| McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II |  |
|
The F-4 in all its versions is the most versatile aircraft to date. The Phantom was the first multi service aircraft, flying concurrently with the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. It is the first and only aircraft ever to be flown concurrently by both the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds.
It was originally designated by the US Navy as F4H-1. In 1962, the Department of Defense dictated that all similar aircraft have the same designation. It is rumored that Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara found the many designations confusing and ordered the single the designation.
First entering service in 1960, the Phantom continued to form a major part of US. military air power throughout the 1970s and 1980s, being gradually replaced by more modem aircraft such as the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon in the US. Air Force; the F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet in the US. Navy; and the F/A-18 in the U.S. Marine Corps.
The F-4 Phantom was designed as a fleet defense fighter for the U.S. Navy. By 1963, it had been adopted by the U.S. Air Force for the fighter-bomber role. When production ended in 1981, 5,195 Phantom IIs had been built, making it the most numerous American supersonic military aircraft.
Despite the imposing dimensions and a maximum takeoff weight of over 60,000 pounds the F-4 had a top speed of Mach 2.23 and an initial climb of over 41,000 ft per minute Shortly after its introduction, the Phantom set 15 world records, including an absolute speed record of 1,606.342 mph (2,585.086 km/h), and an absolute altitude record of 98,557 ft Although set in 1959–1962, five of the speed records were not broken until 1975 when the F-15 Eagle came into service.
In air combat, the Phantom's greatest advantage was its thrust, which permitted a skilled pilot to engage and disengage from the fight at will.
The F-4's biggest weakness, as it was initially designed, was its lack of an internal cannon. For a brief period, doctrine held that turning combat would be impossible at supersonic speeds and little effort was made to teach pilots air combat maneuvering. In reality, engagements quickly became subsonic. Furthermore, the relatively new heat-seeking and radar-guided missiles at the time were frequently reported as unreliable and pilots had to use multiple shots just to hit one target. To compound the problem, rules of engagement in Vietnam precluded long-range missile attacks in most instances, as visual identification was normally required. Many pilots found themselves on the tail of an enemy aircraft but too close to fire short-range Falcons or Sidewinders. Although in 1967 USAF F-4Cs began carrying SUU-16 or SUU-23 external gunpods containing a 20 millimeter M61 Vulcan Gatling cannon, USAF cockpits were not equipped with lead-computing gunsights, virtually assuring a miss in a maneuvering fight. The lack of cannon was finally addressed by adding an internally mounted 20 millimeter M61 Vulcan on the F-4E.
The F-4 served its best during the Vietnam War. Though initially hampered by lack of tactics, the enterprising crews quickly made the adjustments and adapted many of the Air Combat Maneuvering tactics from World War II. Combat commanders such as Col. Robin Olds, a WW II double “Ace” with five kills in the P-38 and seven in the P-51, developed training for the pilots of the 8th Tactical fighter Wing at Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base
The F-4 on display is a RF-4C, the reconnaissance version of the F-4. It was used extensively by McDonnell Aircraft, General Electric and the Air Force as a test aircraft for the J79 engine.
USAF F-4 Summary for Vietnam War action
Acft Tactics MiG-17 MiG-19 MiG-21 Total
F-4C Sparrow 4 0 10 14
Sidewinder 12 0 10 22
20 mm gun 3 0 1 4
Maneuvering 2 0 0 2
F-4D Falcon 4 0 1 5
Sparrow 4 2 20 26
Sidewinder 0 2 3 5
20 mm gun 4.5 0 2 6.5
Maneuvering 0 0 2 2
F-4E Sparrow 0 2 8 10
Sidewinder 0 0 4 4
AIM-9+20 mm 0 0 1 1
20 mm gun 0 1 4 5
Maneuvering 0 1 0 1
Total 33.5 8 66 107.5
Specifications
Crew: 2
Length: 63 ft 0 in
Wingspan: 38 ft 4.5 in
Height: 16 ft 6 in
Wing area: 530.0 sq ft.
Empty weight: 30,328 lb
Loaded weight: 41,500 lb
Max takeoff weight: 61,795 lb
Powerplant: 2× General
Electric J79-GE-17A axial
compressor turbojets,
17,845 lbf
Fuel capacity: 1,994 US gal,
internal, 3,335 US gal with
three external tanks
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 2.23
(1,472 mph) at 40,000 ft
Cruise speed: 506 kn (585
mph)
Combat radius: 367 nmi
(422 mi)
Service ceiling 60,000 ft
Rate of climb: 41,300
ft/min
Armament Up to 18,650 lb
(8,480 kg) of weapons on
nine external hardpoints,
including general purpose
bombs, cluster bombs, TV-
and laser-guided bombs,
rocket pods, air-to-ground
missiles, anti-runway
weapons, anti-ship
missiles, targeting pods,
reconnaissance pods, and
nuclear weapons.
