F-4 Trivia

[THE PILGRIM]

Subject: 13 Phantom Facts



13 Facts About The F-4 Phantom II


The F-4 made its first flight in 1958, and it was a true feat of thrust over aerodynamics. Check out these 13 facts about the F-4 Phantom II:
1) With a total of 5,195 built, the F-4 was the most numerous U.S. supersonic jet ever assembled.
2) Early wind tunnel tests revealed lateral instability in the F-4's design. To overcome this problem, engineers needed to add five degrees of dihedral to the wings, but instead of redesigning the central titanium section, they added 12 degrees of dihedral to the outer portion of the wing, averaging five degrees across the entire span.
3) The tail was designed with 23 degrees of anhedral, which improved high AOA control.
4) In some versions, the nose strut could extend up to 20" to increase AOA for carrier take offs.
5) The F-4 was not short on speed. The Air Force's first Phantom II exceeded Mach 2 on its first flight in 1963.
6) Built as a long-range radar interceptor, the F-4 originally did not have an internal cannon.
7) The F-4 was the first fighter in the world to have a Look Down Shoot Down radar.
8) In 1959, the F-4 set an altitude record of 98,557'. Cmdr. Lawrence Flint, Jr. accelerated to Mach 2.5 at 47,000', zoom climbed at 45 degrees, then shut down the engines to glide to the peak altitude. He restarted the engines in his descent.
9) In 1962, the F-4 set a time-to-climb record of 9,000 meters (29,500') in just over 61 seconds.
10) The F-4 was the only jet flown by both the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds.
11) A total of 528 F-4s were lost during the Vietnam War.
12) The U.S. Air Force still uses F-4s as target drones.
13) At 63' long and with over 35,000 pounds of thrust, it is no wonder that the F-4 was nicknamed, "The triumph of thrust over aerodynamics.

 

[deanodog]

Very interesting. I still enjoy airplanes as an ex air force mechanic. Some things I did not know about the F-4. Thanks for sharing.

 

[zzzippper]

It is still in service, at least with South Korea.

If it wasn't leaking hydraulic fluid it was empty.

If it lost electrical power a door on the dorsal would pop open and a Ram Air Turbine (RAT) would deploy to power a generator, like a little wind mill. The T-45 has something similar in case of hydraulic loss.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

11) A total of 528 F-4s were lost during the Vietnam War.

During my first all expenses paid vacation to sunny South Vietnam I was an infantryman. We regularly relied upon close air support (USAF, USN, USMC, as available) and the F4 Phantom was frequently the platform provided. Bombs, rockets, napalm, 20mm Vulcan, all very effective and welcomed by those of us on the ground.

During my second tour the USAF had some new policies, probably as a result of aircraft losses to ground fire while on close air support missions. Aircraft were not permitted to descend below certain altitudes. I don't remember the specifics, but "close air support" sometimes involved launching weapons from extreme ranges (and, I think, sometimes beyond maximum effective ranges for the weapons, particularly rockets). On the ground we incurred a number of casualties from USAF "close air support".

USN and USMC crews were known to get right down into the trees and weeds when necessary to identify and engage. Lots of stories made the rounds about F4's with limbs, leaves, and mud stuck to them during close air support missions. On a couple of occasions I've seen F4's pull up and engage afterburner after completing an attack run and we felt the heat and had our hearing blasted harshly on the ground.

I recall one time that we had a serious problem to deal with. We had plenty of beer at base camp, but no refrigeration or ice available. A little coordination with a nearby USMC airfield led to a solution. Stack 6 cases of beer in the front seat of an F4 and strap them in place, then the F4 ran them up to altitude for a half-hour or so. We kept half the chilled beer, the Marines kept other half for their trouble. Beer was $2.40 per case at the PX Class 6 (when available, and when we could get there). Operating costs of the F4 Phantom were around $10,000 per hour or so, probably the most expensive beer I ever drank.

 

[Bat Guano]

Last saw F-4s fly at the Abbotsford, BC air show in 1989. A couple of NDANG F-4s did a takeoff and zoom climb. I just KNEW it would be the last time I would see them fly, and it's turned out that way. A bittersweet moment...

