I was a ground-pounder in my first tour in Vietnam, but my second tour was in Saigon. We used to see big brutal soot-stained F-4s at Tan Son Nhut and boy they wowed us. We sometimes saw the swaggering pilots; our jaws dropped in awe; I was always hoping to see Robin Olds, and maybe I did once. I guess they flew in to visit the world-famous Cholon PX (second only to the Yokosuka Navy Exchange). We claimed that Tet '68 was nothing but cover for a VC raid on the PX. Anyway, I'm 81 years old now and it's amazing how those years of stress, sweat, and anxiety seem glamorous and fun now.

I remember a Vietnam Vet telling me, that the F4 "Was living proof you could get a house to fly!" Due to its size.

Boundary layer control at 30:56 - When high speed air encounters the intake splitter plate the boundary layer flowing past the splitter plate into the engine can become turbulent. This turbulent flow going into the engine can cause low thrust or unstart issues so the turbulent boundary layer is sucked out of the engine intake flow by design through these perforated plates on the splitter before it can get into the engine and cause problems.

In Germany we called her: ""Luftverteidigungsdiesel" - "air defense diesel"

So impressed that the 90s liveries were included. She did great Wild Weasel duty in the Gulf War in her grey ghost livery.

I predict HEAVY use of this aircraft!

The only time I'm aware of aircrew using grease-pencil on the inside of the canopy as a routine, was for FASTFAC controller notes. Basically the backseater was the controller on those missions and they could go on for a significant amount of time with multiple flights checking in and out. So controllers found it easier to use the canopy instead of flipping between sheets of the kneeboard . So as CAS aircraft would check in with the controller, he would note on the canopy all the CAS specifics that we today use via digital coms such as callsign, number in flight, time-on-station, loadout and so on. Controller notes all this on the glass and updates states as the flights engage. I think this started in Vietnam with the F-100 FASTFACs and was extensively used by F-4 FASTFACs later in the conflict.

So impressed with heatblurr's integration of the manual, the knee pads, and the linking of the manual pages to the buttons that's going to be such a quality of life improvement for learning to fly this plane and doing things you don't do often, full marks to heatblurr!

Dihedral and anhedral (angling of outer wing and stabilizer up or down) question at 33:10: The F-4 design was compromised by its size (big fighter) and the need to fit on/in the aircraft carrier elevator and hangar--specifically the height of the vertical stab (very stubby vertical stab). Because the vertical was height limited, in order to maintain directional stability they added anhedral (negative "slope") to the horizontal stab (to create additional vertical stab effectiveness). BUT, anhedral is de-stabilizing in roll, so they had to compensate by adding dihedral (positive "slope" on the outer portion of the wing (outboard of the fold). One long daisy chain of design impacts caused by a physical limitation.

The ailerons act as flaps and droop on Naval versions when flaps are down. The leading edge of the stabs had a device to increase authority. All of this was to allow naval versions to fly slower on approach to the carrier. Remember, the Phantom is a Navy plane forced on the Air Force. The Air Force wanted to call it the F-110 Spector, but DOD wouldn't let them.

This is one of the coolest looking planes ever.

A CBU spec F-4 should be capable of completely destroying a server in a single pass.

Good vid, Cap. You're the first to actually feature the weapon options which is a big deal! This bird has a ton of utility.

Grease pen / Marker board markers and drawing on the glass is often used where you need to keep track of things. Farmers use it during grain harvest to track various data as they go, so you can notice they have scribbled stuff on the side window. And since markers meant for whiteboards do not dry, they can be erased later with ease.

The vapor cone that appears when you break the sound barrier is called the Prandtl-Glauert singularity.

The Mig 23 has a direct copy of those intakes.

Awesome! Waited for a GR video about the Phantom. Thank you!

Informative as usual. Thanks Cap!

Very impressive guys. Thanks for this.

I have to buy this module just for nostalgia. I have a model F4E i built as a teenager, buried in a time capsule in 1990. We'll dig it up one day soon and see how the jelly cakes performed.

Remember Heatblur said dare you to count the rivets.

