F-4 Phantom - The Greatest Cold War Jet?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.พ. 2023
- The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is arguably one of the greatest cold war jet fighters, serving with distinction over Vietnam, Israel, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, and on air defence duties for many air arms around the world. Flying at Mach 2.2, and delivering 18000lbs of ordance on it's enemies, the Phantom is a fearsome multi-role aircraft.
Bibliography
McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920: Volume II, Rene J. Francillon, Naval Institute Press, 1990.
McDonnell F-4 Phantom: Spirit in the Skies. Airtime Publishing, 1992.
Israeli Air Power into the 1990s, Tim Ripley, Air International, Vol 45, No. 3, 1993.
The Lessons of Modern War, Volume II: The Iran-Iraq War, Anthony H. Cordesman and Abraham R. Wagner, Westview Press, 1990.
Kian-Noush, IRIAF: 75th Anniversary, World Air Power Journal, Vol 39, 1999.
Boeing/McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II Current Operations, World AirPower Journal, Vol 40, Spring 2000.
McLelland, Tim (2017). Britain's Cold War Fighters. London: Fonthill.
Martin, Patrick (2013). British Phantoms: The Phantom FG Mk.1, FGR Mk.2 and F-4J(UK) in Royal Air Force Service 1979-1992. Erlangen: Double Ugly Book
Lake, Jon (1992). Phantom Spirit in the Skies. London: Aerospace Publishing
Hobbs, David (2020). The British Carrier Strike Fleet: After 1945. Barsnley: Pen & Sword.
Gledhill, David (2017). Phantom in the Cold War: RAF Wildenrath, 1977-1992. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Books.
Hobbs, David (1982). Aircraft of the Royal Navy since 1945. Liskeard: Maritime Books.
Hobbs, David (2009). A Century of Carrier Aviation. Barnsley: Seaforth Publishing.
Davies, Peter E. (2013). USAF McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.
Davies, Peter E. (2016). USN McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. Oxford: Osprey Publishing.
Dorr, Robert F. and Chris Bishop, eds. Vietnam Air War Debrief. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1996.
Hobson, Chris. Vietnam Air Losses, USAF, USN, USMC, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast Asia 1961-1973. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2001.
Higham, Robin and Carol Williams. Flying Combat Aircraft of USAAF-USAF (Vol.2). Manhattan, Kansas: Sunflower University Press, 1978.
Jefford, C.G. RAF Squadrons: A Comprehensive Record of the Movement and Equipment of All RAF Squadrons and Their Antecedents Since 1912:. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife Publishing, 2nd edition, 2001.
Bishop, Farzad and Tom Cooper. Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat (Osprey Combat Aircraft #37). Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing Limited, 2003.
Thornborough, Anthony M. and Peter E. Davies. The Phantom Story. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1994
Aloni, Shlomo. 'Israeli F-4 Phantom II Aces', Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing Limited.
Aloni, Shlomo. 'Arab-Israeli Air Wars 1947-82', Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing Limited.
Nicolle, David and Tom Cooper. 'Arab MiG-19 and MiG-21 Units in Combat', Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing Limited.
Norton, Bill. 'Air War on the Edge: A History of the Israeli Air Force and its Aircraft since 1947', Midland Publishing; 1st edition (17 Feb. 2004).
![Fc ครับ ขอแนะนำให้รู้จักกับ "น้องเปียโน" l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HQU6Q_IYTLo/mqdefault.jpg)
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@@CallsignYukiMizuki Vark is reformer propaganda just like the A-10
@@pixelatedxenon9579 No its not. the reformers hate the vark since it was super advanced at the time.
Fun story, in the early 70's my father was in Vietnam. his job was to repair avionics and electronics in helicopters.
He went to church with a guy who was a test pilot. this guy would fly phantoms that had been damaged in combat, checking the repairs to see if they were fit to go back into service.
Dad asked if he could go up in a Phantom sometime and the guy agreed.
They got permission, Dad did all the flight training required, and they got ready to go. not a mission, just a walk around the block to make sure the aircraft was working. but the guy told Dad that he'd show him some fun maneuvers.
They taxied out, but before they could be cleared for takeoff a emergency landing came in. another phantom damaged in combat. It landed and got squared away. When they were about to go again, another emergency bumped them. This happened like four more times, and their flight was scrubbed.
