Calif Bill wrote:
Lots of good pilots were being cut. The VN flyers were better as they had
lots more practice. My friend spent 2 years flying phantoms and I bet he
had a lot more hours than any stateside military pilot. Even had more
practice bailing out.

Dude... I thought that was the kind of thing you *didn't* want to
practice? Your friend is either very lucky or very good!

Anyway the F-4 was just being phased out when I was in the Navy. That
plane had (still has in some countries) an amazing service record.

DSK