If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Ed Rasimus wrote:
On 9 Mar 2005 08:33:25 -0800, "Bob" wrote: The Navy did not use wing tanks on their F-4's. The normal external tank configuration was the single centerline tank. The reason was that wing tanks made the already cumbersome F-4 even harder to turn. Roll rate was reduced and nose high maneuvers were harder. The Navy bought a different centerline tank than USAF did. (Not sure, but as I recall it was a MacAir tank for USN and a Sargent-Fletcher for AF). The Navy tank was stressed for close to aircraft limits and with lower drag than a pair of outboard 370s made for better efficiency all around. The USAF tank was a true "gas bag"--good for only four G empty and just over two when full with very poor assymetric or "rolling" G allowance. It was seldom used in other than ferry configurations for peacetime/training missions. In combat ops it was always jettisoned when empty. As for "already combersome F-4 even harder to turn", I can only say, "huh???" The 370s weren't all that noticeable and, except when we had very long time-on-target requirements in the SAM suppression mission, we almost always retained them. Roll aug off, however, was standard for any manuevering. Normally each F-4 carried 2 Aim-7 missiles in the under fuselage cavities and four Aim-9H or G missiles on under wing pylons. Here you highlight one shortcoming of the C/L tank option. Two of the four missile wells couldn't be used. Air-to-ground ordnance was hung in TERs (triple ejector racks) under the wings. MERs (multiple ejector racks) could be carried but normally weren't. Are you saying it was Navy practice to carry TERs on the outboard stations rather than MERs? Never saw it done in the USAF. Seems like it would create a very forward C/G. A M-60 gun pod (SU-23) was tested. This pod was about the size of a centerline fuel tank, fired 20mm bullets and was mainly tested to get some gun data on the M-60 which was then used exclusively by the USAF. Both SUU-23 and SUU-19 were carried by USAF F-4C and D models. Only major difference was that the -19 was RAT driven while the 23 was electrically spun. Good guns that could be very effective against ground targets. Another pod was carried when testing the ACMR (air combat maneuvering range). This pod trnsmitted airplane dat like speed, altitude, angle of attack, attitude, weapons select and other info needed to reconstruct real time ACM engagements. Basically an AIM-9 shape without fins and with a pointy antenna nose rather than the ogival IR seeker head. Ed Rasimus Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret) "When Thunder Rolled" www.thunderchief.org www.thundertales.blogspot.com Gotta agree with Ed. Wing tanks didn't make the F-4 any harder to roll. Roll rate in a word was fantastic, clean, wing tanks, CL. I have never seen MERS on the F-4s I flew but I was post Vietnam. We had Ters on station 2 and 8, AIM-9s on the Lau7s, 2 AIM-7 in the aft fusealge stations and a CL..CL was 600/1.6 IMN, 6+ and 0 neg G limited. |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
ex USAF/RAAF QF-4G Phantom heading down under | Aerophotos | Military Aviation | 13 | May 8th 04 08:45 PM |
PBJ-1 (NAVY Mitchel) and F4 Phantom, T6 Texan and bunch of AC manuals FS | Nenad Miklusev | Military Aviation | 0 | May 2nd 04 09:24 AM |
Winch Loads / Speeds data? | Gary Emerson | Soaring | 1 | December 17th 03 08:59 AM |
How many aircraft types photographed????? Loads of rotors | Tim | Rotorcraft | 0 | October 26th 03 08:49 PM |
F-4 chaff/flare loads | Bob Martin | Military Aviation | 25 | September 25th 03 03:36 PM |