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F-4 Phantom

Old 4th Mar 2009, 01:15
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Matkat
surprised no one mentioned as well as no fire extinguishers it never had a battery either.
You may find that there are a few DFs that spent a large number of hours, swearing and bitching, upside down in the RCP trying to get the battery into the hole, especially on the twin stickers.

IIRC Aux air doors upper and lower were part of the mechanism to bleed air from the intake at lower forward air speeds. Not sure at what speed they closed but the point was they closed at higher speeds to get intake compression.

The Toom looked hard in a no nosense, don't f+++ with me way the same as Steve Collins the boxer.

Was and always will be an awesome beast.
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Old 4th Mar 2009, 07:57
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Thinking back now the aux air doors top and bottom were controlled through the pitot-static system, the faster you go the more they close. If you go faster still then the air intake ramps hinged outwards at the centre point to slow the air entering the engine.
At the same time the stab feel probe was busy introducing artificial "feel" into the stabilator system. That is of course unless a bee has nested down the tube, but that's another story. Both the pitot tube and stab feel probe were located on the fin and protected from icing by a ferocious heating system, but again that's another story.
All these recollections are hazy now having long since sliced off the top of my skull, Hannibal Lechter style, on the LOX pot door hanging down in front of the SUU gun
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Old 4th Mar 2009, 09:37
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With some air forces still operating the F-4, it makes me wonder why we got rid of them so early, were they all clapped out?
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Old 4th Mar 2009, 15:50
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The demise of Oscar XT866

Wee Jock, a sad sight, but this is how Oscar ended up. Thankfully, crew got out, injured, but survived.

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Old 4th Mar 2009, 20:00
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You may find that there are a few DFs that spent a large number of hours, swearing and bitching, upside down in the RCP trying to get the battery into the hole, especially on the twin stickers.
Slopjockey,

Thanks for resurrecting that (I thought) long suppressed nightmare, I think I need to have a little lie down now!

228 OCU - mainly twin stickers. How to do a battery change

1. Remove the rear seat
2. Remove the RH Circuit Breaker Panel (No 2 I think)
3. Remove the relay box behind the CB Panel
4. Carefully remove the locking wire securing the battery clamp (you'll be needing it later)
5. Unscrew the battery clamp and hoses
6. Wind the rudder pedals fully forwards
7. Get a really heavy mate (preferably one who plays rugby) to stand on the right rudder pedal in the front cockpit.
8. Have him hold a hundred pounds or so of force while you wrestle the 30lbs of battery out of it's hidey hole with your fingertips (five minutes).
9. Wrestle battery from the rear cockpit floor to the ground (usually via the intake, spine and down onto the wing, then the LAU)
10. Wrestle new battery up on a recipricol heading
11. Have same mate stand on pedal again (if you can find him)
12. Re-attach battery clamp and hoses
13. Start to lock-wire the battery back in using the piece removed earlier as a gauge as to how long the new piece needs to be. Repeat four or five times until you get it right.
14. Refit the relay panel
15. Refit the CB Panel
16. Refit the rear seat
17. Carry out a functional check of the battery - push in the EJECT light, if it lights battery has volts!
18. Carry out a functional check of all the disturbed systems!!
19. Carry out an essential check of the rear seat.

Total time for a twin stick battery change on a Phantom - about five hours. Total time on a Jag or Tornado - about five minutes.

Despite all that I used to love maintaining the Phantom

Next time I'll recount how to change the fatigue meter accelerometer through the simple method of removing the entire spine panel!
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Old 5th Mar 2009, 18:48
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Just as a wee side note has anyone noticed the currant RAF callander for march has a flight of 4 Phantoms F4's from No 43(F) squadron flying over forth rail/road bridge !
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Old 6th Mar 2009, 05:24
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Aux air doors.

My sq lost one in '78 at Bergstrom AFB, TX. The centerline tank was not leak checked properly after being hung. After takeoff the fuel was sucked into the aux air door and ignited with a 40' flame behind it. The a/c was IMC over downtown Austin but managed to turn away from town and the crew successfully ejected.

They said the scariest part of the ordeal was the helicopter ride back to the base in marginally VFR weather.
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Old 6th Mar 2009, 10:28
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Does anyone remember the F4 landing at Leuchars attempting to use the Fletcher tanks as undercarriage, circa 1988/9, then lifting again and trying the landing with the U/C down?

