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Why was arming the F4 with missiles and no guns a mistake?
The Phantom had been designed without a gun because the Pentagon thought the age of the missile had arrived. This was a catastrophic mistake-so a 20mm M61A1 Vulcan ‘GatIing’ gun was belatedly slung under the nose of the F-4E model.
Why do some fighter planes have two pilots?
Most fighter aircraft that have a second person designate that person as a radar intercept officer of some type. Their job is usually to operate the radar, weapons, ECM equipment, and serve as a flight engineer. They are usually not qualified to fly the aircraft and do not have flight controls.
Did you know these 13 facts about the F-4 Phantom II?
It made its first flight in 1958, and it was a true feat of thrust over aerodynamics. Check out these 13 facts about the F-4 Phantom II. 1) With a total of 5,195 built, the F-4 is the most numerous US supersonic jet ever built. 2) Early wind-tunnel tests revealed lateral instability in the F-4’s design.
How many F-4s were made for the US military?
Of these, 2,874 went to the USAF, 1,264 to the Navy and Marine Corps, and the rest to foreign customers. The last U.S.-built F-4 went to South Korea, while the last F-4 built was an F-4EJ built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan and delivered on 20 May 1981.
What was the original name of the McDonnell Douglas Phantom II?
In the end, the aircraft was given the less controversial name “Phantom II”, the first “Phantom” being another McDonnell jet fighter, the FH-1 Phantom. The Phantom II was briefly given the designation F-110A and the name “Spectre” by the USAF, but neither name was officially used.
Does the Air Force still use F-4s as target drones?
12) The US Air Force still uses F-4s as target drones. 13) At 63 feet long and with over 35,000 pounds of thrust, it’s no wonder the F-4 was nicknamed “the triumph of thrust over aerodynamics.”