Wing Fold Accidents
At least one US F-4 was successfully landed after taking off with outer wing panels unlocked. The UK F-4s had a more aft cg making it very unstable when the outer wing panels folded up making abandonment the only option.
Some blocked off the rear fuselage fuel cell (tank 7?) or flew it particularly gingerly until it was empty. Take off with partially full Sargent Fletcher wing tanks was not recommended for similar reasons.
I always thought the longitudinal control system - particularly the Q-feel system was an overly complicated device and the error modes filled a very big data manual from MacDonnells. I think there were many incidents of sudden pitch downs occurring at high and low level.
On paper the low level ride of the F4 and the Bucc should have been similar when comparing wing loading and lift curves but apparently you didn't stay low for long in the F-4. Perhaps the Bucc's robust construction and better handling at low level made the ride more comfortable.
Not that it didn't deter everyone. We had one F-4 back in for repair due to a bird strike - it was still in it's nest.
Last edited by Plastic Bonsai; 3rd Aug 2012 at 23:32.