Mr MAC's Fantastic F-4 Article

An article from the Air Trails magazine “World’s Greatest Aircraft” issue on Mr. MAC’s Fantastic, Formidable aircraft, F-4 Phantom II. The noteable thing here is the F-4A (F4H-1) cut away drawing!

Click here to view article and drawing

History of McAir 1939-1979 (40 Years of Good Things)

Continuing with my mission (and labor of love) in sharing the history of McDonnell Aircraft Company from my 40 years "inside". We have the following:

In 1979, as part of the company’s 40th anniversary celebrations, McAir issued a cookbook. This cookbook had a history of the company as a forward. (Yes I contributed recipes)

Here is that history with some interesting, seldom seen photos!

Click here to view the history

F-4M (FGR.2) Phantom XT-907 Photos

A series of photos taken on April 15, 1969 of the 17th F-4M, XT-907. This aircraft was manufacturing cum # 2665. The McDonnell F-4M-33-MC Phantom was later re-designated FGR.2.

The above photo shows XT-907 at Patuxent River, MD around 1970. Later photo here.

These photos include both cockpits, the AN/AWG-12 radar set, new fuel vent mast and the drag chute door.

Click here to view photos

Historical F-4 Flight Test Program Charts – Part II

Some additional charts listing the flight test history of the F-4 Phantom II. Charts for the F-4C/D/E, Isreali and Japanese F-4E, RF-4B/C, German RF-4E and F-4K/M.

Click here to view charts

Earlier F-4 charts here

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F-4 Serial Number Conversion Charts

A copy of the F-4 Phantom II Serial Number Conversion Chart, dated July  23, 1976. SNCC’s are used to cross correlate BuNo, ship numbers and the block that the ship was part of when built. Block numbers are important as equipment changes usually occurred at block changes.

Click here to download the chart

A “Phabulous” Fighter

Boeing’s short article on the F-4 Phantom II’s 50th anniversary first flight. From the “Boeing Frontiers” magazine.

Click here to view article

YC-15 Utility Flight Manual

A copy of the company produced Flight Manual, Report No. MDC  J6005, dated Jan 1977 for the McDonnell Douglas YC-15 aircraft.  Credit: Manual via Irfan S. Hokan

Click here to download the manual in PDF form (111 megs)

F-4C Power Plant Maintenance Instructions

A copy of the Power Plant Maintenance Instructions, TO 1F-4C-2-8, for the McDonnell F-4C aircraft. This is a technical manual and is dated September 15, 1978.

Click here to download the manual in PDF form (176 Megs)

F4H-1F/F-4A Production Inlet Duct Photo

A very good photo of the F4H-1F/F-4A production inlet. It had a shallower ramp angle and the shorter fixed ramp.

Click here to view photo and ramp comparison

Click here to view a another duct post

Tommy Thomason has a article on F-4 duct differences here

McDonnell XF-88 Erection & Maintenance Manual

A partial Xerox copy of the McDonnell XF-88 Erection and Maintenance Instructions manual. MAC (McDonnell Aircraft Company) report no. 1033.

Click here to download the manual in PDF form (57.2 Megs)

Updates

New info added on the “F-4 Phantom II Carrying a Phoenix Missile” post here.

Added Phoenix missile carriage used on NASA’s F-15 hypersonic tests here.

F4H-1 Phantom II Ejection Seat Test Photos

Some rare ejection seat trial test pages from McAir report No. 6345, dated May 11, 1960 for the F4H-1 aircraft. Probably the Stanley ejection seat supplied for the first models.

Click here to view pages

Pentagon Battle for the RF-4C

A fascinating article by retired Col. Cecil Rigsby on the background, problems and politics with the Pentagon for the procurement of the RF-4C. A good read! From the Spring 2008 issue of “The Recce Reader”. Credit: F4Phantom.com

Click here to view article

F-101B/F Voodoo Flight Manual (Earlier)

A copy of the USAF Flight Manual TO-1F-101B-1 for the McDonnell F-101B/F aircraft. This manual is dated July 15, 1963. Credit: Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum

Click here to download manual in PDF form (81 Megs)

F-4 Phantom II For Ground Attack Report

McDonnell report B176, dated October 21, 1964 on the proposed Phantom II For Ground Attack aircraft. Credit: Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum

Click here to download the report in PDF form (.33 Meg)

The Marine Air Combat F-4J Report

McDonnell Douglas report MDC A206, dated January 15, 1973 with a report on the proposed Marine Air Combat F-4J aircraft. Credit: Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum

Click here to download report in PDF format (5.2 Megs)

F4H-1 Concept and Design Article

An article from the October 13, 1958 edition of Aviation Week  magazine on the concept and design of the F4H-1Phantom II. A good meet and greet introduction article.

