1/72 F-4H-1 Phantom II US Navy, "Project High Jump" 148423h, Test Pilot Commander John Watts Young, April 1962

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