Awesome F-4 Phantom Maneuver

A true historical account.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• F4
• Phantom
• Jet
• Plane
• Fighter
• Aircraft
• Vietnam
• Mig
• Mig-17
• Mig17
• Fighter Jet
• Pilot
• war
• Missile
• Sidewinder
• Battle
• Combat
• Jet Fighter
• attack

[hazeleyes1911a1]

...and now, back to the video...does anyone know if this is a real thing or not? Deliberately putting an F-4 into uncontrolled flight at 1500' agl seems a tad bit risky. How did the pilot find out he could do this, and when did he have the time to practice it to perfection? It just seems a little too ballsy to be believed.

[Jerrico71]

@hazeleyes1911a1 Not sure as far as having facts in my hand. The pilot's name is Capt Ronald Eugene McKeown and doing a Google search may uncover something. My best guess would be to say this is a true account since the research done to put a show together like this is done by professionals who usually proof their findings since the makers of the show could be held liable in lawsuits and things like that. I hope this helps and I encourage you to please post what you find. Thanks for commenting.

[brownyread]

ahhh poor vietnamese pilot, he was so stiff he didn't know what to do... he probably gave up after that one lol what is this called?

[Jerrico71]

I received this in an email and thought it was awesome. May be a training vid or documentary...not sure.

[nfccentral1985]

@Scorpac I can understand your point of view but if there’s one thing I have witnessed & experienced in my global travels is logic many times doesn’t explain nor clarify everything. I've seen out-takes of stunt pilots do some really crazy things that most people would think "impossible!" One really needs to research & contact the pilots directly i.e. interview them to find the truth. Pilots are usually full of nothing but integrity so it’s best to come straight from the horse’s mouth.

[Scorpac]

@nfccentral1985 some things are just said because of jealously and some not, in this case its absolutly rediculous what the pilote did, absolutly unlogic.

[nfccentral1985]

@Scorpac Do you know what's even funnier? Anyone who is not a American always talking in "absolutes" trying to do everything they can to knock it down. No different than number 2 teams & below always shooting to knock off number 1. Pathetic. Instead of griping or portraying jealousy or disgust or rationalizing your own existence, run for office in your country & do something for it economically or politically. Also, research & find these actual pilots & find the truth from them.

[Scorpac]

always funny to see those americans saying how insane they are even if its not possible what they say.

[Superhrnet]

@ benibaka I should also mention, that while the description made by the narrator makes sense to me, it does not match what the animation depicts. From the animation, it looks like the opposite rudders are being used rather than the ones the narrator's is description. I guess that is why it looks funny.

[Superhrnet]

@benibaka You are correct. I believe that left rudder(bottom) was applied during the left roll and pich down. Then immediately after that, right rudder (top) was applied during the pitch up and roll right in order to throw the tail sharply in the opposite direction. The momentum of the plane would cause the tail to shoot in front of the nose.

I'm just amazed such a thing is possible from the Phantom, and that the pilot could recover so quickly.

[benibaka]

I am a Japanese writer assistant. I was looking for material of the control characteristic of the F-4. I thinks this maneuver is wonderful but there is a doubt in the announcement. The announcer is saying that the pilot stomps the left pedal. A rapid pitch-up and a full top rudder are necessary to put the plane into the post stall area. The F-4 is turning to the left and the bank angle is almost vertical. The pilot have to stomp the right rudder pedal to apply a top rudder.

Is my idea wrong?

[Deacon272]

@pilotdave1000 In a right turn, applying top rudder is accomplished by pushing in the left rudder pedal. IOW, it's always the rudder (pedal) opposite to the direction of turn.