So Dad missed his chance fly in a Phantom. The most he got to do was sit on the tarmac in one for a couple of hours.
Still awesome. And I'm sure he must have remembered all these emergency landings.
i hope your dad is doing ok!
How annoying was that for him?! I understand the frustration. I was at RAF St Athans in the 80s as an Air Cadet. This was a repair base. 3 of us were given the chance to go up in a 2 seat Lightning interceptor that had just been repaired. We squabbled as to who would get to go so much that the pilot laughed and took NONE of us! The other two were Joe (who is now dead sadly, and Paul Shakespeare - who went on to become a Wing Commander in the RAF and flew Jaguars for most of his career! 296 Sqn Stokenewington ATC).
@@michelestefanini5466 He is! Just turned 88 a while back.
@@beefyoso LET'S GOOO
The last USAF Phantoms lasted until 2016 as QF-4 manned and unmanned aerial targets before being replaced by QF-16's. The ceremonial final flight included QF-4's painted up in the Vietnam-era SEA camo pattern.
And as a test bed / evaluation platform. Quasi-civilian and not in active service.
Can't believe they use F-4, F-16 as target drone while some country still grateful their Mig-21, F-5 are still flying.
@@dudududu1926 Because unlike those countries, the US has a larger military budget and can afford spending it on newer and more advanced aircraft.
@@dudududu1926 F16 are around since the late 1970ies. These airframes don't last forever. So F16 made in the 80ies are have reached the end of their service life and are no longer safe to fly.
@@petrairene Yeah and the countries I'm talking about still use F-5, MiG from the vietnam war (Thailand, Vietnam). It really shows the Americans are using their money well.
I remember teenaged me being so fascinated by the iconic contrast of wing dihedral and tailplane anhedral. So cool looking, even if I had no understanding of the aeronautics!
Definitely very badass looking for a young me!
I remember little me first seeing the Phantom in Ace Combat 4 and instantly becoming fascinated with how unique it looked compared to the other jets. It's still in my top 5 favorite aircraft of all time
It’s absolutely criminal that despite it being in Ace combat 7 you can’t buy it.
@@klegendm2819 It's in 7 as paid DLC, and it's the cheapest at 3 bucks last time I checked. Still wish it was just part of the base game
I have over 2800 hrs. in the Rhino - three combat tours in Nam - used EVERY system on the jet to include the Martin Baker H-7! In my opinion, the best fighter of its era--
Respect.
Thank you for your service. I bet you could tell a story or two!
My Daddy was an F-4 aircraft maintenance crew chief at Da Nang around 71-72, and I am sure he was very good at it. I have always been proud of him.
@@warnerchandler9826 It was the unsung hero's like your dad who kept us flyboys in the air - they worked their butts off, day, night, heat, cold, and rain to keep our aircraft in tiptop shape - the were acutely aware that if they didn't do their job to perfection somebody was going to die - in all my years of flying the phantom I never had a serious problem - except for when I got shot down but the maintenance troops couldn't help that
@@carlparlatore294
[Human] perfection and my dad were a good fit. He had a strong sense of duty and certainly would have recognized that his unit's efforts were directed entirely toward the men at the pointy end whose missions were the reason.
My uncle, Major Issachar Naveh, was a F4 Phantom pilot in the Israeli Air Force.
He was KIA on the first night of the Yom Kippur war. His airplane was hit by SA missiles located near the Suez Canal.
As the video pointed out, the lessons learned in Yom Kippur led to the development of highly sophisticated anti SAM weapons and methodologies, effects of which are noticed today in Syria's war-between-wars with Israel, where the Syrian air defense is practically ineffective.
The today's S-300 and even S-400 are still ineffective.
@@SwissMarksman right. Many F4 Phantom and A4 Skyhawk pilots paid with their lives for those insights.
US Navy built Top Gun as lessons of Vietnam. IAF created the most advanced anti SAM system. For example, the samson and delilah loitereing missiles.
I'm sorry for your loss...a salute to Maj. Naveh from across the pond!
@@hillbilly4895 My uncle got badly hit and yet flew injured with a burning Phantom back to Israel, to save it. Every plane counted, it's a generation that didn't rush to eject.
In the final approach, at low speed, the hydraulic systems failed and the phantom rolled uncontrollably. They both ejected but hit the ground as prachutes didn't have time to deploy.
