Holy Cow!

[Boomstick]

One low approach. :o

Edited September 11, 2005 by Boomstick

[jacobp51]

Anyone want to take bets on who will be the first to say this picture is "obviously a fake"??? :o ;)

[majortomski]

Pretty darned good one if it is!

[Rick in Maine]

I'd give it a fighting chance of being real. In those days (d***, I must be getting old!) viewing a/c on approach like this was a much easier thing than now.

Rick in Maine

[robert61267]

Its the photo of the day over at Airliners.net. The photographer's caption says he was shaken by how low the Phantom crew came in.

Robert

[David Walker]

It appears it was probably a pretty good idea to block off the road.

[maddog]

Being from a Brit family and having done training over there while I was in the Airborne up here, I can say this is how the airfields are over there!!! NO KIDDING

I was at a crossing one day in a jeep and these train gaurds came down. Well, I'm sitting there like a knob wondering....?????? *** ?????? there are no tracks........well holy crap here comes this bloody Typhoon just as low as this phantom across the friggin road. Not all of them but there are a few who do use the "civilian" roads as part as the approach and there are even some who's runway cross the roads.

Also, one thing to take into acount is what type of landing is he doing? Is it a specialty landing? If it is, he could be practicing or conducting a short field landing. I can't see a phantom doing a soft field. Anyway, for short field we are taught to come in at a much more shallow glide angle than a regular landing glide and to touch down as soon as we pass the thresh hold. Once touchdown, we apply full brakes and stop as soon as possible. This would definatley explain the low attitude.

:o

Edited September 11, 2005 by maddog

[Raymond]

were missing some shadows on the ground :o ;)

knowitce the bushes shadow, and the absence of any on the field under the plane :D

jsut kiddin!

Edited September 11, 2005 by Raymond

[GreyGhost]

were missing some shadows on the ground ;)

knowitce the bushes shadow, and the absence of any on the field under the plane :D

jsut kiddin!

Look a little closer, there is a shadow of the Phantom on the ground ... ;)

Gregg

[Sietse]

Believe me guys, this is reality. If I am not misstaken, this is Gilze-Rijen Airbase in Holland. I have been there many times and seen this kind of approaches often. In the good old days, when there were still American Deployments there, I remember one deployment of Eagles (FF code), who were actually trying to make the lowest approach and after that compared our pictures to see who has won. ;)

Regards, Sietse

Holland

[Graham T]

No special knowledge or experience, but I'm afarid I'd be in the "fake" camp. There is no airfield that I know of in the UK where the end of the runway would be so close to a public road that this type of approach would be necessary. Also, safety concious officials would ensure that the public would be kept far further back than is shown here by means of traffic control light/barriers. Further, no one appears to be covering their ears here - tht F4 must be pretyy loud!

[polybebber]

RAF Valley has a public road passing very close to one end of the runway, however, there are traffic lights going red whenever an aircraft is on approach. This one is not as low as the F-4, but still low enough for a couple of good pictures.

Absolutey fantastic how close to the runway you're allowed at RAF Valley with no extra security.

Lothar

[Robert K]

..

Edited January 22, 2006 by Robert K

[hogdriver]

believe me guy's its real .

it is indeed Gilze -Rijen airbase .

Beside the road are traffic lights ,when a plane come's in the tower will push the button and the lights go red .

i have been there many many many times .

[Ivanho4]

Guys, just simmer down. Don't you recognize the lead plane in the "Runway Kissers" airshow? Sheesh! Ivan ;)

[tigercat]

You havent been to Waddington then. They come over very low on approach. A French Mirage 2000 demolished the fence there a couple of years ago.

[Dave Fleming]

There is no airfield that I know of in the UK where the end of the runway would be so close to a public road that this type of approach would be necessary.

Ever been to Shetland? The road at the end of the runway has traffic lights to stop traffic when an approach is made.

[Mad Viper]

But that wasn't the only one.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/738186/L/

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/597076/L/

[Flankerman]

I believe it to be real - but I bet he's just added a touch of power...............

Ken

[Chappie]

Wish there was places like that in the States.

Chappie

[CaptainErik]

But that wasn't the only one.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/738186/L/

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/597076/L/

Yikes

[DonSS3]

Boy, that is one S-H-O-R-T runway he's about to touch down on!!! ;)

[f14peter]

were missing some shadows on the ground   

knowitce the bushes shadow, and the absence of any on the field under the plane 

jsut kiddin!

Look a little closer, there is a shadow of the Phantom on the ground ...

Gregg

Yep, definately a shadow, you can see it on the right-hand side of the road, ended just about at the center line.

Also, note that there is some cloud cover and the lighting is diffused, making shadows less distinct.

Looks legit to me.