Originally Posted by
421dog
After extensive discussion with multiple FJ types, (and with a lot of hours, but no FJ Cred at all personally)
i’m given to understand that the F4 was the fastest and most capable platform ever in the usaf/nato inventory. Interested in opinions with legitimate information.
Asking for a high-time aviation organization....
Pilot Notes for the USAF F-4C / F-4D / F-4F are on the internet if you care to look for them. They show the various external stores fits and their airspeed / "G" limits that they impose on the aircraft for both carriage and release / jettersion. The Top Trumps figures compared with other aircraft of its era are impressive (find pilots notes for the other aircraft from its era for valid figures for comparison), but take into account things like ease of maintenance, ease of operation and reliability of weapon systems (which for the early Sparrow and Sidewinders was not good). The Reliability of the later AIM-7E and AIM-9G/L in firing trials can be found in RAF Central Tactics and Trials Organisation files on the subject found in the UK National Archives.
https://discovery.nationalarchives.g..._d=ADM&_d=DSIR
Unfortunately thanks to Covid, they are shut at the minute.
USAF pilot notes below.
https://www.usaf-sig.org/index.php/r...-4e-01-10-1970