Posted on 10/18/2015 10:01:12 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
...and considerably smaller than a Midway.
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I served on the FDR, a sister ship to the Midway and Coral Sea. Flight deck was over 900 ft., but the cat shot was only 180 ft. Four AG wires probably were about 400 ft. of deck (just a guess, as I was in Cats).
I was in Civil Air Patrol as a kid. lots of the local meetings/gatherings of squadrons took place at Selfridge ANGB. I saw and heard a lot of them as a teenager. And you’re right, they are LOUD!
CC
Doorgunner69,
No doubt Kelly Johnson did have a few of those. I was just making a joke about what the sketch of the “swing-wing F-4” looked like in the article. I doubt this was ever a serious option. (Interesting, the FB-111 [THX?]and the F-14 Tomcat were intended to share numerous design features and assemblies. In the end, the wing pivot was the only shared piece.)
I think history will confirm your suspicion about a number of successful designs, though. The P-51, especially in its first phases, and later when the Merlin was added, really was the outgrowth of informal musings. No doubt intoxicating spirits were at least in the vicinity LOL!.
Oldplayer
There was also an F-4L on the drawing board that was supposed to be able to operate from the light carriers. I suspect that such a design would have been limited to an air to air load out.
It would have been interesting to see a Buccaneer operate from an Essex class. Some would debate that the Buccaneer was a better airframe than the Intruder.
Semper Fi
I was bringing a patrol back to our company base when we were attacked from both sides of a ridge. Called for air support and was sent a Phantom, pilot approached asked for smoke on our position. He laid some napalm eggs on the side of the ridge he was approaching then flew right past our heads did a back flip (?) a barrel roll and laid eggs on the other side of the ridge. We made it to the perimeter without a casualty, could have kissed the pilot right then.
What? Speak up, I can’t hear you!
I was in the USAF for 22 years.
I can understand. My best design ideas used to come while I was shaving. It's a mindless task, and gives your brain a chance to free-wheel.
I as with Navy Squadron VF-96 and we first had the F4-B and then the F4-J. I can attest to the loudness as my hearing deteriorated.
One of my faves.. Those babies could haul a load , take hits and make it home more than most aircraft of that era.. And could they belch ‘pollutants’ when ya kicked the afterburners in.. Loud? Good!
The F-14A shared engines, Phoenix missile and Radar suite with the cancelled F-111B. Those are the “prime cuts” of any aircraft program.
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