Details are hazy now due to too much time spent at Ma Bells in St Andrews.
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Old 6th Mar 2009, 10:30
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Both the pitot tube and stab feel probe were located on the fin and protected from icing by a ferocious heating system, but again that's another story.
All these recollections are hazy now having long since sliced off the top of my skull, Hannibal Lechter style, on the LOX pot door hanging down in front of the SUU gun
Ha ha ha, you have just brought back some very (un)pleasant memories!
I remember walking down the spine during a crew-in snag with both engines running to try and sort out a drag 'chute door problem (can't think why now!). When I got to the very tricky transition from the narrowing slippery spine to alongside the fin I grabbed hold of one of the probes to steady myself. Bl**dy Hell they were hotter than a hot thing with an electrified hot thing! I left a good chunk of my skin behind! And, no, I didn't fall off either!

I also remember seeing someone with a marshalling bat trying to 'unstick' the hook lock during a see-off (a hook functional was part of the see-off procedure). The right hand engine was still going and he tried to take a swing at it from the left engine jet pipe area. He missed, spun into the jet blast of the right engine and was sent flying down the pan! Eventually the long lead of his headset reached its limit and was yanked off. I think the only reason the crew knew that things hadn't gone to plan was when they heard 'Awkkk!' from their Man A! Needless to say Man B was laughing to much to help. Oh, and just for those who never worked on the Phantom, the correct method for 'unsticking' a hook lock with an engine running was with a broom!

Happy, but sometimes painful, days!
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Old 6th Mar 2009, 11:11
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Yes, hook indicator snag with engines running, what a memory!

Shut down lh engine during see-off so rigger can have a look, close inspection revelas nothing. So he takes a quick shufty round the right hand side of the hook, straight into the blast from the rh engine. End result, one rigger sprawling and cartwheeling into the HAS chimneys, with an ever helpful see-off crew besides themselves on the HAS floor.

You won't do that again Duncan!
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Old 9th Mar 2009, 23:35
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For your Entertainment

Gents

Found this on Rum Ration.. (To the tune of Ernie - The fastest milk cart in the west - U tube it if you're too young to remember)

Pertinent to Royal Naval Aviation and not any of you RAF Land-Lubber types*

(*Stand fast the Tame Crabs)

ERNIE (HE FLEW THE SLOWEST PHANTOM IN THE WEST)

You could hear the tyres a bursting as he careered across the deck
You could hear the goofers laughing as he stumbled from the wreck
He flew into the circuit with his wings upon his chest
His name was Ernie, EEEEEEEEERRRRNNNMEEEEE,
and he flew the slowest Phantom in the west

Now Ernie loved a Wren a lovely lass named Sue
She worked down the road at Lilstock Range, she was only twenty two
They said she was too good for him, she was haughty, pride and chic
But Ernie took his missiles there, three times every week
His name was Ernie, EEEEEEEEERRRRNNNIIEEEEEE,
and he flew the slowest Phantom in the west

She said she'd like to have a flight, he said right oh sweetheart
And she gazed at him in wonder as he raised his undercart
Would you like it straight and level, or at aeros have a crack
She said "Ernie I'd be happy if you rolls me on me back
His name was Ernie, EEEEEEEEERRRRNNNHEEEEEE,
and he flew the slowest Phantom in the west

But Ernie had a rival, an evil looking swine
He was swarthy from down the road, the boss of 809
When he threw it over the shoulder, she knew a longing dread
She was at a loss with his medium toss, and she nearly lost her head
His name was Ernie, EEEEEEERRRRNNNMEEEEE,
and he flew the slowest Phantom in the west

Now Ernie would not stand for this 'Enoughs enough" he said
And in the bar that evening he cornered poor old Fred
You've poked around her quadrant hut, and had your evil fun
We'll fight for her tomorrow man to man in one v one
His name was Ernie, EEEEEEEEERRRRNNNIIEEEEEE,
and he flew the slowest Phantom in the west

They took off the next afternoon, just after half past four
Full twenty minutes they battled on, and still there was no score
Then Fred pulled even tighter, he gave it his all
And Ernie shoved in rudder, and stoofed in off a stall
His name was Ernie, EEEEEEEEERRRRNNNIIEEEEEE,
and he flew the slowest Phantom in the west

Ernie did not want to die, he was only twenty eight
But now he's gone for ever, flying circles in the wait
Yet is he in a better place, in that airy fairy land
Where the flying programme always works, and Commander (Airs) are banned
His name was Ernie, EEEEEEEEERRRMNNIMEEEEE,
and he flew the slowest Phantom in the west