He was married for just a few weeks. Left no children behind.
Salute to your uncle. o7
Great video on one of my favorite jet fighters. Love the description of the F-4 that a Vietnam pilot would use about it; 'proof enough that if you put enough thrust behind a brick you can make it fly!'
Wasn’t it Kelly Johnson who said: “It only takes two things to fly…Thrust and Money.”
@@likydsplit8483 No idea, had never heard of Kelly Johnson before. Now after a quick google I have discovered another rabbit hole to jump down. Thanks!🤯
@@doberski6855 Ha! Good. Here are the names of the fathers of military aviation: Eddie Rickenbacher (WW1), Billy Mitchell (1920-1940), Kelly Johnson (WW2 & Cold War), and Curtis LeMay (WW2, Cold War, founder of the USAF).
@@likydsplit8483 Thanks again, know a little about everyone on that list except Johnson.
A misconception though, the F-4 Phantom was an aerodynamically sound design for its time.
I absolutely love the f4, its so much fun to fly in games and I absolutely love how it looks
Definitely one of the greatest looking fighter jets but a lot of Cold War fighters look amazing imo, I like up to the F-14 but the F-35 is pretty cool
The F4 always looks like it's a pretty small plane when by itself in the sky.
But it's one big boy.
Great video I have always had thing for the F-4 Phantom. My favorite Phantom mission to learn about was Operation Bolo in 1967. In which WW2 Fighter Ace Col Robin Olds tricked NVA Mig-21s into a dogfight. By making the NVA think his Phantoms were a bunch of Thuds on a bombing raid. Olds and his fighter pilots shot down 7 Mig-21s for no losses.
If you get a chance, visit the USAF museum in Dayton. They have Olds' Phantom on display in a sort of shrine to Olds. Total fighter pilot badass.
You shoot check out the black day of USAF too, it’s the Vietnamese revenge mission for Bolo. They shot down a total of 6 US aircraft (4 F4 Phantoms) for the loss of 1 MiG-17
@@RCAvhstape I’ve been to USAF museum a couple times. The Olds Phantom and display is really great. Also he has an autobiography that really good.
I've seen a documentary on Robin Olds and operation Bolo, he was such a bad ass and fantastic pilot. Go watch the documentary called Thud Pilot's, you will be impressed by these pilots skill and bravery.
Lol never happened
That moment when you realise that the F15 and F16 are both also old enough to be considered Cold War jets and how their main adversaries still cant really compete
Yeah, I didn't really understand until this year just how lethal both airframes are, with the Viper still being able to out-rate everything shy of a Raptor, and how high off boresite 9X's give the already good nose authority of the F-16 that much more advantage. Or how the latest F-15's are basically 70 nautical mile missle truck launch platforms in BVR.
Our oldest stuff, still beats everything but the very latest in 5th gen tech. It's very encouraging...
Exactly- I love the F4 but the planes I thought of were the F15, F16, MiG-29 and Su-27 …….. but at the same time I would take the newest version of F-15 or F-16 over almost anything else in the world
Thankfully we haven't had a big war to push aviation development on the scale of ww1/ww2, but it seems like times are changing
@@ZESAUCEBOSS I'd replace mig-29 with mig-31
@@giorgikobakhidze9667 You can't buy or operate them adequately anymore since Russia can't buy proper microchips anymore until they cease with their military adventurism in Europe.
Hats off to the world's leading distributor of MiG parts.
The F-4 is such cool looking jet aircraft! It's iconic!
A buddy of mine, fresh out of the Yale Mathematics program, drove F-4s in 72 over Nam. Went on to become a squadron commander. The only difference between "Terre" and the rest is that he was Black. He went on to become a Bonds dealer in NYC, but passed during COVID.
As a current fighter pilot, the F-4 still looks cool to this day!
Yeha modern plane like f22and f35 are like "I will kill you before you even know". But f4 and Vietnam war era plane have that "come dogfight me like a man or run away and be killed by my missiles" that are just amazing
The Phantom is the meanest-looking fighter ever. Just sitting still on the ground it looks like it's pissed off and looking for someone to fight. And if you've had the pleasure of being on the ground when Phantoms passed overhead at high speed and low level, that sound! Like the devil himself coming for you, and at near-sonic speeds you can't hear it until it's right on top of you, then the thunder hits you like a ton of bricks. A flying locomotive of death.