4x AIM-7 Sparrow in fuselage
recesses plus 4x AIM-9
Sidewinders on wing
pylons
1x M61 Vulcan 20 mm
gatling cannon, 640 rounds
4x AIM-9 Sidewinder,
4x AIM-7 Sparrow,
8x AIM-120 AMRAAM
8x AGM-65 Maverick
4x AGM-62 Walleye
4x AGM-45 Shrike,
AGM-88 HARM, AGM-78
Standard ARM
4x GBU-15
18x Mk.82, GBU-12
5x Mk.84, GBU-10, GBU-14
18x CBU-87, CBU-89,
CBU-58
SUU-23/A 23 mm Gunpod
|
| REFERENCES
Angelucci, Enzo. The American Fighter. Sparkford, Somerset: Haynes Publishing Group, 1987.
Beit-Hallahmi, Benjamin. The Israeli Connection: Whom Israel Arms and Why. London: I.G Tauris, 1987.
Bowers, Peter M. and Enzo Angellucci. The American Fighter. New York: Orion Books, 1987.
Burgess, Richard E. The Naval Aviation Guide, 4th ed. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1985.
Calvert, Denis. "Le Tigri della RAF (RAF's Tigers)"(in Italian). Aerei magazine N.5, Parma, Italy: Delta editrice, 1991.
Carrara, Dino. "Phantom Targets – The USAFs Last F-4 Squadron". Air International Volume 71, no. 5, November 2006. Stamford, Linconshire, UK: Key Publishing
Donald, David, "RAF Phantoms". Wings of Fame. London: Aerospace. Volume 15, 1999.
Donald, David and Jon Lake, eds. "Desert Storm – The First Phase". World Air Power Journal. London: Aerospace, Volume 5, Spring 1991.
Donald, David and Jon Lake, eds. "Desert Storm: Gulf Victory". World Air Power Journal. London: Aerospace, Volume 6, Summer 1991.
Donald, David and Lake Jon, eds. Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. London: AIRtime Publishing, 1996.
Donald, David and Jon Lake, eds. McDonnell F-4 Phantom: Spirit in the Skies. London: AIRtime Publishing, 2002.
Dorr, Robert F. "Navy Phantoms in Vietnam". Wings of Fame. Volume 1. 1995. London: Aerospace Publishing.
Dorr, Robert F. "McDonnell F3H Demon". Aeroplane. Volume 36, No. 3, March 2008. London: IBC,
Dorr, Robert F. and Chris Bishop, eds. Vietnam Air War Debrief. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1996.
Dorr, Robert F. and Jon Lake. Fighters of the United States Air Force. London: Temple Press, 1990.
Fricker, John. "Boeing /McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II Current Operators". World Air Power Journal. London: Aerospace, Volume 40, Spring 2000.
Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. The Great Book of Fighters. St. Paul, Minnesota: MBI Publishing, 2001.
Grossnick, Roy and William J. Armstrong. United States Naval Aviation, 1910-1995. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Historical Center, 1997.
Higham, Robin and Carol Williams. Flying Combat Aircraft of USAAF-USAF (Vol.2). Manhattan, Kansas: Sunflower University Press, 1978.
Hobson, Chris. Vietnam Air Losses, USAF, USN, USMC, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast Asia 1961–1973. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2001.
Jefford, C.G., RAF Squadrons. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing, 2nd edition, 2001.
Jones, Lloyd S. U.S. Fighters: 1925–1980s. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, Inc., 1975.
Knaack, Marcelle Size. Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems: Volume 1 Post-World War II Fighters 1945-1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History, 1978.
Lake Jon. Phantom Spirit in the Skies. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1992.
List, Friedrich. "German Air Arms Review". Air International Volume 70, No. 5, May 2006. Stamford, Linconshire, UK: Key Publishing,
Nordeen, Lon. Fighters Over Israel. London: Guild Publishing, 1991.
Swanborough, Gordon and Peter Bowers. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909. Washington, District of Columbia: Smithsonian, 1989.
Swanborough, Gordon and Peter Bowers. United States Navy Aircraft since 1911. London: Putnam, 1976.
Taylor, Michael J.H. Jane’s American Fighting Aircraft of the 20th Century. New York: Mallard Press, 1991.
Thetford, Owen. British Naval Aircraft since 1912. London: Putnam. Fourth Edition, 1994,
Thornborough, Anthony M. and Peter E. Davies. The Phantom Story. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1994.
Wagner, Ray. American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition. New York: Doubleday, 1982.
This aircraft is on loan to the Chanute Air Museum from the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
