1/72 F4H-1 Phantom II - Project High Jump - 148423h Test Pilot Lt Cmdr John Watts Young US Navy

General Background

One of the most famous and easily recognized fighter aircraft of the post-WWII era was the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II. This aircraft was developed as a private venture by the aircraft company but was soon ordered by the USN as a carrier-based attack aircraft. Its first flight took place on May 27, 1958 and it entered active service in December 1960. It wasn’t long after the F-4B appeared that a fly-off was set up with USAF front-line fighters. It was no contest, the F-4 performed so well that the USAF ordered their own variant, the F-4C. As time went on, the F-4 evolved into well over a dozen variants.

The Aircraft

In February 1962 an attempt to set time-to-altitude records the USN began as “Project High Jump”. F4H-1 aircraft used flying from NAS Brunswick Maine and Point Mugu California. Five pilots were involved in the project that set 8 time-to-climb records of which 2 were time-to-height records. Records were set for time-to 9,842 feet, 19,685 feet, 29,528 feet, 39,370 feet, 49,213 feet, 65.617 feet, 82,021 feet and 98,425 feet. Lt.Cdr. John W. Young set the first and second last records flying F4H-1 148423. Young became an astronaut and pilot of the first space shuttle.

Specifications

• F4H-1 later became the F-4B
• Number of “B” variant built for USN and USMC: 649
• Powerplant
• 2 x General Electric J79-GE-8A/-8B/-8C turbojets, 10,900 lb.s.t. dry, 17,000 lb.s.t. with afterburner
• Performance
• Max Speed: @ Sea level - 845 mph
• @ 48,000 ft - 1,485 mph
• Initial climb rate: 28,000 fpm
• Service ceiling: 62,000 ft
• Combat Ceiling: 56,850 ft
• Combat range
• Normal: 400 miles
• Maximum range: 2,300 miles with maximum fuel load
• Weights
• Empty: 28,000 pounds
• Gross: 44,600
• Combat: 38,500 pounds
• Maximum take-off: 54,600 pounds
• Dimensions
• Wingspan: 38 ft 5 in
• Wing area: 530 sq. ft
• Length: 58 ft 3.75 in
• Height: 16 ft 3 in
• Fuel
• Maximum fuel load:
• Internal in fuselage: 1,358 U.S. Gallons
• Internal in wings: 630 U.S. Gallons
• Total external fuel load: 1,988 U.S. Gallons
• Maximum external fuel load
• In center-line tank under the fuselage: 600 U.S. Gallons
• In 2 x under-wing tanks: 740 U.S. Gallons
• Combined fuel load: 3,328 U.S. Gallons
• Armament
• 4 x AIM-7D or -7E Sparrow semi-active radar homing missiles in under-fuselage recesses
• Inner under-wing pylons could each accommodate an additional Sparrow or a pair of AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared homing missiles
• In ground attack mode, could carry up to 16,000 pounds of ordnance on centerline pylon underneath the fuselage and on four under-wing hard-points