Of course, there is always the bucket list option:
McDonnell F-4D Phantom II - The Collings Foundation

 

[M E Morrison]

Subject: 13 Phantom Facts



13 Facts About The F-4 Phantom II


The F-4 made its first flight in 1958, and it was a true feat of thrust over aerodynamics. Check out these 13 facts about the F-4 Phantom II:
1) With a total of 5,195 built, the F-4 was the most numerous U.S. supersonic jet ever assembled.
2) Early wind tunnel tests revealed lateral instability in the F-4's design. To overcome this problem, engineers needed to add five degrees of dihedral to the wings, but instead of redesigning the central titanium section, they added 12 degrees of dihedral to the outer portion of the wing, averaging five degrees across the entire span.
3) The tail was designed with 23 degrees of anhedral, which improved high AOA control.
4) In some versions, the nose strut could extend up to 20" to increase AOA for carrier take offs.
5) The F-4 was not short on speed. The Air Force's first Phantom II exceeded Mach 2 on its first flight in 1963.
6) Built as a long-range radar interceptor, the F-4 originally did not have an internal cannon.
7) The F-4 was the first fighter in the world to have a Look Down Shoot Down radar.
8) In 1959, the F-4 set an altitude record of 98,557'. Cmdr. Lawrence Flint, Jr. accelerated to Mach 2.5 at 47,000', zoom climbed at 45 degrees, then shut down the engines to glide to the peak altitude. He restarted the engines in his descent.
9) In 1962, the F-4 set a time-to-climb record of 9,000 meters (29,500') in just over 61 seconds.
10) The F-4 was the only jet flown by both the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds.
11) A total of 528 F-4s were lost during the Vietnam War.
12) The U.S. Air Force still uses F-4s as target drones.
13) At 63' long and with over 35,000 pounds of thrust, it is no wonder that the F-4 was nicknamed, "The triumph of thrust over aerodynamics.

Thanks - I didn't know most of this!

I saw a BUNCH of them flying off carriers during Viet Nam, and always thought they were one of the meanest looking things in the sky.

 

[Mydogmax]

I recall one time that we had a serious problem to deal with. We had plenty of beer at base camp, but no refrigeration or ice available. A little coordination with a nearby USMC airfield led to a solution. Stack 6 cases of beer in the front seat of an F4 and strap them in place, then the F4 ran them up to altitude for a half-hour or so. We kept half the chilled beer, the Marines kept other half for their trouble. Beer was $2.40 per case at the PX Class 6 (when available, and when we could get there). Operating costs of the F4 Phantom were around $10,000 per hour or so, probably the most expensive beer I ever drank.

That sounds like the Marines to me.

 

[steveno]

F-4's are also very loud. I was tdy to Incirlik AB , Turkey and the transient barracks were steel Quonset huts. there were F-4's from Torrejon AB , Spain and they were flying all hours of the day. the Quonset huts really rattled and I thought they were going to fall apart at any time.

 

[msinc]

As a kid that grew up near a Naval Air Station I have seen every Blue Angel jet perform since as far back as I can remember...the first being the F-11 in the 60's. None were as impressive to see perform as the F-4 Phantoms. Don't get me wrong, they were all phenomenal to watch and the aerobatics performed in those F-11's was something to see. But if I could go back and see them perform with any previous jet it would be the Phantom...I believe most would probably agree.

 

[Badger Matt]

My father earned the Silver Star in an F-4 in '69/'70. Used to have a pic of a basketball size hole in a wing. He still loves that airplane.

 

[Bullzaye]

As a kid that grew up near a Naval Air Station I have seen every Blue Angel jet perform since as far back as I can remember...the first being the F-11 in the 60's. None were as impressive to see perform as the F-4 Phantoms. Don't get me wrong, they were all phenomenal to watch and the aerobatics performed in those F-11's was something to see. But if I could go back and see them perform with any previous jet it would be the Phantom...I believe most would probably agree.

I'm not quite certain which aircraft you're thinking of when you say "F-11", but I can only suspect that you're referring to the F-100 Super Sabre.

