The Turkish Air Force’s remaining fleet of F-4E Phantom IIs have had their planned retirement date delayed to at least 2030, after modernization plans hit a snag. Defense Minister Hulusi… Continue reading "Retirement Of Turkish F-4E Phantom IIs Delayed Through 2030"
Despite its role in Japanese aviation history as the Japan Air Self Defense Force’s first F-4EJ Phantom II and among the last of them, no museums or private collectors have… Continue reading "An Uncertain Fate For Japan’s First Phantom"
The three final flying F-4EJ Phantoms of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s Air Development and Test Wing made their final flights this morning. F-4EJ 17-8301, the first Phantom delivered to… Continue reading "Japan’s Last F-4 Phantom IIs Retire, Ending 50 Years of Service"
The Japan Air Self-Defense Force announced today that the 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron has officially moved to Misawa Air Base, adopting the F-35A as its new aircraft. The 301st is… Continue reading "The JASDF 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron Adopts The F-35A"
The last F-4 Phantom ever made, F-4EJ Kai 17-8440, better known as “440” or “Shishimaru” to planespotters, flew for the final time on Tuesday, departing Hyakuri Air Base for Hamamatsu… Continue reading "The Final Phantom’s Final Flight"
The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force’s 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron held a send-off event today for the squadron’s F-4EJ Kai Phantom IIs, commemorating the end of 48 years of service with… Continue reading "Send-off For the JASDF 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron’s Phantom IIs"
With the retirement of the 302nd Tactical Fighter Squadron’s F-4EJ Kai Phantom IIs, the 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron became the sole squadron in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force flying the… Continue reading "The Last of the Samurai Phantoms: F-4EJ Kai 436 and the 301st Tactical Fighter Squadron in Profile"
On 9 March, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s 501st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron flew its final training sortie in their RF-4E and RF-4EJ Phantom IIs. The sortie was flown from the… Continue reading "Farewell Japanese Photo Phantoms"