photo #1417017

Ever look at old photos of the team from the F-4E Phantom days? If you look closely the slot jet’s tail flash was black! The F-4 engines burned so hot that when the slot pilot was in formation, their tail would get covered in soot from the exhaust of the #1 jet. Because it was nearly impossible to clean off of the white tail flash, it was instead painted black to better mask the discoloration.