Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA19032F4H-1 Phantom II "Project High Jump" 148423h, Test Pilot Commander John Watts Young, US Navy, 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.
Hobby Master HA19032, F4H-1 Phantom II "Project High Jump" 148423h , 1:72
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
