XBradTC

By

XBradTC

·

Freinemies- F-4 vs. Mig-17

The spectacular F-4 Phantom was many things. An interceptor, a long range nuclear and conventional strike platform, and, once they figured out the tactics, a pretty good dogfighter. The most numerous opponent the USAF faced in dogfights over North Vietnam was the lightweight, tight turning subsonic MiG-17. With the collapse of the Soviet empire, surplus…

The spectacular F-4 Phantom was many things. An interceptor, a long range nuclear and conventional strike platform, and, once they figured out the tactics, a pretty good dogfighter.

The most numerous opponent the USAF faced in dogfights over North Vietnam was the lightweight, tight turning subsonic MiG-17.

With the collapse of the Soviet empire, surplus MiG-17s became a fairly popular warbird to collect.

The F-4, well, that’s a little different. Right now, I only know of one in private hands, and that belongs to the Collings Foundation.  And in this nifty little clip, we see their F-4D doing a little turning and burning with a MiG-17.

 

You can get a slight idea of just how hard it was to keep visual contact on the tight turning little MiG. Add in the stress of pulling G’s, and people shooting at you, and you can see why it was pretty hard work.

Tags:

, , ,
  1. thatmrgguy

    Reblogged this on That Mr. G Guy's Blog.

    Like

  2. thatmrgguy

    I can see how hard it was…the little SOB stayed low in the ground clutter making it even harder to see, at least for my poor eyes.

    Like

  3. Parrothead Jeff

    FYI – There’s an F-4 in SoCal that’s in private hands and getting ready to fly 😉
    http://wingsandrotors.org/#prettyPhoto

    Like

  4. captainned

    My last-ever roomie situation circa 1989 was with a guy who was an A&P (Airframe & Powerplant, and it was at the time an FAA license with type certs, ’cause he was a civvy) mechanic with the VT ANG. When he signed on they were still flying F-4s and while he respected the bird’s capabilities he was very direct and blunt as to the utter lack of thought put into servicing the beast in the design process, at least compared to the F-16s he was now wrenching on. He had many comments about specific bodily gyrations needed to accomplish routine maintenance.

    My best memory of the F-4 is the Thunderbirds Family Day show for the AF Staff College at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, AL back in the spring of 1972 (one of the few high points for a Vermonter forced to endure Wallace-era Alabama). One F-4 is loud. Seven F-4s rearrange your bowels. Not sure if they keep up the tradition, but back then #4 (guy in the slot) had a very dirty vert stab/rudder. We never did fit the F-4 with engines that didn’t smoke a bit.

    The F-4 departed in 1986, one year after I moved into town and it’s been F-16s (of ever-increasing Block #) since. I look forward to the F-35, as we’ve been designated as the NE F-35 base (despite all of the usual suspects complaining, which here in VT seems to be 95% of the population). I can’t wait to pull a Wayne & Garth on the little patch at the end of the runway as the first F-35 lands & launches.

    Like

  5. Tarl

    Gotta wonder how much it costs in gas alone to fly those things.

    Like

  6. Quartermaster

    I can’t imagine fueling one of things from my own pocket. An L-39 takes 350 gallons of Jet-A fill, and at $6 a gallon that’s $2100. An F-4 would nearly burn that on launch.

    Like

  7. xbradtc

    With three external tanks, an F-4 has a capacity of about 3,350 gallons. Jet A is currently $6.70 at the nearest airport. So call it about $22,500 to fill ‘er up.

    Like

Leave a comment