Pilot does 2K hours in F-4

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Matthew LaCourse, 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron pilot and controller, recently reached 2,000 flying hours in the F-4 Phantom, a milestone rarely accomplished. In addition to the hours spent in the F-4, he has also accumulated about 1,500 hours in the T-37, AT-38, F-16C and E-9A. LaCourse spent 22 years in the Air Force and retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2000. For several years he tried jobs in other career fields, including a test engineer at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and program manager at the Panama City Naval Support Activity. Then Lockheed Martin had an opening for an E-9 pilot as a contractor. He applied and was hired. Through attrition he ended up in an F-4. The 82nd ATRS does weapons evaluation testing for Air Combat Command, the Defense Department and foreign military programs. It’s the last squadron in the Air Force flying F-4s. (Source: 325th Fighter Wing, 10/10/12)