ASDF fighter jet catches fire before takeoff in Ibaraki

What, no angry protests from local residents?

Time to retire the old F-4s.

Seems to me that the JSDF is having just as much trouble with keeping their aircraft free from incidents. Wonder if they used "metal" from Kobe?

An F-4? That is a very old aircraft. Amazing any are still flying.

ArtistAtLargeToday 08:19 am JSTAn F-4? That is a very old aircraft. Amazing any are still flying.

It IS amazing. Both Japan and South Korea have about 70 each still in operation. After that, it's countries like Greece, Egypt, Turkey., etc. I believe in the case of Turkey they are currently deployed in combat. Japan is going to retire them when the F-35 order all comes in.

An F-4? That is a very old aircraft. Amazing any are still flying.

Many air forces around the world still use them as bomber interceptors and ground attack strike fighters.

Although they are mostly obsolete for air combat, it boasts a top speed of Mach2.2 and climb rate faster than most modern fighters.

The F-4 was built for the Cold War, to intercept incoming Soviet bombers. Climb high and there fast. And it played that role impressively.

If this were a US jet you would be hearing a massive number of complaints and the "fleet would be grounded".

They are still using the F-4?! Those things were obsolete by the early 80s!

Yes, but if the ASDF upgraded them all to F-15s or F-35s, people would complain about the cost.

The fighter air wings in Japan have mostly phased out the F-4 and only use F-15s or F-2s for scrambles. F-4s have mostly been downgraded to trainer jets.

Where are all the people who were screaming about the dangers posed by military aircraft? They had no comment when the SDF chopper went missing. They have no comment now. Well, Toasted Heretic admitted it never was about safety and what Okinawans said as such is all lies, but beyond that... silence.

While the F4 is an older model, the current F4-J model first flew went into service in 1989 and has been upgraded ever since.

As a trainer aircraft and interceptor aircraft against bombers (which it was designed to do against Russian type bombers, a role it still can do) it is still a very capable aircraft with upgrades. The numbers are low with JASDF with most being replaced on front line duties with F15Js , F2s and soon F35s.

I am going to go out and protest the lack of protests.

Surely there's a governor that will now protest? (And don't call m...)

I am going to go out and protest the lack of protests. if you do that ill be getting protesters together and well be protesting your protest at the lack or protest! damn Im exhausted just thinking about it.

The two aircrew jumped out pretty swiftly. A good thing the whole plane did not explode!

A 60 year old aircraft only used by Japan, South Korea, Iran and turkey. Next Japan will waste money on f-35 and osprey. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, I demand that the JSDAF ground all aircraft and conduct a thorough investigation and insure that this will never happen again, how about them apples.

The American Helicopter in Okinawa "burst into flames" but this Japanese jet merely "caught fire" does that sound like unbiased reporting?

"Burst into flames" sounds a lot more scary

We don't know the payload.

NK problem. If USA was carrying small tactical nukes or phosphorus cluster munitions, it would be a disaster that Japanese authorities can't investigate.

But I doubt Japan regularly transports such weapons.

Well, I demand that the JSDAF ground all aircraft and conduct a thorough investigation and insure that this will never happen again, how about them apples.

Read the article. That is exactly what the ASDF is doing.

Wow, an F4-J didn't know that those 'Flying Bricks' were still in the air.

RF(Reçce) maybe.

I knew that the 'Blue ANGELS' and 'Thunderbirds' flew them Well in the Korea War.

They finished making the F-4 in 1981 so they are getting old. I assume they use them for training (as in this case) with the logic that if you can fly one of these old babies, you can fly anything.

Yes, and the B-52 entered service in... 1952, and is scheduled to remain in service till 2045.

Japan has downgraded their active F-4s to trainers and ground attack.

GoodlucktoyouToday 01:53 pm JSTA 60 year old aircraft only used by Japan, South Korea, Iran and turkey.

And Greece and Egypt. A model introduced a long time ago is rarely if ever used the way it came originally, receiving modifications and upgrades over the years.

pacintToday 07:17 pm JST Wow, an F4-J didn't know that those 'Flying Bricks' were still in the air.

I knew that the 'Blue ANGELS' and 'Thunderbirds' flew them Well in the Korea War.

Considering that the Korean War ended in 1951 and the F-4 entered service in Dec 1960, that's quite a feat.

The F4 might be very old, but for sure the avionics it caries is not. The "fighter planes" of today are just platform for carying the latest avionics and weaponry. Ten F4 cost less than a F35, and both do more or less comparable jobs.

Where is the outrage and the demad for grounding oif this aircraft?