The F-4 was a 2-Toolbox airplane. The F-111 was a 1-Toolbox airplane. In the F-4, you had to remove the ejection seat to replace the radio.
F-4 Phantom required 200 man hours of maintenance for every hour flight. Compare that to the simplicity of the F-15 and the F-16 and that number is just staggering. In my opinion, the F-4, while it fit the Navy's requirements, was a disaster for our Air Force. However, they had it forced on them in response to the incompetence of the Air Force top brass. They were almost forced into having to adopt the F-14 if it were not for Boyd and the engineers at McDonald-Douglass who created the F-15, which had none of the neat features that the Air Force top brass wanted (things like variable wing sweep), but completely blows away the competition in performance and ability. One huge advantage boasted of the first F-15s: only 15 manhours of maintenance required for every hour of flight, - 2 manhours better than the design goal of 17!
@carltonace1606 just FYI Boyd's "bluebird" bears absolutely no resemblance to the F-15, his memoirs show a startling lack of understanding of "pie in the sky" engineering techniques. The "redbird" design concept that so offended him was deliberately overdesigned in order to make sure that no good ideas were left on the table. The engineers laughed Boyd and the "fighter plane mafia" out of the room and then paired the design down to what we have today. Which was significantly more technologically advanced than what Boyd had demanded, for one thing it had a working RADAR, something Boyd vehemently derided as unneeded for a modern air superiority fighter.
@@carltonace1606Boyd and his friends are/were basically useless frauds. But yeah by all means follow WW2 era doctrine, and remove all elements that made the F-15 successful from the F-15, am I right Piere Sprey.
@@carltonace1606No radar, no ejection seats, not enough fuel, no advanced avionics etc… etc…
Back in the early '80s F-4s from Laughlin AFB used to fly right over our town out in West Texas at low level and occasionally would even go to burner and give us an awesome boom until they sadly banned the practice. I used to look for them when I was playing outside and occasionally would see their smoke trails before they came over and got a great look at them. Loved them then and still one of my faves and coolest looking jet fight ever IMO!
I don't know where you lived, but Laughlin did not have F-4s in the 1980s. Perhaps you are thinking of RF-4s from Bergstrom AFB near Austin. There were low level training routes in West Texas that both bases used routinely.
@@AirwayZombie well they always came from the direction of Del Rio about 100 miles south of us. I was in elementary school at the time so I assumed that's where they flew from as that was the only base in that direction.
@@bryangrote8781 Sounds like the F-4s you saw may have been flying on IR-169 or IR 170 (or the other I can't remember) which were low level training routes north of Laughlin AFB. But F-4s flying on them definitely did not come from Laughlin. Laughlin managed those routes and T-38s from Laughlin flew on them all the time.
@@gort8203 Makes sense. Used to see the T-38s as well and they were always a lot more common. Seeing the F-4s was always a treat, but don't think I saw any after '85 at the very latest and probably more like '83ish.
We also used to get B-52s from Dyess about 150 miles NE of us until the B-1s took over but the Buffs were even earlier and barely remember them. The B-1s were the coolest of all and were always low and fast. Flights like those by anything became rare by the late '90s. What a shame. Enjoyed our brief, but regular "air shows".
The F-4 also set the de-facto standard for missile armament, that every following US fighter jet adhered to.
Four recessed sparrows and four sidewinders on the wing, together with 3 drop tanks.
F-14 and F-15 could carry exactly the same, while the lightweight fighters, F-16 and F-18 come with two missiles less.
The AMRAAM replaced the Sparrow and loadouts are usually more long range focused now, with 6 AMRAAM and 2 Sidewinder as standard (or 4/2 for the Viper), which is exactly what the F-22 carries.
I feel like one of the most interesting modifications of the Phantom was the IAI Super Phantom, followed by the Kurnass 2000.
The Super Phantom replaced the J79-GE-17s with PW1120s, as well as a proposed upgrade to the avionics and radar.
Only one Phantom was modified with the PW1120s, and I've found conflicting sources on if it actually had the avionics upgrade or not.
The program would later be scuttled by McDonnell Douglas, due to it being a competitor to their F/A-18 Hornet.
