Phantom aircraft (McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II): description, specifications, photo

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Many combat aircraft, as a result of their use, either turned out to be forgotten for their low qualities, or became real legends, which even those people who have nothing to do with aviation know about. The latter include, for example, our Il-2, as well as the much later American Phantom aircraft.

Perhaps this is the most famous of all American machines of the 1960-1980s, and its name for many years became a household name for all US Air Force fighters. Its highlight was multifunctionality, which our aircraft designers were able to achieve a little later. In general, the Phantom aircraft is no less a vivid symbol of the Cold War than, for example, the B-52 bomber.

A feature of this technique was that medium-range interception missiles could be placed in the bomb bays of the vehicle. Interestingly, their domestic counterparts, subsequently used to arm the MiG-23, strongly resembled them indesigns and performance characteristics. The Chinese, on the other hand, created their JH-7 aircraft completely "under the blueprint". Similarity - not only in appearance, but also in almost identical engines and even radar. Not surprisingly, the Phantom is the aircraft whose photos can still be seen in many magazines devoted to the subject of weapons.

Begin development

Initial work started in 1953, when the US Air Force became acutely concerned about the lack of the slightest developments in the field of creating a supersonic carrier-based fighter. The first was McDonnell, but that project did not fully meet the requirements of the military. However, the AN-1 fighter-bomber was subsequently created on the basis of the prototype.

However, the failure of the "pioneer" was not due to the failure of the concept, but in the completely revised terms of reference for the new aircraft in 1955: the fact is that by that time the admirals had revealed a desire to have a purely carrier-based interceptor fighter on aircraft carriers, capable of accelerating to M=2, armed exclusively with missiles.

By the way, who created the Phantom plane? Already mentioned by us "McDonnell". Having gained experience, its engineers were able to create a machine that fully meets all the requirements of the customer. Moreover, the latter turned out to be so successful that it is still in service with many countries of the world.

First prototypes

Already in the middle of the summer of the same year, the first prototype was created, which received the designation F4H-1F, and three years later it flew. Test pilot R. S. Little sat at the helm. The aircraft used J79-3A engines (2x6715 kgf), but after the first fifty flights, it was decided to change them to J79-GE-2. After a little more time, the latter also gave way to the J79-GE-2A model (2x7325 kgf). This is how the second model Phantom aircraft appeared.

In 1960, it already achieved an absolute speed record of 2583 km/h. But then the Americans went for a little technical trick: a mixture of water and ethyl alcohol was injected under pressure into the compressor chamber, which made it possible to effectively cool the turbine blades and prevent their thermal destruction. This modification received the designation F-4A, a total of 23 aircraft of this model were produced.

All of them were used exclusively for flight tests, they did not enter service with the US Air Force. In general, the Phantom is an aircraft (there is a photo of it in the article), in the history of which there were at least a dozen modifications. Considering that it was in service with the US directly for a relatively short time, this can be considered a record! If you don't know what the Phantom (airplane) looks like, then you can satisfy your curiosity by reading this article!

Start of production, modifications

The production of these machines began in December 1960. By 1967, about 637 aircraft of this model were in service with the US Air Force. Subsequently, a scout was created on the basis of these varieties. Subsequently, at least 500 “clean” Phantoms were produced, a number of old aircraft (except for experimental batches) were converted into new modifications.

Interestingly, the decision onThe adoption of the "Phantom" into service as a multi-role fighter was adopted only in 1962. In many ways, this slowness was due to the discussions taking place at that time about the role of the future machine. Some designers suggested immediately making it an analogue of an attack aircraft with the makings of a fighter, while others insisted on the option of creating a purely fighter aircraft, which at that time was most in demand by the US Air Force.

Technical equipment and weapons

The aerodynamic design is normal, the wing is low-lying, trapezoidal, its feature was the presence of folding consoles. The tail unit is swept for maximum airflow resistance and increased aircraft maneuverability.

Unlike the main fighters of those years, the Phantom aircraft was distinguished by advanced mechanization, a number of modifications had an UPS system on board. In order for the aircraft to land on the deck of an aircraft carrier, a brake hook is used. It can withstand the landing of a car weighing up to 17 tons. Of course, such landings are available only to the most experienced pilots, who perfectly feel their aircraft.

The AN/APQ-120 model radar was used in the design of the machine, the AN/ASQ-26 complex was responsible for aiming, the AN/AJB-7 system was responsible for navigation and the precise exit of the aircraft to the bombing point. To drop bombs, the F-4 phantom aircraft used AN / ASQ-9L equipment. Radar radiation from enemy radars was detected by the AN / APR-36/37 receiving equipment, the AN / ALQ-71/72/87 complex was responsible for detecting electronic warfare interference.

