Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.

[MarkSheppard]

F-4E retirement moving forward:

https://theaviationist.com/2024/05/1...r-south-korea/

On May 9, 2024, the Republic of Korea Air Force’s (ROKAF) F-4Es flew in formation with KF-21s to mark the type’s upcoming retirement. A sole F-15K served as chase plane and took photos of the flight. The formation, consisting of four F-4Es and two KF-21s flew around the Korean peninsula, covering all major cities outside of Seoul. The three-hour flight covered the following regions of Gyeonggi-province (Suwon, Pyeongtaek), Chungcheong-province (Seonghwan, Cheonan, Cheongju, Chungju), Gyeongsang-province (Uljin, Pohang, Ulsan, Busan, Geoje, Daegu, Sacheon), and Jeolla-province (Yeosu, Goheung, Gageodo, Gunsan).

...

During part of the flight, two KF-21s joined the formation over the skies of Sacheon, home to Korean Aerospace Industries’ manufacturing plant and headquarters. The formation symbolised the KF-21 taking over the F-4E’s role of protecting the nation’s sky. The first batch of KF-21s are expected to be come out later this year 2024 and achieve Initial Operating Capability (IOC) by 2026. Current F-4 and F-5 squadrons are scheduled to be the first ones to receive the new KF-21s.

...

A Korean Spook wearing a red scarf has and a Spook holding an AGM-142 Popeye missile were specially created for this occasion. Specifically, the Spook holding the Popeye missile is wearing the traditional battle gear of a Chosun dynasty military officer. The F-4Es were the sole operators of the AGM-142s and the remaining stockpile of munitions were all fired prior to the aircraft’s retirement

...

With the official retirement ceremony of the F-4E scheduled for June 7, 2024 at Suwon Airbase, the remaining 19 ROKAF Phantoms are still scheduled to fly around until the last few days.

[MarkSheppard]

Another OOB slot going *poof* in Ukraine.

https://www.france24.com/en/live-new...lots-in-france

“Tomorrow we will launch a new cooperation and announce the transfer of Mirage 2000-5” fighter jets to Ukraine made by French manufacturer Dassault and train their Ukrainian pilots in France, Macron told French TV.

Macron said he would offer Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when the two meet for talks at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Friday that the pilots be trained from this summer.

“You need normally between five-six months. So by the end of the year there will be pilots. The pilots will be trained in France,” he said.

[MarkSheppard]

Portugal has apparently backed out from a potential F-35 buy per news on Twitter -- breaking in the last hour -- nothing had been officially signed up to this point, so there are no cancellation costs.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

They are NOT likely to be the only ones.

Portugal's dropping out will now mean everyone else's cost for their F-35 fighters for a single fighter has just increased by millions of dollars more considering the cost of each is in the 90 million dollars per unit price point.

The GAO and DOGE "Boss" Elon Musk have been pointing out that with all the groundings (+Crashes), production delays, technical delays, at least three different engine replacements etc. etc. have made not so much a "rabbit hole" as to be instead several "rabbit holes" all at the same time.

Our Maintenace costs alone for the "fleet" we have now will be at least 2 TRILLION Dollars.

With Musks feelings about F-35 (Google it.) and with further countries possibly still to drop out it won't take long for DOGE too go HMmm!?!. They are already looking at the DOD.

We await the outcome.

This is a good article that's up to date thus far on the situation. The video is worth a look as well on the differences of each F-35.
https://reason.com/2025/03/17/allies...st-2-trillion/

And who won the "Battle in the West"? Though redacted there's enough there to surmise it was the A-10 even though no Forward Observers from the USA, USAF or USMC were allowed to be there for the full competition or not at all. That for another time.

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

The following is a very difficult maneuver at best given the size of the plane and that it is propeller driven as well.

The maneuver is called a "120-Degree Wingover" also the "stroboscopic effect" (Wagon Wheel) of the props are fairly interesting as well.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/techn...7371478d&ei=34

Pump up the volume!!

Something a little different for a change. Enjoy!

Regards,
Pat