This led to Israel only adopting the avionics (APG-76 radar and advanced HUD) for their Kurnass 2000.
The Kurnass 2000 never actually carried Sparrows while in-service with the Israelis (since they used it strictly as a bomber and for SEAD/DEAD), but the wiring was still there. It can only be assumed the APG-76 still had the illuminators for Sparrow compatibility, since it was based on the APG-68.
The Kurnass 2000 would carry 2x more Python IIIs/IVs in place of their forward Sparrows, and 2x extra countermeasure pods in the rear Sparrow bays (for a total of 282 CMs).
8:12 I think we would all love to see an Operations Theatre video on this engagement!
One year ago I saw this plane at Dayton AF museum. I was stunned how large it was!
American Legion in our hamlet has an F-4 in Thunderbird Livery. It is a BIG SUMBITCH!!
The Phantom was a beast of a plane. Manufactured right here in my hometown, St. Louis. Along with the F-15, F/A-18, and Super Hornet. Boeing(formerly McDonnell Douglas) is still the largest manufacturer in Missouri.
Thanks for bringing back memories.
2:30 didn't think I would see this channel using game footage.
Thank you for all the cool videos. I learnt so much about military history a side of it which I didn't know much about!
The Operations Room will always be my first love, but Im really enjoying my new side piece, The Intel Report.
My father was stationed at Bitburg in the early ‘70s so we saw the Phantom every day for 5 years. Awesome aircraft. Nothing louder than a section takeoff with 4 J79s in full afterburner. 36th Tactical Fighter Wing rules!!!!!
Unfortunately the F-35 might have the Phantom beat by several decibels.
My father used to work on the electronic warfare systems for these.
Always informative at professional levels!
The Phantom also was the jet chosen by the USAF as the jet for the Thunderbirds for a while.
And the Navy Blue Angels flew them at the same time the Thunderbirds did for a while, which was something.
All ways quality work.
Thank you.
Great Job Sir.
One of my friends in my subdivision flew the F4 during his decorated USAF career... Thank you for doing this video.
LOVE this! I’d love to see more like it! Of course, I’m a big fan of all of your videos, so that’s not a surprise!
My cousin flew over 100 missions off of the Kittyhawk in Nam. Went on to be an instructor at Top Gun, and a test pilot for the F-14.
Great video. I would love to see a video like this on the P38
I really enjoy your content . Cheers brother
I always look forward to seeing your video's.
Awesome stuff, very well-researched.
Arguably the greatest combat jet of all time.
My dad was a mechanic in the air force back in the mid 60's, but he got to go for a ride in an f-4, I still have the old pictures he was able to take. Was one of the thrills of his life.
Excellent and Outstanding!!!
The fact that whent they installed the gun, the death ratio of Phantom starting to climb, during 1967 onwards the US Phantoms had APX-80 Combat Tree which could track enemy aircraft from long range with squawking the enemy IFF and then Phantoms would shoot them down with the Sparrow
Terrific video!
cant believe they made this in the end of the 50s
technology!
PHery awesome video oph the phabulous F-4 Phantom.
interesting. The F4 is quite iconic to say the least
I think it was Dick Jonas that had a song about the F-4 whose chorus went something like "The all-weather, interceptor, fighter-bomber......mostly bomber."
Phantoms Phorever!
Great video, Just a note during the Gulf war for SEAD EF-111's and F-16CJ's also heavily participated in the action. Most Phantom squadrons were partially vipers and the Ravens had jammers along with similar HARM capabilities to the phantom.
EF-111s and F-16CJs didn't perform the same roles as Weseals. SEAD/DEAD.
I remember a quote I read some time ago that goes something like "The F4 is proof of the aerodynamic theory "With Enough Power You Can make a Brick fly." A very capable and deadly brick.
My nomination for the Coolest Cold War Jet is the F8 Crusader. My Late Uncle Shag was a Naval Aviator. He flew Banshees in combat over Korea. That was before my time. When I knew him he was a Crusader driver.
When he came to visit us in his Crusader he would make a couple of low passes over our house so we would know to come and pick him up at the USAF SAC base 50 miles away. A Crusader flying way less than 100 feet above your head is pretty impressive. This was the 60s, and the Navy was cool with that sort of thing. Decades later he told me he felt sorry for modern pilots who don't get to have any fun.
