Air Warriors

[CigarStone]

I don't I don't know if anybody else watches the series called are warriors. It's currently on Amazon and I also believe on Paramount.

Each episode highlights a military aircraft and some of them are absolutely fascinating.

The F-4 Phantom was the fighter jet that carried the missiles that I worked on in the Air Force. When I watched the episode on Air Warriors for the F-4 Phantom I learned that it is regarded as the best fighter jet ever built.

 

[jfields]

Loved those old birds!! I was really sad when I found out we were phasing them out completely and going with the F-18’s. I don’t know what it was about it, but my favorite thing to do, was to pack the chutes back into the tail between flights. There was something so supremely satisfying about it. Here is one from my last duty station - VMFA 321 Andrews Air Force Base.

 

[cabaiguan juan]

I don't I don't know if anybody else watches the series called are warriors. It's currently on Amazon and I also believe on Paramount.

Each episode highlights a military aircraft and some of them are absolutely fascinating.

The F-4 Phantom was the fighter jet that carried the missiles that I worked on in the Air Force. When I watched the episode on Air Warriors for the F-4 Phantom I learned that it is regarded as the best fighter jet ever built.

What is the difference between a fighter and an Attack jet? Or are they the same thing?

 

[CigarStone]

Jets can be classified in many different ways. Close air support, dog fighting, attack, fighter/bomber.

An attack Jet is probably something that is capable of high speed low altitude ground attack and ground support. But I am not sure how accurate that description is.

 

[kann]

I don't I don't know if anybody else watches the series called are warriors. It's currently on Amazon and I also believe on Paramount.

Each episode highlights a military aircraft and some of them are absolutely fascinating.

The F-4 Phantom was the fighter jet that carried the missiles that I worked on in the Air Force. When I watched the episode on Air Warriors for the F-4 Phantom I learned that it is regarded as the best fighter jet ever built.

Interesting, considering that the F-4 was originally designed without a cannon and that so many were lost in Vietnam. Sure, it was wayyyyy overpowered, but what else did it have going for it that made it the "best fighter ever built"? I like the jet, and I'm not hating on it, but the F-15 variants have quite the checklist of attributes going for them over the decades. Hell, an Israeli F-15 flew for over two hours and landed safely after having its ENTIRE STARBOARD WING shot off!

What is the difference between a fighter and an Attack jet? Or are they the same thing?

Jets can be classified in many different ways. Close air support, dog fighting, attack, fighter/bomber.

An attack Jet is probably something that is capable of high speed low altitude ground attack and ground support. But I am not sure how accurate that description is.

This. That doesn't account for the fact that almost all fighter jets have been co-opted for CAS duty (attack), though.

 

[xyz123]

I love the show and have seen every episode.. many more than once. I record it from the Smithsonian channel. There's not a single dud in the entire series.

 

[CigarStone]

Interesting, considering that the F-4 was originally designed without a cannon and that so many were lost in Vietnam. Sure, it was wayyyyy overpowered, but what else did it have going for it that made it the "best fighter ever built"? I like the jet, and I'm not hating on it, but the F-15 variants have quite the checklist of attributes going for them over the decades. Hell, an Israeli F-15 flew for over two hours and landed safely after having its ENTIRE STARBOARD WING shot off!




This. That doesn't account for the fact that almost all fighter jets have been co-opted for CAS duty (attack), though.

The show pointed out its versatility, and I remember when I would debrief Pilots they would tell me they called it the garbage scow because you could load so much ordinance on it.

There are a number of fighter jets that are much more qualified for specific duties, I guess they feel the F4 was able to do a little bit of everything.

 

[ChuckJr]

There's an F-4 and F-105 on display at a local museum, plus a Huey and a HH-3F, a B-25, and a B53 (hint: not a plane).

 

[CigarStone]

I just watched the current B-52 episode and was shocked to hear that the government has contracted it for use through 2040. It was already the longest tenure plane in history. Before it's done, it will have 90 years of service!

I loved standing next to that beast! And the characteristic whine of the engines was unmistakable!

 

[CigarStone]

Interesting, considering that the F-4 was originally designed without a cannon and that so many were lost in Vietnam. Sure, it was wayyyyy overpowered, but what else did it have going for it that made it the "best fighter ever built"? I like the jet, and I'm not hating on it, but the F-15 variants have quite the checklist of attributes going for them over the decades. Hell, an Israeli F-15 flew for over two hours and landed safely after having its ENTIRE STARBOARD WING shot off!




This. That doesn't account for the fact that almost all fighter jets have been co-opted for CAS duty (attack), though.

