We were invited by Stefan Ritter, test-pilot at WTD61, to participate in the phinal ceremony to celebrate the Phly-out of the two remaining F-4F Phantom II's (within the German Air Force) at Manching. LtCol Ritter and LtCol Hierl, together with their WSO's Mr. Killian and LtCol Geisse, performed a breathtaking phlying demo. Special thanks to Stefan "Q" Ritter for this phabulous day!!!
The day before:
German Navy P-3C Orion (60+07, cn285E-5774), turning onto the active runway after a quick stop-over at ETSI.
The modified UH-1D HUEY (98+98, n8358) from WTD61, with special Flighttest Equipment on the nose:
Lt Col Stefan Ritter climbs onboard WTD61's phabulous Phantom (38+13, cn4644), for her phinal "official" phlight before decommissioning, at Manching:
Close-up of the crew, piloting WTD61's Phly-out Phantom prior to the start of her phinal "official" phlight before decommissioning, at Manching:
WTD61's phabulous Phantom (38+13, cn4644), on her way to the active runway for her phinal "official" phlight before decommissioning, at Manching:
The two remaining F-4F Phantom II's - "37+15" & "38+13" from WTD61 - pass in close formation with gear and tailhook down, during the Phly-out ceremony at Manching:
"Don't let me die, I want to fly!". The WTD61 F-4F Phantom II - wearing a phabulous c/s - during one of her last phlights at Manching:
Both WTD61 Phantom's (38+13 & 37+15) get a water-salute - after their phinal phlight - by the Manching Fire Brigade:
WTD61's F-4F Phantom II (38+13, cn4644) is looking very wet, on return to the apron, after having received a water-salute by the Manching Fire Brigade:
Close-up of WTD61's Phly-out Phantom (38+13, cn4644):
Threatening sky above and behind this F-4F Phantom II (37+15, cn4385) from WTD61 at Manching. She had just performed her "official" last phlight today (July 24th, 2013), but on Monday (July 29th, 2013), she will phly to Jever to be dismantled and scrapped... What a sad ending of a beautiful test-career ;-(((
Dark clouds over the Phantom... I was very glad to see that this beautiful F-4F Phantom II from WTD61 - still in its special c/s for "50 Jahre Flugerprobung" - was still preserved in good condition at Manching:
Cockpit-view (front-seat) of the German Air Force F-4F Phantom II (38+13, cn4644), from WTD61 at Manching:
Some more on my website...