I got to sit in the cockpit of his Crusader a few times when we were picking him up. Pretty heady stuff for a 10 year old boy with a thing for fighters. When he left he would get afterburner clearance for takeoff. He'd only use about half the runway and go near vertical on takeoff to troll the Air Force.
The F4 may have been the Greatest Cold War Jet, but the F8 was the Coolest.
Be Well.
Im with you. America's "last gunfighter" had some pizzazz where the F-4 was a flying brink and made damn sure everyone knew it.
What a beautiful bird
The F-4 definitely earned its reputation, but it did get replaced with some really amazing jets that carry on the legacy.
Request: would be great if all the numbers mentioned could also appear on screen as well.
Yes, the Phantom II was the greatest cold war jet fighter, fighter bomber, tactical recon, and suppression of enemy air defense (Wild Weasel) aircraft of the cold war.
This was my grandpas jet. So badass
God bless the F4. Signed, Tropic Lightning 1970-1971.
Australia only operated Phantoms for about three years owing to delays with the delivery of the F-111C.
I actually saw one at an air display at RAAF Richmond NSW in 1970.
Unbeknownst to me as a twenty year old my daughter (yet to be conceived) would not only end up working at RAAF Richmond but get a flight in an F-111 at RAAF Amberley Qld forty years later.
And I didn’t think this channel could get any better…..and then you did
i hope this becomes a serie
Big Ugly was the stick against which every fighter in the world was measured for a very long time.
“The MiG Killer” 🔥
Great stuff! Can we please get some videos on British Cold War aircraft like the Lightning/Harrier etc?
Nice
Your thumbnail has been my desktop background for over a year now
Since it is March, you should do Robin Olds and Operation Bolo.
The F4. More famous even, than the Spitfire (IMHO) and my favourite aircraft of all time.
the f4 was goated back in the day love it
The phantom was a dream plane! Big strides in speed and technology but we all know the TOMCAT was the greatest cold war fighter!!
While most of the focus of F-4 documentaries is on the air-to-air combat, when we were flying them in the Marines, and in Vietnam in particular, the F-4 was used (by the Marines) mostly for close air support missions. It carried about the same payload as the A6 Intruder and while many think the F-4 as a beautiful aircraft (because most pictures show it with less than a full loadout), if you have ever been around an F-4 with a full ordinance loadout, you might change your opinion on the aircraft from looking beautiful to looking dark and menacing. With a full loadout, I don't think there is another plane that looks as intimidating and as intent on destruction as the F-4. Bristling with 500 lbs bombs with their daisy cutters prickling out makes you not want to be anywhere under it when it is overhead. The F4 was an essential asset in Vietnam, and it was as much for its ground attack capabilities as it was for its air to air combat capabilities.
~ 15:30 "...Better known as 'Old Smokey'". In my 4 years as a maintenance tech on F4s I heard it called many things, most of which cannot be printed here, but never once did I hear it called "Old Smokey"
'Old Smokey' is the most commonly used nickname, esp according to the US squadrons who used it! Their ORBs would beg to differ, ahah.
Fasinating that Eric 'Winkle' Brown was instremental in the Phantom becoming part of the Fleet Air Arm.
An aircraft that, with new engines and electronics, could still be effective even today. It was the original Joint Strike Fighter, serving with the Air Force, Navy, and Marines.
the phantom. the true JOINT strike fighter
When I was young I've always loved the F-4 Phantom and it interest me to this very day.
I did not know F-4s still participated in Desert Storm.
I set in cockpit of one @ El Toro MCAS, on the flight line, 1969. Would have loved to have had a ride!
I look forward to the DCS version :)
Greatest of 3rd gen jets
me, looking at the thumbnail: wow, Emperial Japan was flying F-4s? that's nuts 😂
The F-4 is a really cool aircraft. I've heard the US still has a bunch of them in the desert, but that information is probably years old. Probably not suitable for a modern conflict, but they're out there...
@@froggymusicman Can probably use a radar/avionics upgrade and integration with modern weapons and maybe datalink, and then it will be as good as anything less than F35 and F22 at BVR combat.
@@dougerrohmer practically the more updated versions could carry AIM-120s, AGM-88 Harm, Laser targeting pods and laser guided bombs with more modern electronic systems
Beautifully told documentary work as always.