Good fun. Thank you. Looking forward to 100 tutorials.

Oh I can see the Grim Reapers doing all kinds of fun things with the Phantom. Wild Weasel tests. Israel RP. Speed races. Oh! And a challenge for ye Grim Reapers: dogfight battle royale but all gun pods on the wing stations and centerline plus internal cannon. GUNS GALORE!

My dad worked on the RF4C/RF4Es.... but always loved this class of aircraft. He fondly called the F4Ds the "led sled" or "old smokey". In the early 1960s, nothing could outclimb the F4 airframe.

Wow...this is fantastic! I was a Crew Chief on the F-4G Wild Weasel (WW tail flash)...SAM hunters. Stationed at George AFB, CA back in the day. We also had a nice mix of E models. Along with all the other control surfaces, the F-4 also had massive speed brakes underneath each flap that deployed downward.

By now, this is the PERFECT preview video of the Phantom. Thank you Cap and Grim Reapers!

I'm waiting for your F-4E full tutorials mate! Great video!

24:27 Cap uses his braincell wisely by not listening and just doodling. 😂

Very cool cap. Glad you’re feeling better. My dad was a crew chief for the f4 just after Vietnam. It’s always been his favorite

Thank you for the first look on this bird! Cannot wait to strap into this in VR, and take her for a spin soon. I have not had much time for DCS of late, but one thing is for sure, Heatblur got my money from day one on this baby. Will be looking out for your tutorials as well!! Keep up the awesome work Cap, and company!

Can't wait until there are some Wild Weasel missions from GR 🤤

Usaf pilots hated the bullpup. Did you know the later bigger model ignited its moter after dropping by a cable that was attached to the missile and the pylon, and when pulled ignited the moter. Once on an airstrike a Phantom suffered a malfunction and the pylon lugs only detached at the rear of the missile. still attached at the front but now pointing upwards, the cable was pulled and the moter ignited and the missile crashed through the wing. Didnt explode but damage sufficient to cause the f4 crew to have to bail out and be rescued. So this f4 managed to shoot itself down with its own missile.

The elevator has fixed slots like the wing, but instead of increasing lift at high angle of attack, they were used to allow the elevator to have more tail down force, hence more elevator authority. Without the slots, the elevator would stall at high deflection angles and actually lose effectiveness. The cost is that the fixed slots increase drag and limit top speed. Basically they're just wing leading edge slots, but for the elevator.

this is outstanding when you guys show new planes/modules then release is near :D

so what youre saying is technically that could have 6 vulcan cannons? do i smell a f4 vs a10 video coming soon?

Looks like fun and a ton to learn. To me these types of planes, older ones which we can get details on are the best. A lot of newer planes, most of the stuff is classified. However, I know some will be angered when it doesn’t handle like an F-18, but it will bring out your piloting skill.

Now THAT is a thing of beauty!

Cap's vortices are now there for all to see. 😳

At 8:14, I worked on that GBU system as well as the F-4 Avionics. Got to see the video of the screen the WSO used to fly the bomb in the window.

The grease pen is nice to learn or remind stuff when learning the module. You read something in the manual and find it difficult to remember, write it next to you on the window. I many times needed this to remember certain frequencies.

Great walk through Cap!

Favorite fighter jet! Love it! Really cool seeing this in the game. Hope to see a lot of fun video ideas using this fighter. Thanks guys!

I was hoping one of the display team options would be included, either the Thunderbirds or the Blue Angels. Very happy to see the Thunderbirds liveries are part of it!

This was good and a bit better in terms of explaining how the plane works !

The RAAF livery looks great. I'd stick to it but I'm biased being an Aussie. Fun facts: Australia was the shortest time operator of the F-4E. We had them from September 1970 and June 1973 whilst waiting for the F-111C to be delivered. The Phantom was allocated the RAAF serial number prefix A69 starting at A69-0304, but this was never applied to the aircraft, and they retained their USAF serial number prefix. From all accounts, RAAF pilots liked the F-4E but the problem was that we would have had to of purchased air tankers to go with them. That was one of the reasons why the RAAF stuck with the F-111C as it had a better range. Australia is a huge place!