As an ex-F106 troop (MA-1), I have never been a fan of the F-4. For the record, on December 15, 1959 Major Joe Rogers of the United States Air Force Flight Test Center flew an F-106A to a measured world absolute speed record of 1,525.93 mph (2455.68km/h) Mach 2.31. This was a stock-standard, unmodified F-106. It still stands as the official world single engine speed record. The absolute record stood until November 22, 1961, when an McDonald F-4H-1F twin-engine Phantom flown by Lieutenant Colonel R. B. Robertson also of the United States Air Force Flight Test Center set a new record. Note that the F-4 has two engines, the F-106, only one.

Tim

 

[THE PILGRIM]

I'm not quite certain which aircraft you're thinking of when you say "F-11", but I can only suspect that you're referring to the F-100 Super Sabre.

The F-11 was a Navy fighter. I think the only one I ever saw is over at Tucson.

It didn't stay in service long. It was deemed to be inferior to the F-8.

 

[rwsmith]

Thrust over aerodynamics.....

It had pretty much the glide ratio of a brick.

The supersonic car, the SST, used a couple of Phantom engines to break the sound barrier...

I saw the Blue Angels about ' 59 at the Charleston Battery so they must have been flying the F-11

"Phantom Over Vietnam" good book about one of my favorite planes.

Somebody mentioned the F 106. Another favorite plane. I was in the CLOSE approach to the airbase and loved to watch the ANG scramble. Once time a guy took off and did aileron rolls until he was out of sight. Thought I was going to faint. The 106s also didn't have good visibility ahead and below (read NO visibility) and one was doing hot touch and goes around in a big circle and I was in my front yard watching. I saw him coming around about the time a little plane came putt-putting in. The plane was right under the 106s nose and pulled up at the last second. The plane shook around in it's jetwash. The plane landed and the 106 went around one more time and went in. I'll bet the plane pilot had a brick and the 106 pilot probably didn't have an *** after that.

 

[Onomea]

I was gonna challenge #1, that more F-4s were assembled than any other supersonic jet, with the F-16, but looked it up and you are right. As of 2010, 4,500 F-16s produced.

 

[Bullzaye]

I'm not quite certain which aircraft you're thinking of when you say "F-11", but I can only suspect that you're referring to the F-100 Super Sabre.

The F-11 was a Navy fighter. I think the only one I ever saw is over at Tucson.

It didn't stay in service long. It was deemed to be inferior to the F-8.

Oh, boy. That's my mistake. He was referring to the Blue Angels, and I was thinking of the Thunderbirds. Which was why I referenced the F-100. My bad!

Thanks for catching that.

Tim

 

[steveno]

zulu alert

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fqBXqb6LP8

 

[klondike]

My neighbor was a F4 pilot. I was always amused that after the F15 came on line, the Air Guard units who still had the old F4 would regularly beat them in simulated combat. It was just the difference that an experienced pilot had.

 

[M E Morrison]

As a kid that grew up near a Naval Air Station I have seen every Blue Angel jet perform since as far back as I can remember...the first being the F-11 in the 60's. None were as impressive to see perform as the F-4 Phantoms. Don't get me wrong, they were all phenomenal to watch and the aerobatics performed in those F-11's was something to see. But if I could go back and see them perform with any previous jet it would be the Phantom...I believe most would probably agree.

UMMMM, what's an F-11?

 

[shouldazagged]

I believe that big, smoky beast is the most dangerous-looking, intimidating military aircraft I've ever seen. Looks like an enormous shark, truly wicked.

Before they switched to the C-130 (the operation of which all over the world has won them some unit citations) the Air National Guard unit here flew the reconnaissance version, the RF-4. When they were on approach to land after night training missions they would often come directly over the old stone house in which I had an apartment. The stone was a foot and a half thick, but those birds would rattle pictures on the interior walls.

I still have trouble understanding why the early models were built without a gun.

 

[M E Morrison]

I believe that big, smoky beast is the most dangerous-looking, intimidating military aircraft I've ever seen. Looks like an enormous shark, truly wicked.

Before they switched to the C-130 (the operation of which all over the world has won them some unit citations) the Air National Guard unit here flew the reconnaissance version, the RF-4. When they were on approach to land after night training missions they would often come directly over the old stone house in which I had an apartment. The stone was a foot and a half thick, but those birds would rattle pictures on the interior walls.

I still have trouble understanding why the early models were built without a gun.

Because the military geniuses "knew" that it was the missile age and guns were obsolete!