Click here to view article

Burn Up the Sky - F-4 Phantom II Article

An F-4 Phantom II article by Captain James Coyle published in “The Airman” magazine on April 1964. Background and introduction of the F-4 into service.

Click here to view article

NASA F-15 Carrying a Phoenix Missile for Tests

As a side note to the F-4 Phantom II carrying a Phoenix missile, talked about here, see how the NASA F-15 carried a demilitarized missile for hypersonic testing here. Credit: NASA
Click here to view NASA photos

F-4 Phantom II Carrying a Phoenix Missile

And you thought that only F-14’s carried the Phoenix missile!

Here are photos of an F4H-1 (F-4B-8-MC) BuNo 148412 during weapons trials carrying the Phoenix in a launching pod. This aircraft is the first to fire a Phoenix missile.

I have looked at this photo many times while doing the EROS post; but, didn’t realize what the F-4 was carrying! This F-4B is currently preserved at the Heritage in Flight Museum, Lincoln, IL, falsely marked as USAF 148412. This aircrafts history is here.

Click here to view photos

Clarification: Tommy Thomason points out, rightfully, that the Phoenix missile was probably never actually fired from the above rig. (The missile was probably fired from a conventional station during the launch tests!)

Scott Lowther has this to say about this in his “Unwanted” blog: “In support of their Model 225 fighter design, an entry into the VFX program (eventually to become the F-14), McDonnell built a test rig mounted to an F-4 Phantom II. Their Model 225 carried the Phoenix missiles semi-submerged; missile ejection was carried out by pnematic “ramps” that, at full extension, served as doors to cover the holes left by the missiles. Thus the missiles were carried in an aerodynamically clean configuration, and left an aerodynamically clean surface behind them after they left. To prove out the concept, the centerline tank from an F-4 was modified to carry a single missile and the associated pneumatics and doors and such. Without the radar system used on the F-14, the F-4 would have been a poor carrier for the Phoenix; this was simply a test program to demonstrate the missile ejection system. Sadly all the info I have on this comes from a brief writeup early in the process. I don’t know if any ejection tests were (actually) carried out.”

F-101B First Flight with the Douglas MB-1 Genie Missile

First flight photos of the McDonnell F-101B Voodoo armed with the Douglas MB-1 Genie, unguided nuclear air-to-air missile. An article from the Aviation Week March 3, 1958 issue.

Click here to view article

A nice short history of the Genie missile is here

F/RF-4 Phantom II Manufacturing Illustrations for Japan

McDonnell Douglas report No. G225, dated April 15, 1968 with manufacturing charts and breakdowns for F-4 and RF-4 sales to Japan.

Click here to download the report in PDF form (27 Megs)

RF-4E Phantom II Report

McDonnell Douglas report No. F972, dated December 1, 1967 with a status and program report on the RF-4E aircraft. Lists of camera equipment options and info. Credit: Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum

Click here to download report in PDF form (4.3 Megs)

F/A-18A/B/C/D Hornet Flight Manual

A copy of the NATOPS Flight Manual #A1-F-18AC-NFM-000 for the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A/B/C/D Hornet aircraft, #161353 AND up. This manual is dated September 15, 2008. Credit: Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum

Click here to download manual in PDF form (18 Megs)

McDonnell Douglas Fighter Recon System Report

MDC report A-2082, dated  January 1,1973 for the proposed Fighter Reconnaissance System (FRS).

This system is described in the report as:

“The Fighter Reconnaissance System (FRS) is a day/night aerial reconnaissance
system designed to be carried as an external pod on the inboard wing pylon of an
F-4 Phantom II or on external station(s) of other contemporary fighter aircraft. The
FRS comprises a vibration free, light weight, low drag aerodynamic pod containing
essential environmental equipment and interchangeable modules. Each module is
configured with a mix of sensors to provide high quality imagery for a given mission.

