View Full Version : Last SLUF is retired.
thvigil11
10-28-2014, 16:29
Didn't realize these were still kicking. Well, not anymore. Great little aircraft.
http://theaviationist.com/2014/10/27/haf-retirement-a-7/
scratchy
10-28-2014, 17:09
Cool! I used to fix the inertial nav systems on those.
Bailey Guns
10-28-2014, 17:52
I didn't even know they were still in service anywhere. Neat plane!
spqrzilla
10-28-2014, 18:04
A surprise to me, an ANG reservist friend of mine transitioned out of those about 20 years ago.
Very cool aircraft.
Cap'n Jack thinks so too.
I believe my uncle "Goober" drove those for a time. Long ago retired fighter jock.
Aardvark
10-28-2014, 18:23
Portugal and Greece were the last flyers of this great aircraft. I grew up with them flying around down in Albuquerque with the 150th. Dad worked near the flight line so I got to see them quite often. During the 1976 celebrations, they painted one A-7 in a beautiful red/white/blue scheme. They also had one painted with a sharks mouth, hand painted by one of the Flying Tigers. Joining the Navy, I saw them a few more times as the A-7E variants, and they always impressed me. On the bad side; they were man eaters. That big intake could make a meal in a split second.
Wow. wiped up a lot of H fluid under those things, and slept in more intakes than I will admit to.
I remember when COANG won GUNSMOKE with this plane. Always liked this AC.
two shoes
10-28-2014, 19:43
Cool! I used to fix the inertial nav systems on those.
INS.... It can tell you where it is by knowing where it isn't... lol.. AIMD WC670 & 690
Wow, what a work horse. A fond salute to a great old warrior.
Fentonite
10-29-2014, 00:40
On the bright side, at least they're still flying the F-4! Fun times calling fire for those, long ago. Still one of my favorites.
That was always one of my favorites as a kid... That and the F-15... up until I found out it was retired, but I didn't care, I still thought it was an awesome plane.
wctriumph
10-29-2014, 12:38
Is Spain still flying ME109's and HE111's?
thvigil11
10-29-2014, 12:50
First time I saw a real 109 was a Spanish one at the Tillamook Air Musuem in Oregon. Never realized how small those things were. Thought it was a kit plane when I first saw it. By the way the Tillamook museum is in an old blimp hangar, really cool. The Evergreen Museum in Oregon is also worth the visit. First time there, the wife and I walked in the space building first, saw the ticket prices and decided it was not worth it. Walked into the other building just to get a peek. I spent about two minutes standing in the lobby staring at a large plane in the back, till I realized "HOLY CRAP, THAT'S THE SPRUCE GOOSE!" We then payed the money and let me tell you, the rest of the visit was worth it.
I stopped off in Greece coming home from Somalia this winter and saw some flying around. I had no idea they were that short.
Cool and very loud little plane.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.