gunpods on Phantoms

Yowser-with or w/o ail droop?
Blue water, I assume? If ya went around, into the barricade? Could they
get
enough WOD for that(115kt max engaging speed(?)).

Next to last East Coast F-4 cruise with 102/Independence ... 153xxx F-4J
with drooped ailerons. Somewhere in the Arabian sea, night. Dirtied up and
noticed the airspeed was around 165 or so vice the 143-5 that a normal
airplane would see at full flaps. Gauge indicated full, cycled them through
1/2 ... no change in speed or aircraft response. Cycled them up and back to
full ... still 165. Sooo. We told CATCC that we wanted a low pass and
speed check with SPN-42.'

They confirmed our speed. Cleaned up tanked a bit ... twice I think as the
galley slaves responded to the increased tempo drumbeat. About a 1/2 hour
later they were ready. Wanted us around 2.0 or thereabouts and ran the
weights. Flies a nice pass at 1/2 flaps, honored the stronger burble ...
but not much ... and grabbed the 1 on the fly.

A bingo wasn't totally out of the question, but Misira (sp?) wasn't a
desirable action (diplomatic issues back then) and D-Gar was a long LONG way
away.

R / John