The aerobatic teamThe F-4E navigation system includes the AN / ASN-63 INS, the AN / ASN-46 calculator and the AN / APN-155 low- altitude radio altimeter. For communication, radio navigation and identification, there is an integrated AN / ASQ-19 system, including a TACAN transceiver.

Armament. On nine external hardpoints, the F-4 phantom aircraft can carry a variety of weapons, including four AIM-7 Sparrow medium-range missiles. It is possible to carry weapons in the fuselage niches, the aircraft can also use aircraft guns of the M61A1 model (1200 rounds of ammunition per gun). On board there are blocks with NAR, standard bombs, pouring aircraft devices (VAP) on wing hangers.

The "Phantom" aircraft (characteristics, the photo of which is in the article) has the ability to carry on board two nuclear bombs of the model: Mk43, Mk.57, Mk.61 or Mk.28. The total mass of possible weapons is about seven tons, but with such a load, the car can take off only if the fuel tanks have not been fully refueled. This is one of the key shortcomings of this model, which most clearly manifested itself in Vietnam, where the Americans met with Soviet MiGs. Our aircraft's thrust performance in relation to weight and armament was noticeably higher.

Production details

The production of Phantoms to cover the needs of the US military went on until 1976 (a total of about 4000 aircraft were delivered, and about 1300 went to the needs of the Navy). In addition, about one and a half thousand more cars were exported. But it should be noted here that someof exported devices was transferred directly from the Navy / US Air Force.

It is not surprising that the F4 Phantom aircraft became one of the most popular jet fighters of that time in the sector, since more than five thousand units were produced in total. Finally, from 1971 to 1980, 138 aircraft were built in Japan, which were a licensed copy of the American Phantom, differing from the basic version in some changes in the composition of weapons and onboard equipment.

Specifications

The total wing span was 11.7 meters, the fuselage length was 19.2 meters, the maximum body height was 5 meters, the wing area was 49.2 square meters. The maximum takeoff weight varied from 25 to 26 tons. An empty F 4 Phantom aircraft (without fuel and suspended weapons) weighed 13,760 kg, six tons of fuel were placed in the internal fuel tanks, another four tons could be poured into external tanks.

Motors and performance

Two General Electric turbofan engines were used as a power plant. There were also two models: J79-GE-8 (with a maximum thrust of 7780 kgf), J79-GE-17 (the highest traction characteristic of which was 8120 kgf).

At one time, the Phantom aircraft, the technical characteristics of which are in the article, became a real legend of the US Air Force precisely for the reason that its flight data were very good. The aircraft could accelerate to 2,300 km/h, the maximum climb altitude achievable in practice was 16,600 meters, the acceleration was 220 m/s, and the flight range was 2,380 kilometers.

Lengththe run before takeoff was 1340 meters, with a brake parachute, the car completely stopped for 950 meters. On aircraft carriers where the hook was used, the American Phantom aircraft stopped in about 30-40 meters. The maximum speed overload achieved during practical operation was 6.0G.

Significance and combat use

The Americans were very fond of the Phantom aircraft (the characteristics of which we have already described), since the devices of this model for a very long time remained the main means of gaining air superiority in the Air Force and Navy. The first known episode of combat use took place on April 2, 1965, during the fighting in Vietnam. There, aircraft of this model collided with MiG-17F fighters, which were supplied to North Vietnam by our country.

Since 1966, the MiG-21F, also supplied by the USSR, has already participated in the confrontation episodes. The US Air Force and Navy assumed that the Phantoms would quickly begin to gain air superiority, as they had sufficiently powerful airborne weapons, high-quality radar, and good acceleration and cruising speed on their side. All these circumstances gave hope for good results in air battles.

Pros and cons

But in practice, it turned out that in a collision with more maneuverable machines, the characteristics of American aircraft were not in great demand. They had a lower speed, a large operational load fell on the wing, restrictions onoverload (6.0 versus 8.0 for MiGs). It also turned out that American cars have a smaller turning angle with somewhat worse practical handling. Thrust per unit weight of weapons in Soviet aircraft was also better.

The advantages included fast acceleration (the difference with the MiG is about seven seconds in favor of the American), the car climbed faster, our pilots highly appreciated the visibility from the cockpit of captured Phantoms, as well as the presence of a second crew member. The latter significantly unloaded the pilot himself, as he constantly monitored the area of \u200b\u200bthe rear hemisphere and could warn the commander about the threat that had arisen there.

