Just a Question for Aviation-Savvy Members

[Boppinabe]

Years ago, I got the brain bug of "Could an F-4 Phantom be re-engined(or UP-engined?) with a pair of RB-199s as seen in the Panavia Tornado?" Just a wonder.

[kham]

It was already done, basically decades ago when the the RAF/RN operated F-4s; the J79 engines were replaced with Rolls-Royce Speys (RB-168-25Rs), which were of similar performance (slightly better actually) than RB199s. The result was slightly better range and increased low-level acceleration but slightly reduced performance at altitude. Always a trade off. Personally, I would stick with the J79 THAT is the Rolls-Merlin of jet engines

[schlamm]

It would be possible, but with the age of the youngest airframe considered it would hardly be worth the effort. Phantom's were king in their era, but are far too heavy and slow to turn as a result for today's combat environment.

F-22LW.jpg

This thing can turn 1 3/4 times in the same space the F-4 makes one 360°

[Duncan Edwards]

It was already done, basically decades ago when the the RAF/RN operated F-4s; the J79 engines were replaced with Rolls-Royce Speys (RB-168-25Rs), which were of similar performance (slightly better actually) than RB199s. The result was slightly better range and increased low-level acceleration but slightly reduced performance at altitude. Always a trade off. Personally, I would stick with the J79 THAT is the Rolls-Merlin of jet engines

Exactly that. The last Royal Navy F-4's with the Rolls engines operated from the last RN flat deck carrier, Ark Royal. After she was put away they remained in the Royal Navy long enough to do air defense duty from airfields in the Falklands after the war was over.

[kham]

There was some spitballing about doing a similar swap in the 104s, but thats as far as it got. At the time, the CAF was pretty much wedded to upgrading to the F-18 so it was pretty much a theoretical exercise. Even then, the 104 while no dogfighter, was preferred by the go-fast guys since while the 18 is a far superior fighter in dogfight terms and capability, for pure speed the 104 was hard to beat. The 18 tops out about 1.8 mach; the Starfighter, the SLOW light comes on around 2.2 on the machmeter -- and she is still accelerating...

[DangerGirl]

Don't tell me you somehow came into possession of an old F-4 airframe and a stockpile of RB-199s...

[Magic Engineer]

-

[kham]

Some things from old books, in the olde pre-internet days

Others from Being There while young and stupid, working on the silly things over 30 years ago

[Duncan Edwards]

WHERE did you all get your aviation experience?
I am in shock and awe. Though I kinda know where DangerGirl gets hers from. The rest I'm clueless.
I mean this in the most amazed and humble manner, because I thought I knew a fair amount, and it's obvious I don't. Not to the level of the people that have posted here before me.

Substantial extended navy family and Pop was a CPO in the US Navy who spent a lot of time on carriers. I wanted to do more than that but they said I had a heart murmur among other things and didn't want me. Long story but I'm fifty years old and still running marathons. Must not have been too bad.

From a very early age I read EVERYTHING there was on the subject so I could at least hang semi-intelligently with my friends who did make it in. I've long since forgotten more than I know. It's all just books and playing.

[nachtjaeger]

Somewhere in an alternate universe, your other self got to work on the Avro CF-105 Arrow.

Some things from old books, in the olde pre-internet days

Others from Being There while young and stupid, working on the silly things over 30 years ago