Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA19028
F-4E "Gunsmoke '89 Competition" 74-1040 "TX", ,704 TFS, Nellis AB, 1989
General Background
The F-4E variant was an improved version of the C/D with an elongated nose and compact radar. These two things made it possible to install a 20mm M61A1 6 barrel 640 round Vulcan gun pod in the nose. The F-4E was the most produced variant with 1387 aircraft being made over its 12 year production period. The “E” also equipped more air forces than any other variant of the Phantom II.
The Aircraft
The “Gunsmoke” competition is designed to show the skills of USAF air and ground crews in an air-to-ground mission. This is a test of how fast, safe and accurately air and ground crews can load and turn around an aircraft so it can resume air operations. There were 16 teams involved in the competition that took place at Nellis AFB, Nevada between September 29, 1989 and October 16, 1989. Representing the 704th TFS/ 924th TGF AFRES from Bergstrom AFB, Texas was F-4E 74-1040. In 2006 74-1040 was destroyed in a missile test.
Hobby Master HA19028, F-4E "Gunsmoke '89 Competition" 74-1040 "TX", 1:72
Engines – (2) General Electric J79-GE-17 turbojets
Thrust – 11,870 lb. st dry, 17,900 lb. st with afterburners
Fuel Maximum internal fuel - fuselage tanks 1,364 US gallons (up to block 40) and 1,225 US gallons (from block 41 on). Additional - 630 gallons of fuel in internal wing tanks. External fuel load - 600 US gallons centerline tank Additional - 370 US gallons tanks under each wing attached to the outer pylon Total fuel load - 3334 US gallons (up to block 40) or 3195 US gallons (from block 41 on)
Performance
Maximum speed – 1,430 mph at 36,000 ft (Mach 2.21) 914 mph at sea level (Mach 1.19) Cruising speed – 585 mph Landing speed – 158 mph Initial climb rate – 61,400 fpm Service ceiling – 62,250 ft Combat ceiling – 59,600 ft Combat range - 595 miles Maximum range - 1885 miles with maximum external fuel Weights
Empty - 29,535 lbs Gross - 40,562 lbs Combat - 38,019 lbs Take off - 61,651 lbs
Dimensions
Wingspan - 38 ft 5 in Wing area - 530 sq ft Length - 63 ft 0 in Height - 16 ft 6 in Armament
(1) 20-mm M61A1 cannon with 639 rounds in an under-nose gondola (4) AIM-7 Sparrow semi-active radar homing air-to-air missiles in semi-recessed slots in the fuselage belly. (2) to (4) AIM-9 Sidewinder infra-red homing air-to-air missiles carried under the wings on the inboard pylons. Total offensive load of up to 16,000 pounds could be carried on the centerline and four under- wing hard-points.
