p/23E9tpB

https://flic.kr/p/JHijHK

https://flic.kr/p/22zqN2q

https://flic.kr/p/23E9tAt

https://flic.kr/p/22zqNa1

https://flic.kr/p/23E9sZ8

https://flic.kr/p/JHijrc

https://flic.kr/p/23BkWfh




Thanks for looking.

[JONLITE06]

Great job! Interesting story!!

[mattkinnear]

That is so COOL!!

[andrewn]

very nice

[paddyboy]

Hi Buddy

Awesome work as always

Best regards

Patrick

[captain scarlet]

Wow!