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
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F-4J Cabriolet
Moderator: Flyingmonster
F-4J Cabriolet
74 `Tiger` Sqn Association Webmaster
Tiger, Tiger!
Tiger, Tiger!
Re: F-4J Cabriolet
Great job! Interesting story!!
Re: F-4J Cabriolet
very nice
Re: F-4J Cabriolet
Hi Buddy
Awesome work as always
Best regards
Patrick
Awesome work as always
Best regards
Patrick
- captain scarlet
- Posts: 3814
- Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 1:15 pm
- Location: Cloudbase, Spectrum HQ
Re: F-4J Cabriolet
Wow!
Richard
Captain Scarlet is indestructable, you are not! Remember this, do not try to imitate him.
Captain Scarlet is indestructable, you are not! Remember this, do not try to imitate him.
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