Pictures of Cold War aircraft. (2 Viewers)

[herman1rg]

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Ooops

 

[Donivanp]

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Thats some BAD gas, but it was some GREAT chili

 

[BillS]

Ryan FR-1 Fireball USN Record Group 80 NARA II

 

[Glider]

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This doesn't look good, if he made that it was his lucky day.

 

[BillS]

Grumman F9F-5 in VMF-314s colors. USN Record Group 80 NARA II

 

[BillS]

Two images of flight operations on USS Forrestal during MAY 1957 USN Record Group 80 NARA II

First AD-6 139782 T-412 VA-15 "Lil Action" with VA-76 F9F-8Bs in the back ground.

Next F9F-8B 141123 of VA-76 getting ready to launch with another VA-15 AD-6 in the foreground.

 

[BillS]

Finally for today, three images of North American AJ-2P photo birds USN Record Group 80 NARA II

 

[nuuumannn]

In 1982, following the deployment of a Phantom squadron to the Falkland Islands, the government decided that the resulting gap in the UK's air defences needed to be filled, and so sought to raise an additional interceptor squadron. Although, at that time, there were a large number of surplus Lightnings in storage, a lack of pilots qualified on the type prevented the formation of a third Lightning squadron, a proposal that had originally been mooted in 1979. So, in order to fill the gap resulting from the transfer of 23 Squadron to the South Atlantic, the government made the decision to purchase another squadron's worth of Phantoms.

Because the aircraft in RAF service were a special production batch built to UK specifications, it was not possible to obtain identical aircraft, and so the RAF looked to versions of the Phantom that were as close as possible to their existing versions. Initially, the UK looked to procure a batch of F-4S aircraft - the F-4S was the most up to date version of the Phantom in service with the US Navy, having been produced through a programme to update the existing F-4J with new engines, hydraulics, electronics and modified wings. However, the US Navy couldn't at the time spare enough F-4S aircraft to allow the RAF to establish an entire squadron. So, as a fall back option, surplus US Navy and US Marine Corps F-4J aircraft were looked at instead, the F-4J being the variant from which the RAF's F-4Ks and F-4Ms were developed, and thus the closest available version to the British aircraft.

Fifteen airframes, each with no more than 4,300 hours, were selected from among the best of the ex-USN F-4Js stored at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center (colloquially known as "The Boneyard") at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. However, three of the initially selected airframes had to be rejected, and were replaced with three alternatives. The 15 that were ultimately procured were extensively refurbished at the Naval Air Rework Facility (NAWF) at Naval Air Station North Island, and brought to a standard almost equivalent to the F-4S, the only differences being the absence of leading-edge slats and a helmet gun sight.

Work began in September 1983, with the rollout of the first completed aircraft in August 1984. Two months later, sufficient numbers had arrived at RAF Wattisham in Suffolk to allow 74 Squadron, which had been designated as the new unit to operate the type, to be stood up. The squadron was declared operational on the new type on 31 December 1984.

Great info into the background of the F-4J (UK) in RAF service. Powered by the J79s, these aircraft were somewhat different to the Speyed Phantoms and they gave the RAF the opportunity to evaluate the differences. Contrary to popular belief, the only deficiency in performance between the two aircraft was altitude, although it was quite a deficiency, I can't remember the exact figure off the top of my head. The Speyed Phantoms lost quite a lot of height over the J79 ones, but made up for it in other areas. The Speyed Phantoms could carry a greater load off the ground in a shorter take-off roll because of the Spey's greater thrust on take-off, they could get off the ground and to altitude quicker, possessing a greater climb rate, and the Speys were marginally more fuel efficient than the J79s, meaning they had greater range.

It is interesting to note that while the F-4Js were bought because of Falkland Islands operations, 74 Sqn never deployed them to the islands. The prominent unit based there in the Phantom era was 1435 Flt, which had four Phantom FGR.2s named Faith, Hope, Charity, and Desperation. 29 Sqn Speyed F-4s flew air defence sorties from Ascension Island during the Falklands War however. This is a former 74 Sqn F-4J (UK) on display in the American Air Museum, Duxford, Cambs.

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[nuuumannn]

Who?

I read he was a pilot trained as an actor and he took part in Kubrick's faked moon landing films...

 

[Glider]

Great info into the background of the F-4J (UK) in RAF service. Powered by the J79s, these aircraft were somewhat different to the Speyed Phantoms and they gave the RAF the opportunity to evaluate the differences. Contrary to popular belief, the only deficiency in performance between the two aircraft was altitude, although it was quite a deficiency, I can't remember the exact figure off the top of my head. The Speyed Phantoms lost quite a lot of height over the J79 ones, but made up for it in other areas. The Speyed Phantoms could carry a greater load off the ground in a shorter take-off roll because of the Spey's greater thrust on take-off, they could get off the ground and to altitude quicker, possessing a greater climb rate, and the Speys were marginally more fuel efficient than the J79s, meaning they had greater range.

It is interesting to note that while the F-4Js were bought because of Falkland Islands operations, 74 Sqn never deployed them to the islands. The prominent unit based there in the Phantom era was 1435 Flt, which had four Phantom FGR.2s named Faith, Hope, Charity, and Desperation. 29 Sqn Speyed F-4s flew air defence sorties from Ascension Island during the Falklands War however. This is a former 74 Sqn F-4J (UK) on display in the American Air Museum, Duxford, Cambs.

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I believe the other difference which doesn't show on paper but is a noticeable advantage to the Spey, is that they didn't smoke. You could see a J79 F4 of the time from quite a distance because of the smoke trail.
The other advantage being the UK F4 carried the Skyflash missile which was quite a bit better than the Sparrow then in service in the US.

 

[nuuumannn]

I believe the other difference which doesn't show on paper but is a noticeable advantage to the Spey, is that they didn't smoke. You could see a J79 F4 of the time from quite a distance because of the smoke trail.
The other advantage being the UK F4 carried the Skyflash missile which was quite a bit better than the Sparrow then in service in the US.

Yep! Forgot the absence of smoke as a positive. The Skyflash also came with tweaks to the radar as well. It was a better missile than the Sparrow, on which it was based. Years ago I met someone who worked on the F-4's radar and avionics at BAe Systems, formerly Ferranti at Crewe Toll in Edinburgh who told me a bit about the mods between the two. Interesting stuff.

 

[Airframes]

Good info Grant and, having seen the Duxford F-4J numerous times, I didn't know, until now, that it was a former 74Sqn F-4J(UK).
On a side note, when I was photographing the BBMF in 1982, for a multi-projector AV presentation, I was able to sit in one of the Phantoms that was due to depart, as part of 1435 Flight, the following day. When I was told this, whilst climbing out of the cockpit, I was given permission to "zap" it, and stuck a sticker on the port side nose, from the Jodel Club, bearing the legend "Bent Wings are Best" !
I'm not 100% sure, but I think this same aircraft is now at the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum. Got a pic of it somewhere, but can't seem to find the file at the moment.

 

[SaparotRob]

I read he was a pilot trained as an actor and he took part in Kubrick's faked moon landing films...

 

[nuuumannn]

Wait till you hear how Buzz Aldrin got his nickname...