Glad to see (or hear rather) that you're doing better Cap. The boys did a stellar job in your stead but GR just isn't the same without our fearless leader. If there's a next time remind them to say "valued viewers" lol 👍

This is the strongest person I've ever seen. I'm absolutely in awe.

NAS Pensacola museum has a F4 sim cockpit( front/ backseat). Amazing how huge it is inside sitting there.

Amazing plane. Great video cap. I have very little experience in dcs, but i Love this plane.

Damn it's good to hear your voice again. Sounding STRONG! I have told the story before as my time on the USS Theodore Roosevelt as an Aviation Ordnance Tech and all the weapons I was responsible for. I remember the HARM's coming aboard to replace the Shrikes. I remember loading in late model Mavericks to replace all the Walleyes and I also remember having an entire magazine full of FAE (fuel/air explosives) that was the new napalm. I remember in A school that them telling us it was just dish liquid mixed with gasoline. The liquid stuck to shit, the gasoline burned. A nasty weapon. We got rid of those too. I was hoping to get that weapon or the original napalm with this module. And we had the naval version land on our deck during a NATO exercise. It is much different than the Air Force. It had a lot more droopy bits it seemed like. Maybe for low speed carrier landings. I remember the hook being just this massive bar of steel that had to weigh a thousand pounds. Much larger than the Tomcat hooks. Anyways, I too just downloaded it and only rough set my controls. Lots of tweaking to do and all that shit hidden under the sides will have a binding. I lose Track IR when I try to duck down that low!

Hey Jester, what the hell are you doing back there?! Stop clowning around!

Oh yesss Nothing better then in a multi person strike mission and saying “ hang on let me consult my Phantoms aircraft owners manual “

interesting they called it Phantom with that big black smoke cloud behind it.

I'm so ready for the typhoon. I will be preordering that if I can. If this is what I can expect.

The F-4's had a number of quirky handling characteristics: At least some of these existed on other aircraft. Adverse Yaw/Swept Wing: Basically the aircraft was a stick-n-rudder plane at low/moderate AoA, at higher AoA the aircraft was basically flown almost totally on rudder. This was something that happened with the F-100 as well, but the F-4's might have been worse as the plane had a propensity to lose control and enter a flat-spin when pilots weren't leading with rudder (or at higher AoA using ailerons). The later F-4E (Agile Eagle mod, which is the one you're flying) had the maneuvering slats and seemed to reduce or eliminate the zone where you had to simply roll the plane on rudder the whole time. Directional control was poor at high AoA: At the design weight of 37500 lb. the wings were good down to 138 knots but the directional control would ultimately become nearly useless around 140-142 knots and the aircraft would see nose-slicing motions. The stall warning would come on at 147 knots. (I know this because I was trying to use the limited information at my disposal to see how the XF8U-3 would have compared to the F-4B as it was considered the better performer (the F-4B was chosen because the two man crew was strongly favored).

Thanks Cap and Greeps!

J79 used to be the sound of Bodø during the cold war, very fitting for the first F-4 flight

Allways loved the phantom sence I was a kid and made a airfix model of one. . Something about it. Ever time I look at one. Brilliant looking aircraft. . Only learning about the cannon one. Don't know much about it's history. very interesting show. The f-4e..have to look it up. 🛫👍

CAPhantom, as you know Colonel Warbeck flew the F-4. They called it "The Pig". Another name was the "Double Ugly".

Great review! looks boss.

27:40 We call that 'Greenline tape', it's still used for temporary repairs.

I believe the holes in the variable geometry part of the air intake has to do with boundary layer air control. *edit. I think they pass the boundary air from the intake to the space between the intake and the fuselage, so that the engine gets "cleaner" air.

In some parts of the UK they might think you're talking about a F40 Ferrari (F-4E.. geddit..)

Imagine the Vietnam scenarios... These things used to fly over our house in the 70s. They are really, really loud.

