5 Things You Didnt Know About The F-4

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The F-4 Phantom is perhaps one of the most famous warbirds the US has ever operated. Its achievements in combat and its easily distinguishable design helped make the F-4 what it is today. But with that said, here are 5 things you might not know about the F-4 Phantom.

1. The second crew member had different nicknames

Some of the most common aircraft utilized by the US military before Vietnam were the F-9F Panther, F-84 Thunderjet, and F-86 Sabre. The primary similarity is they only have one man in the cockpit. Unlike these aircraft, the Phantom entered service as a two-seater fighter.

So what did they call the second crew member? They were called 3 things: RIO or Radar Intercept Officer, GIB aka Guy In Back, and even โ€œVoice in the Luggage Compartmentโ€.ย 

Throughout its service, the GIBs were certified Navigators in charge of the radar, weapons, and targeting systems.

2. Not-so-horizontal stabilizer

When looking at the Phantomโ€™s horizontal stabilizers, youโ€™d notice something different. The stabilizers arenโ€™t quite horizontal and instead have a dihedral to it.

This is because its stabilizers are actually an inverted airfoil, meaning the lift is on the bottom. Therefore, pilots often get a more downward force than usual.ย 

3. It can take off with its wings folded

The F-4 was designed to be stowed aboard aircraft carriers, which is why its wings can be folded.

However, in some instances, some F-4 pilots have mistakenly taken off with the wings still folded. The pure power of the Phantom was able to get its crew airborne as can be seen here:ย 

4. Its drop tanks were made to boats

Its auxiliary fuel tanks were hollow and made of aluminum. Once F-4 pilots used up all its fuel, they would then drop them mid-air to get better aerodynamics. So what happened to the dropped tanks?

Apparently, you can see a lot of pontoon boats in some areas of Vietnam made out of these tanks.

5. It didnโ€™t have a gun at first

Similar to its counterpart, the MiG-21, the F-4 Phantom was designed to be all-missile. Foregoing the gun was a definite choice in development, which would soon prove to be a regrettable decision.

To help F-4 pilots in dogfighting, its developers later added the M61 Vulcan autocannon. The addition of the Vulcan helped the Phantom score many victories over the skies of Vietnam.