The FRS will provide the operator with a cost effective and operationally efficient
reconnaissance system. It will allow him to quickly configure a fighter aircraft so that
that it can perform both a fighter and a reconnaissance mission on the same sortie
without restricting its fighting capability.” Credit: Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum

Click here to download the report in PDF form (25.3 Megs)

F-4J Phantom II Flight Manual

A copy of the NATOPS Flight Manual Navair 01-245-FDD-1 for the McDonnell Douglas F-4J aircraft. This manual is dated May 1, 1975. Credit: Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum

Click here to download manual in PDF form (135 Megs)

RF-4EJ Phantom II for Japan Report

McDonnell Douglas report No. H429 dated January 1, 1970 on the company proposal to sell RF-4EJ’s to Japan Credit: Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum

Click here to download the report in PDF form (8.5 Megs)

McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk Flight Manuals

McDonnell Douglas T-45 Flight Manuals A1-T45AB-NFM-000_01, dated June 1, 2001 and A1-T45AC-NFM-000 , dated February 15, 2000 covering the T-45A and T-45C aircraft. Manuals via Irfan S. Hokan.

Click here to download T-45A manual in PDF form (23.4 Megs)

Click here to download T-45C manual in PDF form (18 Megs)

Douglas C-124A/C Wiring Data Handbook

USAF Douglas YC-124 and C-124A/C Wiring Data Handbook T.O. 1C-124A-2A, dated January 15, 1955. Manual via Irfan S. Hokan.

Click here to download handbbok in PDF form (5.2 Megs)

Douglas C-124A/C Flight Manual Performance Data

Douglas C-124A/C Flight Manual Performance Data handbook T.O. 1C-124A-1-1, change notice , dated January 1, 1964. Manual via Irfan S. Hokan.

Click here to download the manual (47 Megs)

T-45 Goshawk Training System Report

An updated report on the T-45(TS) training system with info out to year 2020. Credit: Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum

Click here to download report in PDF form

Original T-45TS blog posting here

T-45 Rollout Program Pamphlet

The program hand out for the T-45 rollout. Credit: Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum

Click here to download program in PDF form

F4H-1 Plane Captains Handbook

Poor xerox excerpts from the F4H-1 Plane Captains Handbook. (Early copy machines, about 1963,  weren’t too good!

Anyone have the entire handbook?

Click here to view excerpts

F-15 Armament Handbook (Redone)

A somewhat better, cleaner copy of the Armament Handbook PS 940, for the McDonnell F-15 aircraft, dated October 1979.

Click here to download the handbook (23 Megs)

Douglas C-133A and B Flight Data Handbook

USAF Douglas C-133A/B Flight Data Handbook T.O. 1C-133A-1-1, change notice 5, dated August 5, 1963. Manual via Irfan S. Hokan.

Click here to download manual PDF (70 Megs)

Douglas C-133A and B Flight Manual

USAF C-133A/B Aircraft Flight Manual T.O. 1C-133A-1, change notice 5, dated August 5, 1963. Manual via Irfan S. Hokan.

Click here to download manual PDF (69 Megs)

Another F-4 Phantom II “Spook” Symbol

I really like my “Spooks” and here is another one! Click photo for larger version.

Click here for original Spook post

F-4 Blue Angel Configuration Flight Test Report

This report summarizes the functional flight test program on the ECP 895 (Blue Angel) aircraft conducted by the contractor during the period 15 October 1968 through 16 December 1968. With photos! Report number FJ267-3-AC, dated January 31, 1969.

Click here to view report pages

Click here to download the report as a PDF

Douglas C-132 Update #2

Additional information on the Douglas C-132 proposed aircraft. The Standard Aircraft Characteristics (SAC) first sheet and a nice definitions page. Credit: U.S. Cargo Aircraft from 1925 to the Present

Click here to view sheets

T-45A Flight Manual

A copy of the NATOPS Flight Manual A1-T45AB-nfm-000 for the T-45A aircraft from #163599 and up, dated January 15, 1997.

click here to download manual

F/TF-15A Flight Manual

A copy of the USAF Preliminary Flight Manual #T.O. 1F-15A-1 for the McDonnell Douglas F/TF-15A aircraft, block 7 and up. This manual is dated March 15, 1975. Credit: Greater St. Louis Air and Space Museum

Click here to download manual