Although you didn't mention the Japanese Self Defence Force's use of F-4 Phantoms against the offspring of Flame Dragons in the "Special Region"
😋
The lack of nag about liking and subbing is refreshing
Is this a part of a new series on the Yom Kippur war or a one-off?
The problem with your timeline is they were still in service with the USAF as trainers after ‘96. I was in Panama City FL for an exercise in 2009 and I was so glad to see and hear Phantoms taking off to be used to help train the F-22s that were there. That’s not a combat role, but they were still flying.
They were retired in 1996, as per the USAF themselves. They were quasi-civilian in their evaluation and test bed roles (not trainers). Used in airshows, and, some test squadrons used (2016 this all stopped) the QF-4 drones. Operational service ends on the date given.
YES
Saint Louis represent!
Station in Korea(US Army). Did a joint war simulation with the Koreans at their air force base in Suwon. Which hosts F-5s and F-4s. Awesome and majestic to see those jets still flyingZ(at least the F-5s, F-4s were grounded for an investigation). About to go back to Suwon for another event. Hopefully I'll see the F-4s flying this time.
That said, the jets are extremely old. I got to talk to the pilots. Many systems are too old and failing(none of the F-5s have working bomb sights anymore, they cant pull high Gs or fly after burner for long, and the pilots mention regularly feeling anxious when going on flights because they never know if theyll make it back or crash,). One pilot knew a guy who died in a crash. Korea is racing to retire these planes. I know we love them. But they are too old to safely and reliably fly, and need to hurry to a museum. As sadly, Korea has lost some pilots due to aging F-5s and F-4 airframes crashing as they get older and harder to maintain.
It was the first global JSF.
Phantoms Phorever
The F-4 was one of the most capable NATO fighters and was the one that was available in significant numbers. Numbers, pilot experience, doctrine, spares availability, and war planning were all important. Similar performance aircraft existed in Western service (F-106, English Electric Lightning, Mirage III) in lower numbers.
F4 Phantom moment
The phantom was a Great fighter, The problem in Vietnam was that the pilots wasn’t trained to maneuver the phantoms for Dogfights Due to the administrations BVR ONLY Fighter Doctrine, However when you did have pilots who knew how to maneuver the phantoms they would become ACEs . Captain Frank Ault did a report called the Ault report which stated the low ratio was due to Missile failure and pilot not trained to maneuver, so Dan Pedersen armed with this report stated training maneuvering techniques to phantom pilots at a school called fighter weapons school and now known as Top Gun, these trained pilots took the ratio from 2:1 to 24:1 with the phantoms by the end of Vietnam. Unfortunately this new vastly improved record is never Discussed..
23 years ago I worked with an old guy named Ken and he flew F4s over Vietnam. What he said about the F4 still makes me laugh. He told me "Tim, the only thing the F4 ever did was to prove that with enough thrust you can make anything fly."
My understanding is that the F-4 initially performed *dismally* against the Migs in Vietnam, until the pilots were re-educated about using the plane properly for their adversaries (and incidentally resulting in the creation of the Top Gun school). Yet you do not mention this huge issue at all.
The pilots were trained for long range missile fighting, but this was not how the war really was being fought. It started out as 1:1, but after TopGun that ratio became fair better for the Phantom.
it also had a slight issue of planners jumping the gun on missiles and calling for the removal of cannons under the assumption that all engagements would only occur at missile ranges. early on Top Gun was mostly to teach how to still dogfight even without your primary dogfighting weapon. once a cannon was added to the frame for the American arsenal, its kill ratio's really skyrocketed. fortunately that bus with engines had more than enough power and capacity to mount an external gun pod!
So what was the most numerous jet of the Cold War?
I believe this
Phantom is the only plane to have both served Thunderbird and Blue Angels.
It's boxy shape, with the wingtips going up and its stabilizers slanting down, tells the design story of the F-4. It was great at going really fast in a straight line but not very maneuverable.
Same as the cars of that era...
@@BeingFireRetardant American cars at least. European cars were the opposite.
The F-4 really is a close formation of aerodynamic fixes and compromises.
@@thelandofnod123 Kinda debatable.
The classics like the Mini, 2CV and beatle didn't change at all. Though newer vehicles that came out around that era did go more boxy.
@@davidty2006 Sorry I should have clarified, I was referring to speed over manoeuvrability and vice versa.