The first F-4E was delivered to the Air Force in October 1967 and arrived in southeast Asia 13 months later. A total of 1,389 were built, including orders (with others built under license) for 428 F-4Es that were operated by Japan, Israel, Iran, Greece, and Turkey. The first F-4Es arrived in southeast Asia in 1969 and represented a major improvement in capability over the earlier F-4Cs and Ds. Beyond the gun and lengthened nose to accommodate it, the F-4E included an additional internal fuel tank, updated avionics (including a vibration-resistant AN/APQ-120 radar), leading-edge slats for increased maneuverability, and the new J79-GE-17 turbojet engine. At that point, cannon-armed MiGs pressed short-range attacks while all an F-4 could do was to go defensive.Įxternally mounted gun pods represented an interim solution, but the definitive response appeared in the USAF’s F-4E that featured the internally mounted 20mm M61A1 gatling gun.
Long-range intercepts frequently degenerated into close-in knife fights, either because missiles failed or that the rules of engagement required visual identification of a bogey. The early generation radar-guided and heat-seeking missiles were far from reliable. This doctrine was challenged by reality over Vietnam. It was envisioned that the days of the close-in dogfight were over, and that all air combat would take place with missiles shooting down hostile aircraft at standoff distances. When it was first designed in the 1950s, McDonnell Douglas engineers and the Pentagon were overly optimistic with the promise of the guided air-to-air missile age. The absence of a gun put the F-4 at a serious disadvantage. However, it did have some faults, and especially in the air combat arena.
As the Vietnam War intensified, the versatility of the F-4 was demonstrated as it served in interceptor, fighter-bomber, battlefield interdiction, recce, and FAC roles with the Navy, USAF, and USMC. Then known as the F4H-1, it beat out the Chance Vought XF8U-3 Super Crusader to become the Navy’s principal carrier-based fighter of the 1960s. Navy by McDonnell Douglas in the late 1950s as a two seat, dual engine, all-weather interceptor. It is now a Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation mobile exhibit available for appearances.The F-4 Phantom II is one of the best-known aircraft of the 20th century, originally developed for the U.S. Since it's first restoration, the cockpit has travelled throughout the country to events ranging from large airshows to birthday parties, giving the public the rare opportunity to sit in a real jet fighter. Along with being an historically significant combat veteran, the original 68-0338 was an inspiration to Steimann when it was on display outside of the operations building of the 131st FW when the unit was based at St.
F4 PHANTOM COCKPIT LAYOUT SERIAL NUMBER
The aircraft is restored to represent F-4E serial number 68-0338, a jet that served with the 131st TFW after scoring two victories over North Vietnamese MiG-21s in 1972 (the original aircraft is on display at Whiteman AFB, MO). Initial restoration took about 600 hours over eleven months, some of which occurred during Steimann's technical school in Pensacola, FL as a member of the 131st FW, Missouri Air National Guard. It was acquired by Gateway Youth Aeronautical Foundation Founder and President Joe Steimann in 2003 from a scrap yard in Tulsa, OK. The cockpit began life as part of a complete aircraft, namely F-4F serial number 72-1156, McDonnell Aircraft production number 4461,in service as 37+46 with the (West) German Air Force for training in the U.S. The fully-restored "long-nose" cockpit travels on a 27-foot trailer and makes an immediate impression wherever it goes. The F-4 Phantom II jet fighter cockpit mobile exhibit received its exterior paint treatment in July of 2020.
0 kommentar(er)