Yep! Amazing that the B-52 has been outfitted with Electronic Warfare and is also being used for ground support. It was always mis-labled as a carpet bomber only.

 

[tone-ny]

The guard unit at McGuire had F-105s and transitioned to F-4s. Always loved watching both taking off and landing nothing like the sound and vibration of a fighter.

 

[CigarStone]

The guard unit at McGuire had F-105s and transitioned to F-4s. Always loved watching both taking off and landing nothing like the sound and vibration of a fighter.

Yes sir!

I remember the church I went to while stationed at Seymour Johnson was just off the end of the runway. Often, on Sunday mornings, they would do maneuvers which utilized full afterburners. I got a kick out of the preacher who gave up waiting for the noise to subside because an hour long service would turn into two hours. He just spoke right through the deafening rumble.

 

[Pugman1943]

During the Cuban Crisis and our tour in Nam in '65 my ship ( USS I dependence CVA62 ) we had two squadrons of F-4's. You could hang so much various ordnance on these it was one hell of a sight. Really enjoyed them when getting ready to be catted off and they would engage their AB's. They were our bad boys. One hell of a platform.

 

[Saxon9075]

My
Godfather flew Phantoms in the 60's in the Air Force. . If I remember correctly the Phantom was used by both Air Force and Navy. Anyway he was sent to Carrier School to study the feasibility of Air Force Pilots landing on a carrier if shot up. (I read you had something like 90% chance of being captured if shot down over land but 90% chance of recovery if you could make it to the water. {numbers made up but it was astoundingly high}). Anyway he said he did not know how Navy pilots regularly landed on carriers and were able to use the plane again ! But it was a great air platform.

 

[tone-ny]

The AF and Navy planes had different undercarriages.

 

[kann]

My
Godfather flew Phantoms in the 60's in the Air Force. . If I remember correctly the Phantom was used by both Air Force and Navy. Anyway he was sent to Carrier School to study the feasibility of Air Force Pilots landing on a carrier if shot up. (I read you had something like 90% chance of being captured if shot down over land but 90% chance of recovery if you could make it to the water. {numbers made up but it was astoundingly high}). Anyway he said he did not know how Navy pilots regularly landed on carriers and were able to use the plane again ! But it was a great air platform.

NAVY jets have significantly beefed up landing gear compared to Air Force counterparts.

 

[Nihon_Ni]

What is the difference between a fighter and an Attack jet? Or are they the same thing?

The terms have various meanings that are sometimes at odds with each other. In general, a fighter is designed to shoot down other airplanes and an attack plane is designed to deliver ordnance on a ground/surface target. However, in colloquial terms, the USAF calls everything a fighter that holds 1-2 crew, regardless of it's mission. So if you're ever at a bar and a USAF fighter pilot is telling stories, you have to listen for a few minutes to make sure he's not an A-10 pilot.

BTW, do you know how to tell if there's a fighter pilot in a room?
He tells you!

 

[Nihon_Ni]

Interesting, considering that the F-4 was originally designed without a cannon and that so many were lost in Vietnam. Sure, it was wayyyyy overpowered, but what else did it have going for it that made it the "best fighter ever built"? I like the jet, and I'm not hating on it, but the F-15 variants have quite the checklist of attributes going for them over the decades. Hell, an Israeli F-15 flew for over two hours and landed safely after having its ENTIRE STARBOARD WING shot off!

When discussing how good or bad an airplane is, you really have to consider it's context in history. It's not really fair to compare an F-4 to an F-15 because they are different generations of aircraft. The fact that the F-4 was so prolific shows how good of an airplane it was for its time. Although there were previous aircraft that were pressed into a strike-fighter role, the F-4 was one of the first true multi-role strike-fighters by design. It was reliable, rugged, and fairly easy to fly. The analogy I learned when I was a tour guide at the Pensacola Naval Air Museum was: The F-4 proves that if you put enough thrust behind it, a brick can fly!

 

[tone-ny]

I think I have some pictures where we dragged some German F-4s across the pond. Germany was one of the last countries flying them.

 

[CigarStone]

The terms have various meanings that are sometimes at odds with each other. In general, a fighter is designed to shoot down other airplanes and an attack plane is designed to deliver ordnance on a ground/surface target. However, in colloquial terms, the USAF calls everything a fighter that holds 1-2 crew, regardless of it's mission. So if you're ever at a bar and a USAF fighter pilot is telling stories, you have to listen for a few minutes to make sure he's not an A-10 pilot.

BTW, do you know how to tell if there's a fighter pilot in a room?
He tells you!

The Warthog is ugly but effective!