F4 Phantom (Page 5): So would I!

alamomike47 Loc: San Antonio, Texas

Geegnome wrote:

I'd settle for just being 50.

So would I!

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

alamomike47 wrote:

So would I!

I'll chime in on that. ME TOO!

Geegnome

Thanks, guys... I think.

btundra101

Retired CPO wrote:

I went to "A" school for electronics at Millington NAS. The work on the F-4 specifically was on-the-job training in VF-84 in Oceana Virginia. First deployment on an Aircraft Carrier was with that squadron with that airplane.

I was a plane captain (ADJ3) in VA-83 an A4D2n Skyhawk Squadron out of Oceana, VA and on the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) from 62 to 64. We always went out with a squadron of F-4H Phantoms out of Oceana. I know the Phantoms could easily do 2X the sound barrier but pilots have told me it could do 3X. It a nice pic. I remember them breaking the sound barrier just about flight deck level on air shows off the Forrestal.

RichinSeattle

btundra101 wrote:

...I know the Phantoms could easily do 2X the sound barrier but pilots have told me it could do 3X. ...

Nope, that was just pilot bragging. I was a USAF F-4 "guy in back," (GIB) in the early '70s. I once flew a post-maintenance test flight in a clean (no external stores or even pylons) F-4E, at Nellis AFB. Max power (full afterburners) at 40,000' altitude got us to ~1,525 MPH (Mach 2.2) in level flight. At sea level, top speed was around Mach 1.4.

There were proposals to re-engine the Phantom with new turbofans, but it never happened. Instead, the AF bought F-15s (Mach 2.6).

Geegnome

RichinSeattle wrote:

Nope, that was just pilot bragging. I was a USAF F-4 "guy in back," (GIB) in the early '70s. I once flew a post-maintenance test flight in a clean (no external stores or even pylons) F-4E, at Nellis AFB. Max power (full afterburners) at 40,000' altitude got us to ~1,525 MPH (Mach 2.2) in level flight. At sea level, top speed was around Mach 1.4.

There were proposals to re-engine the Phantom with new turbofans, but it never happened. Instead, the AF bought F-15s (Mach 2.6).

Yeah, it's the little things that count. We used to strike fear in the heart of the enemy by doing low passes at 0.151 mach. Sea-level, of course.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

btundra101 wrote:

I was a plane captain (ADJ3) in VA-83 an A4D2n Skyhawk Squadron out of Oceana, VA and on the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) from 62 to 64. We always went out with a squadron of F-4H Phantoms out of Oceana. I know the Phantoms could easily do 2X the sound barrier but pilots have told me it could do 3X. It a nice pic. I remember them breaking the sound barrier just about flight deck level on air shows off the Forrestal.

Ah, the good old days. You were exactly ten years ahead of me. I was an AQ working on the Fire control RADAR on the F-4s. Many years later I was stationed at Gitmo Cuba with a squadron of A-4 Skyhawks as an AT after AQs went away. Don't know how fast the F-4s could fly but they made a lot of noise doing it!

singleshot Loc: Georgia

I once flew a KC-97 at the remarkable speed of around 320 knots. That was in a 10 degree descent while off loading to a B-47. That was of course in the early 1950's. Things have changed.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

singleshot wrote:

I once flew a KC-97 at the remarkable speed of around 320 knots. That was in a 10 degree descent while off loading to a B-47. That was of course in the early 1950's. Things have changed.

Wow! That's very interesting. I didn't know those big bombers could do in-flight refueling. And, yes indeed, things have changed.

singleshot Loc: Georgia

Retired CPO wrote:

Wow! That's very interesting. I didn't know those big bombers could do in-flight refueling. And, yes indeed, things have changed.

At that time Midair refueling was in its infancy and the B-52 didn't exist. We could service the 47's but had to hook up in a descending attitude in order to at least equal her stall speed. Loved every minute of it and do so wish I could do it all over again.