Impressive 1980s photo of old jet fighters flying over Giza's pyramids

Here is something for those with an interest in classic military aircraft: http://sploid.gizmodo.com/impressive-old-photo-of-old-jet-fighters-flying-over-gi-1658978508/all

Enjoy!

Great photo!

It’s the leader that catches my heart.

Hard to believe its already more than a year that our last Phantom was retired.

Was a great time working on the mighty Rhino. She’ll always be missed.

I grew up near McClellan Air Force Base in Northern California, where USAF F-4s and F-111s were serviced. I remember that I could always tell when an F-4 was flying over our house by its distinctive “howl.”

Great photo!

It’s the leader that catches my heart.

Hard to believe its already more than a year that our last Phantom was retired.

Was a great time working on the mighty Rhino. She’ll always be missed.

Which air force?

Which air force?

German

I grew up near McClellan Air Force Base in Northern California, where USAF F-4s and F-111s were serviced. I remember that I could always tell when an F-4 was flying over our house by its distinctive "howl."

There's nothing that tops the sound of the good old J79 turbojet.

Which "howl" are you referring to? The "usual" howl that's rather common to turbojets or the distinct howl/whistle of early variants of the J79 (F-104 sans 104S and early F-4)

Our F-4F had MTU-17A engines that were missing this distinct howl. Our F-104G were upgraded in 1970 from the GE-11A to the MTU-J1K, thereby losing their distinct howl. But I always loved seeing/hearing the Italian TFs which kept their original (howling) 11A setup.

Here's a short video of F-4F landings and departures I took some years ago at my homebase. Not the best video quality, but I did my best to capture the sound "as real as it gets"...

http://youtu.be/5kdDr3SKtRU

Edit: Just in case anyone's wondering what the distinct howl was. Here's a video (not mine) of some Italian TF-104G. Most awesome sound!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhD-PcvjtcI

That J79 howl is what I definitely remember from the USAF F-4s. It's very distinctive (almost haunting) in the video as the F-104s are going away from the camera. F-104s were gone from the USAF inventory by the time I was old enough to know the difference so I didn't realize they had the same engines and sound (not to mention the smoke trails).

When I heard that sound, I'd think "Phantom!" and run out of the house to watch.

Thinking about that sound, the name "Banshee" from one of the Phantom's McDonnell predecessors might have been more apt for the F-4.