F-4 Phantom news

[Randy Daytona]

Good article on the venerable F-4 and how a modernized version of this Gen III fighter with mods is still being used today. Interesting that the Turkish F-4 "2020" was rewired to get rid of 20 kilometers of wire reducing weight by 1,600 pounds. Curious to know what our resident pointy nose types think of our NATO allies still using it (disclaimer - I am not suggesting we go back to the F-4...)

https://warisboring.com/the-f-4-is-a-great-fighter-with-a-bad-record-f4757f5e91e2#.xra6s2ash

 

[Hair Warrior]

I am neither an aviator nor a pointy-nose, but the way the USAF leadership talks about the F-35 and A-10 debate makes me think rewiring F-4s is kind of a Sisyphean battle, given a future contested airspace operating environment.

But hey, the F-4 is fast, carries a big external payload, and at least it has 2 engines. Maybe we could rewire it Turkish-style, then also remove all the manned systems to save even more weight, and make it into a QF-4 unmanned strike fighter for operational use as a "wingman"/decoy beside stealthier, manned F-22/35s. Kinda like the CSAF's flying coke machine idea... except this one can be launched from a Navy carrier. Like a cheaper, supersonic, non-stealthy X-47B.

 

[Renegade One]

 

[wlawr005]

I am neither an aviator nor a pointy-nose, but the way the USAF leadership talks about the F-35 and A-10 debate makes me think rewiring F-4s is kind of a Sisyphean battle, given a future contested airspace operating environment.

But hey, the F-4 is fast, carries a big external payload, and at least it has 2 engines. Maybe we could rewire it Turkish-style, then also remove all the manned systems to save even more weight, and make it into a QF-4 unmanned strike fighter for operational use as a "wingman"/decoy beside stealthier, manned F-22/35s. Kinda like the CSAF's flying coke machine idea... except this one can be launched from a Navy carrier. Like a cheaper, supersonic, non-stealthy X-47B.

That would be like getting your iPhone to talk to your toaster so you could throw a butter knife across your kitchen.

 

[Uncle Fester]

That would be like getting your iPhone to talk to your toaster so you could throw a butter knife across your kitchen.

That sounds...pretty fucking awesome, actually.

 

[magnetfreezer]

I am neither an aviator nor a pointy-nose, but the way the USAF leadership talks about the F-35 and A-10 debate makes me think rewiring F-4s is kind of a Sisyphean battle, given a future contested airspace operating environment.

But hey, the F-4 is fast, carries a big external payload, and at least it has 2 engines. Maybe we could rewire it Turkish-style, then also remove all the manned systems to save even more weight, and make it into a QF-4 unmanned strike fighter for operational use as a "wingman"/decoy beside stealthier, manned F-22/35s. Kinda like the CSAF's flying coke machine idea... except this one can be launched from a Navy carrier. Like a cheaper, supersonic, non-stealthy X-47B.

We already did this... then we shot them all down:http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/2015/05/30/qf4-targeting-drone-last-flight/28015077/ in air-to-air missile tests. Now we're doing the same with old F-16s.

 

[Malo83]

The mighty Phantom, the end of an era
http://www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=58168

 

[ChuckMK23]

Good article on the venerable F-4 and how a modernized version of this Gen III fighter with mods is still being used today. Interesting that the Turkish F-4 "2020" was rewired to get rid of 20 kilometers of wire reducing weight by 1,600 pounds. Curious to know what our resident pointy nose types think of our NATO allies still using it (disclaimer - I am not suggesting we go back to the F-4...)

https://warisboring.com/the-f-4-is-a-great-fighter-with-a-bad-record-f4757f5e91e2#.xra6s2ash

Awesome cartridge start!!!

 

[707guy]

The mighty Phantom, the end of an era

Wow - some great photos in that link!

 

[Pags]

Wow - some great photos in that link!

Looks like my model shelf from when I was a kid!

 

[Renegade One]

It ain't braggin' if you've done it…

 

[707guy]

Looks like my model shelf from when I was a kid!

I had quite a few models but I was a lil lacking in the Phantom department.

 

[jmcquate]

Thought you were a VF-1 guy R1. Were you a 111 GIB?

 

[sevenhelmet]

Know what the F-4 didn't have? A gun. So they built the F-4E later, which had a gun.

Guess we learned our lesson with that one, didn't we? Oh wait...

 

[Pags]

Know what the F-4 didn't have? A gun. So they built the F-4E later, which had a gun.

Guess we learned our lesson with that one, didn't we? Oh wait...

I don't think USN Phantoms ever had an internal gun.