I was waiting on Caps Phantom, why ? Look at at 48 minutes of preview... covered everything I want to see . Legend CAP

Very cool! Way to go Heatblur! Thanks GR :):

Nice intro to the F-4 nice to see the very serious exit at the end, Noice…

God i hope they do the A-6 NEXT!

the cockpit reminds me of Topgun2 when Rooster jumps in the RIO seat of the F14.........."It's so old" LOL the detail looks amazing....

Gaazelles in falklands used grease pen to sight rockets.

I was an ADJ in the USN 77-83 cranking wrenches on the GE-J79 turbo-jet that powered these F-4's. Interesting. Not fun. But, interesting nonetheless.

I use F-4 tape daily on USAF jets and had no idea that's why we call it that lol. Thanks for that tid bit. I'll pass it on to the next generation of maintainers.

Here is the real elephant in the room question: Is there a bombing system in the f4E, say sort of like the LABS on the A4? Or are we essentially dropping dumb bombs like a WW2 fighter? Asking for a friend.

The F4 was a beautiful jet fighter.. a great model for the trophy shelf....

Only the Navy/Marine Phantoms had no flight controls in the back seat. It's how the different services operate.

Well here in Germany we called it the "Luftverteidigungsdiesel" (Air Defence Diesel) due to how dark the smoke was. Looking forward to seeing it in action.

Yes CAP! ❤ thanks for the video! Love from the 13th VFS!

Great video as usual, very excited as I’ve bought the model. Can I ask what map you’re using, looks a bit like the part of the Scottish highlands I live in

I added F4 tape to my buy list lol.

Play tic-tac-toe with your WSO/RIO during a mission

im bouncing between excited and s scared for this on wednesday.......

Love the smell of F-4 tape.

G'day Cap. I gotta say, I am in awe with your graphics. Something about the lighting (looks kind of dark around the panels?) and how you can see the shear speed while flying low like you and your buddies were doing. Would you be able to give some settings to look out for? Gama? Motion Blur (High/low/off and intensity?) Great video by the way! Really hope to fly it soon! Cheers!

Nice

I thought the F-4 was nuclear capable? Is there a nuke it can carry?

Start up and guides before the release PLEASE!!!

the holes and the intake scoop were from the discovery of unstable airflow above mach and caused compressor stalls.. so they made those design changes to promote stable airflow above mach speeds.

RAAF had F4 for a bit in the 1970s while we waited for the F111C to be delivered

How are you, my friend? How do I stop the plane completely at F18 and use the plane cabin button?

How is not Spanish Air Force liveryyyy😭😭😭

I'm an alpha, tester. Not a beta, tester.

It was my understanding that all twin seated aircraft for the USAF had dual controls, However the US Navy did not, the F-4 does not have back seat controls for the Navy, only designated trainers were the exception.

Lil intake holes: Streamlined air bounces off the hull in flight, this disrupts the airflow slightly. In order to feed perfectly directed air through the intake it has these holes which suck this "disrupted" air back to the hull into the space between intake and hull.

considering the quality of this and the fact that heatblur said the eurofighter is gonna be AT LEAST on the same quality and most likely even better than the f4 im really looking forward to it, heatblur is prob the best module developer in the dcs program currently both in terms of quality AND features, they just keep on bringing more and more unique features into the game as well as taking on the challenge and risk of making some of the most unique and most highly anticipated vehicles ever

That loadout is impressive. It seems by the looks of it you can put 5x 3 19 FFAR Rocket pods on it just for fun. Curious though if the Napalm bombs are also added in EA.

1 day baby cant wait

Are you going to do a mapping video for controls ?

According to wikip!ss, - ''German Luftwaffe crews called their F-4s the Eisenschwein ("Iron Pig"), Fliegender Ziegelstein ("Flying Brick") and Luftverteidigungsdiesel ("Air Defense Diesel").[209] In the RAF it was most commonly referred to as “The Toom” (not tomb)'' Under, Culture - Nicknames.

Great review, heatblurr have knocked it out of the park again! Also which map was this it's really pretty? Bodo - must be Nord Kapp?

Nice to see the F-4 getting some love