The Phantom - How Good was it Really?
Discussion
Pinkie15 said:
I was always under the impression the performance difference between UK and US aircraft was because the Speys, whilst more powerful, had a larger diameter than the J79's, so it negated the "area ruled" part of the fuselage over the wings. This increased the drag, and had other aerodynamic effects, meaning the theoretical benefit of a more powerful engine was thus lost.
I read that they did have a performance advantage at low speed and therefore in getting off a small carrier, V8 Fettler said:
The Phantom / Buccaneer combination on Ark Royal R09 would have been formidable.
It was my first ship as a Junior Seaman (RADAR) in 1976. We had 14 Phantoms, 11 Buccaneers, 4 Gannets, 6 Seakings and 2 Wessex as plane guard.One of the gannets had no RADAR in the dome and we used it for stores/mail and a couple of the Buccaneers were configured for in-flight refuelling.
A great first ship for a 16 year old to join.
Speculatore said:
It was my first ship as a Junior Seaman (RADAR) in 1976. We had 14 Phantoms, 11 Buccaneers, 4 Gannets, 6 Seakings and 2 Wessex as plane guard.
One of the gannets had no RADAR in the dome and we used it for stores/mail and a couple of the Buccaneers were configured for in-flight refuelling.
A great first ship for a 16 year old to join.
Without going too far O/T, my Dad served on the Ark Royal and was on board during her deployment to SE Asia and Australia in the early 70's. He was a CPO in S&S at the time.One of the gannets had no RADAR in the dome and we used it for stores/mail and a couple of the Buccaneers were configured for in-flight refuelling.
A great first ship for a 16 year old to join.
ApOrbital said:
Whoops have you got a link to that story?
Plenty of stuff out there on it, been threads on PPrune and Flypast over the years, bu tthis one should cover what you need in one article.https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2015/10/27...
aeropilot said:
ApOrbital said:
Whoops have you got a link to that story?
Plenty of stuff out there on it, been threads on PPrune and Flypast over the years, bu tthis one should cover what you need in one article.https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2015/10/27...
irocfan said:
aeropilot said:
ApOrbital said:
Whoops have you got a link to that story?
Plenty of stuff out there on it, been threads on PPrune and Flypast over the years, bu tthis one should cover what you need in one article.https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2015/10/27...
aeropilot said:
Plenty of stuff out there on it, been threads on PPrune and Flypast over the years, bu tthis one should cover what you need in one article.
https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2015/10/27...
The pilot of the Phantom was my instructor (SQN LDR) back in the early 2000's. Lovely guy, and a great pilot but in was considered bad form to bring it up!https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2015/10/27...
Deck length for Phantoms launching from Ark Royal was limited https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olD4iMIAovk&fe...
aeropilot said:
ApOrbital said:
Whoops have you got a link to that story?
Plenty of stuff out there on it, been threads on PPrune and Flypast over the years, bu tthis one should cover what you need in one article.https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2015/10/27...
Is it time to post some Phantom pics yet?
I think the Phantom is possibly my fav plane ever....
As a spotty youth in the late '80's, I was an Air Cadet from the age of 13 until I left to go to Uni at 18. But I was lucky enough to win a Flying Scholarship at 16 where the RAF paid for 3/4 of a Pilots licence. You had to go to Biggin Hill and undergo many of the tests for the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre and part of that was an interview with two officers (I'm pretty sure one was a Group Captain). Anyway, one of the question's was 'What type of aircraft would you like to fly?', I guess the standard answer was 'Tornado', which was by then the front line hot ship. I on the other hand said I really wanted to fly the Phantom.... the look he gave me was a one of bemusement, as I guess it might have already been retired or pretty close to it... I had to explain why.... still not sure, but I think it was at an airshow in the early '80's and I remember a Phantom coming round on full chat and doing a Derry turn and just being completely overawed by it.
Lovely bit of kit...
As a spotty youth in the late '80's, I was an Air Cadet from the age of 13 until I left to go to Uni at 18. But I was lucky enough to win a Flying Scholarship at 16 where the RAF paid for 3/4 of a Pilots licence. You had to go to Biggin Hill and undergo many of the tests for the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre and part of that was an interview with two officers (I'm pretty sure one was a Group Captain). Anyway, one of the question's was 'What type of aircraft would you like to fly?', I guess the standard answer was 'Tornado', which was by then the front line hot ship. I on the other hand said I really wanted to fly the Phantom.... the look he gave me was a one of bemusement, as I guess it might have already been retired or pretty close to it... I had to explain why.... still not sure, but I think it was at an airshow in the early '80's and I remember a Phantom coming round on full chat and doing a Derry turn and just being completely overawed by it.
Lovely bit of kit...
Deptford Draylons said:
Interesting interview with a Vietnam era Phantom pilot on the Aircrew Interview YT channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-inVs-Y-Nw&t=...
Good channel that. IIRC there are a few Phantom pilots interviewed and comparing against Tornadoes, etc.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-inVs-Y-Nw&t=...
Eric Mc said:
The RAF retired their Phantoms in 1993 (along with the Buccaneers and Victors). It was the post Cold War Peace Dividend - you know, that new world order where there would be no more wars.
Buccaneers? Knackered. Victors? Knackered.
The first Gulf bunfight was the last straw for the old girls. The Phantom had life remaining, but remember that was 25 years ago.
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