In a message dated 11/30/2008 8:54:25 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,
dashvii@hotmail.com writes:
I was not aware that the 601 had split flaps. Didn't some F-4 models have
leading edge flaps and some have slats?
Well, the 601 is not supposed to have split flaps, but the way the left and
right flaps are interconnected via telescoping 4130 tubes that are bolted
together inside the fuselage, it became possible after some wear in the bolt
holes or breakage of the AN3 bolt. I corrected the situation by welding the
tubes together.
The F-4E after a certain serial number did have leading edge slats that
would program out during maneuvering flight based on a certain AOA. Good for
a
turning dog fight, but the extra drag of the larger hinges etc, really took
away from top speed. They were hard to get much over Mach 2, where as a clean
F-4C or D would readily go above Mach 2. I once had an old C model to Mach
2.32. You know the old saying - Speed is life. We easily out ran F-15s, 16s
and 18s in Red Flag exercises. But the really fast old fighter is the 105.
We used to race them out of North Vietnam. Initially we could easily out
accelerate them at full military power (and sometimes AB) when leaving the
target area, but about 20 or 30 miles later they would catch us and slowly walk
away. Of course the Thud was originally designed to be a low altitude high
speed penetrator and it did that job very well.
Blue Skies,
Buz
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