F-4A Phantom II Walk Around

Walk around photos of F-4A-4-MC Bu No. 148273. Taken at the Air Victory Museum in West Chester, Pennsylvania. (See previous post). Credit: Bill Maloney

From the Air Victory Museum website:

“The F-4 on display was not originally an F-4A. She started life as a pre-production F4H-1, and was upgraded to F-4A standard. Only 45 F-4As were built before production switched over to the F-4B. Most of the 45 F-4As built served in research and training roles, and very few ever reached squadron service as they were not considered fully operational. Aircraft from Block 3 onward served in the East Coat and West Coast Replacement Air Groups to train crews and to perfect operational techniques. The F-4 was delivered to the Air Victory Museum by heavy left helicopter from Lakehurst, NJ. Since she had been sitting for an extended period of time, the paint was rather worn and faded. We have re-painted the aircraft in the colors of VF-84, the "Jolly Rogers".”

Download here or here (12.8 Megs)

Cockpit Photos

38 nice photos of aircraft cockpits. Includes B-45, B-52, B-58, X-3,F-84, F-94, XF-90 among others.

Download here or here (3.8 Megs)

Republic F-84B/C/D Thunderjet Flight Handbook

Republic F-84B/C/D Thunderjet Flight Handbook An 01-65BJB-1, dated 30 November, 1949. Credit: Irfan S. Hokan Collection

Click here to download handbook in PDF form (137 MB)

Republic F-84F-25 and later Thunderstreak Flight Handbook

A copy of the  Republic F-84F-25 and later Thunderstreak Flight Handbook, TO 1F-84(25)F-1. Dated 30 January 1956.

Download Note: Large file: here or here or here or here (253 Megs)

F-18 Flying Qualities Development Report

  Here we have an MDC report (# 84-009) on the F-18 Flying Qualities Development from Jack Abercrombie. Presented in 1983. The prologue states:

“Since the F/A-l8 fighter-attack aircraft made its first flight in November L978, some significant changes have been made to the control system to improve flying qualities characteristics. This paper covers some of the highlights of that flying qualities development, touching briefly on the initial design criteria and the evolution of the control system as we progressed through the flight test program. Particular emphasis is placed on some unique and very innovative features of the flight control laws.”

Click here for a short slide show presentation of this report

Click here for full report in PDF form

Republic RF-84F Flight Manual

A copy of the T.O. 1F-84(R)F-1 Flight Manual for the Republic RF-84F aircraft, dated 1 January 1966.

Download here or here or here or here (40.3 Megs)