Other places of combat use

It is believed that the most productive crew during the Vietnam War was pilot S. Ritchie and navigator C. Bellevue, on whose combat account, according to the Americans themselves, there were five Vietnamese MiGs. Since the late 60s of the last century, aircraft of this model began to be massively transferred to the Israeli allies of America. As part of the Israeli Air Force, the machines have proven themselves very well.

But even there, in collisions with Egyptian MiG-21s, at the helm of which Soviet pilots were sitting, all the same shortcomings were revealed. The problems turned out to be so great that the Israelis launched the production of French Mirage fighters on their territory, and for this they did not even disdain to steal part of the technical documentation. Subsequently, the Phantoms were reoriented to solving ground attack missions, which the aircraft of this model coped with without any complaints.

However, the pilots themselves were notthey are delighted with this, since the Phantoms, which were used as assault vehicles, suffered significant losses (up to 70% of the fleet of these vehicles). Again, this fact was explained not by the high professional qualities of the Egyptian pilots, but by the good skills of the Soviet calculations of the Soviet air defense systems.

Later, the aircraft were used during the conflict between Iran and Iraq (1980-1988), but at least some details of their combat use in those years are still unknown. However, the first air battle between an airplane and a helicopter dates back to that time, when the Mi-24 of the Iraqi Air Force was able to knock out the Phantom attacking it with air-to-air missiles.

It is also known that in 2012, the Syrian Air Force shot down a "Phantom" of Turkey, which the latter used as a reconnaissance.

Some experts in the field of technology and weapons believe that the Phantom aircraft is a third-generation US fighter-bomber, which at the time of its creation was seriously able to overtake its time. There are some prerequisites for such an opinion, since the model turned out to be very successful, and some of its characteristics remain in demand to this day.

Today, aircraft of this type remain in service with the Air Force: Egypt (about two dozen aircraft), the Greeks have about fifty modernized Phantoms, Iran also has them, but all Iranian aircraft belong to the 60s of construction, and the number of remaining serviceable machines is unknown. Turkey uses this type of aircraft, which is armed with at least one and a half hundredmodernized Phantoms, South Korea (about fifty), Japan (one hundred aircraft). Note that the Japanese use samples of their own construction, which we have already mentioned above.

Modern Perspectives

Today, the vehicles remaining in the US Air Force are massively converted into heavy strike UAVs, as well as into radio-controlled targets designed to train Air Force crews and air defense crews. The Americans themselves write that the last episode of the flight of the "human" "Phantom" occurred in mid-April 2013 (meaning the flight over the territory of the United States). Prior to that, the “last of the Mohicans” was considered a car with tail number 68-0599, which made its flight to the base in the Mojave Desert on January 18, 1989, and has not flown since then.

But at present, the US Department of Defense predicts that soon all Phantoms currently in storage will be removed from conservation and massively re-equipped. It is known that, as of today, at least 316 vehicles of this type have already been removed from storage.

What will they do with Phantoms?

The American corporation BAE Systems is overhauling these aircraft with their subsequent conversion into the QF-4C radio-controlled target. It is known that eventually all vehicles will be transferred to the 82nd separate squadron of radio-controlled targets (Aerial Targets Squadron - ATRS). It is based in Florida.

By external signs, "robotized" aircraft are easy to distinguish from ordinary ones, since the tips of their wings and keel are painted bright red (you can see in the photoaircraft "Phantom" of this type in the article). It is already known about a couple of hundred devices ordered and under construction. Such re-equipment is valuable in that the vehicles can be used as combat vehicles.

To demonstrate the combat capabilities of the converted Phantoms, in January 2008, an air-to-ground missile was launched from one of them for the first time. It is believed that aircraft converted into UAVs can be effectively used to suppress enemy air defense systems. Even despite the effectiveness of the technique itself, the loss of pilots when they are shot down will not occur, which will save the lives of trained pilots.

Most likely, in the next decade, the last "Phantoms" on the "human drive" will be finally decommissioned in all countries where such machines are still in service. And then it will be possible to look at the legendary device either in museums or when visiting private aviation collections. Finally, you can always see a photo of the Phantom aircraft on the pages of this article.

Our pilots had the opportunity to evaluate captured Phantoms. It must be said that Soviet specialists spoke highly of this machine in several respects at once, especially noting the overall quality of workmanship, excellent electronics, ease of landing and work of the pilot. Also in the aircraft of this model, "fool protection" was correctly based. So, in the landing mode, it was impossible to launch a rocket or mistakenly use other weapons. Alas, but sometimeshappened to the pilots of our MiGs, who, being tired, could simply press the wrong place …