For a woman's needs are many fold, and Sue she married
Ted And strange things happened on their wedding night
As they lay in their bed Is that the wind a whistling through the leaves and the dry rot
Or Ernie’s ghostly Phantom returning to the slot
They won't forget old Ernie, EEEEEEEEERRRNNNMEEEEE,
and he flew the slowest Phantom in the west
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Old 10th Mar 2009, 07:05
  #72 (permalink)  
 
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Many years back when I was a young spacey on annual camp at Coltishall we were lucky enough to be offered not one but two backseat flights, one at Colt in a Jag and the other at Wattisham in a Phantom. As 'top cadet' of the camp (being good at marching about and other such stuff) I was offered the choice, with the other slot going to the second placed cadet. I chose the Jag (not wanting to miss footie in the evening was I believe the decider) and although I really enjoyed the Jag flight (as proved by the slightly full sick bag) I always wonder (and this is in no way meant in an ungrateful manner) if I chose wisely.
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Old 10th Mar 2009, 12:15
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Does anyone remember the F4 landing at Leuchars attempting to use the Fletcher tanks as undercarriage, circa 1988/9, then lifting again and trying the landing with the U/C down?
It was an OCU jet with Staff pilot and student nav, landing on Easterly runway. Pilot forgot to lower landing gear. Caravan controller 'froze' between making radio call and firing red flare (did neither!), ATC Tower controller shouted "Go around" (or similar) and pilot selected full power. Phantom touched down on underwing tanks then got airborne again with sparks/flames pouring from tanks/engine burner cans. Pilot landed into approach-end cable on short SW'ly runway. Pilot got sent on exchange to fly F-15s in US and is now flying as Captain for well-known UK airline.
Aircraft repaired and flew again several weeks later.
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Old 5th Aug 2011, 21:15
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F-4 with latest sparrows?

In wikipedia i have seen things you people would not belive...
no. just a joke on blade runner.

In wikipedia i have seen an AIM-7F Sparrow (range 70 km) on an F-4G Phantom

Does somebody know if the F-4E Phantom can be armed with AIM-7F Sparrows?
As far as I know the F-4E can only be armed with AIM-7E Sparrow (range 30 km)
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Old 5th Aug 2011, 21:30
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Does anyone remember the F4 landing at Leuchars attempting to use the Fletcher tanks as undercarriage, circa 1988/9, then lifting again and trying the landing with the U/C down?
Yup, I also remember being sent to Kinshaldy beach to try to recover the decidedly shredded brake 'chute too!
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Old 5th Aug 2011, 21:33
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The F-4 Phantom? A triumph of thrust over aerodynamics!
McDonnell learned all they knew about that from producing the F101B.
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Old 5th Aug 2011, 22:54
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Does somebody know if the F-4E Phantom can be armed with AIM-7F Sparrows?
Yes the F-4E carried the AIM-7F
as could the Navy F-4J/S, and in fact the Israelis used it from F-4Es to down at least two MiG-21s. http://www.acig.org

Of course the German F-4F can the AIM-7F/M and on the ICE versions can carry the AIM-120.
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Old 6th Aug 2011, 01:29
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Does anyone remember the F4 landing at Leuchars attempting to use the Fletcher tanks as undercarriage, circa 1988/9, then lifting again and trying the landing with the U/C down?
Also happened in Oz, at Amberley in 1972.
F-4E was doing touch-and-go, scaffold around tower so ATC couldn't see wheels not down, scraped on the tanks (fortunately) as burner in and airborne. Next was a full-stop with three greens!! No damage to airframe, only the tanks.
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Old 6th Aug 2011, 13:42
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Helmet Art

In answer to the question "Who painted the Tigers onto the 74(F) Sqn guys helmets"? The one who did mine was a chap in flying clothing, cost me £10. I deliberately left having it done until about 2 weeks to posting. Once done I carried the helmet gingerly to and from each sortie. I kept the helmet (they didn't fit anyone else as they were individualy moulded to your head) and it sits on the bookcase in my office at an RAF base somewhere in Lincoln as a reminder of the great times I had on 74(F) Sqn - Once a Tiger - ALWAYS a Tiger!!
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Old 6th Aug 2011, 21:05
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My Old Man was one of the RN VF-121 exchange boys (not involved in the delivery of the USMC Phantom to my knowledge).

Always told me that UK aircrew were forbidden to become involved in Ops. Training the US aircrew was one thing, to deploy was another.

TN.
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