In an earlier Things-Under-Wing post(
http://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2013/06/things-under-wings-f4h-f-4-phantom.html), I provided information on and illustrations of the Navy F4H/F-4 external tanks. It described two different 370-gallon tanks, with the earlier McDonnell one not usually provided in F-4 kits. Jeffrey Kubiak of Hypersonic Models is now offering it in 1/48 scale:
See
https://www.hypersonicmodels.co.uk/product/mcdonnell-370-gal-tank for more pictures and order information.
Jeffrey recently sent me a picture of what appears to be a third 370-gallon tank that had been brought to his attention by Joerg Stange.
The differences are subtle but it almost certainly isn't either the original McDonnell or the subsequent Sargent Fletcher tank, at least in their well-known configurations. The center section appears to be less "bulged" than the McDonnell tank, if not actually cylindrical like the Sargent Fletcher tank. The flange on the left side of the tank is located below its center line like the Sargent Fletcher tank but it is not as long, probably because the cylindrical section is shorter than it is on the Sargent Fletcher tank.
My guess is that this is the 370-gallon tank produced by Royal Jet that is listed in one version of the F-4 Flight manual. An informed identification of it would be welcome. However, it doesn't seem to have been widely used, certainly rarely photographed, compared to the Sargent Fletcher tank.
This is a crop of the picture Joerg identified in his first comment below, which was in Part 2 of First and Foremost (NAVA 3); a high resolution image was kindly provided to me by Angelo Romano. You can order a copy of this excellent monograph here:
http://www.aeroslides.com/modelpublishing/book-store.html
Note that the tank under the left wing appears to have a shorter cylindrical section and flange than the Sargent Fletcher tank; it is likely that this is the relatively rarely photographed Royal Jet tank. (The one under the right wing is the tank that was furnished by McAir.)
Okay, so it was Jeffrey that mentioned it, then, not Larry, lol. (I guessed the wrong guy)
ReplyDeleteWhile gathering info on this third tank, it would also be of help to know which pylon it was mounted with,,,,the early McD tank/weapons pylon, or the later Sgt Fletcher tank only pylon.
Looks like it is time to start squinting at old Phantom photos again, to see if this tank appears, but was dismissed as we all looked at them, I know I just looked at the flange location and moved along, maybe bypassing these Royal Jets in the process.
okay, I thought I had found a couple of photos from the right side, but, without that flange to verify it, it could just have been my perspective (or wishful thinking)
ReplyDeletehowever, I did find two photos in a publication that Phantom fans might have in their libraries, in Squadron's USMC Phantoms in Combat (1990), on page 16, top photo, there is a left side view of the "low flange, aero shaped" tank on a VMFA-542 F-4B at Da Nang,,,,,,,and on page 49, middle photo, there is a 3/4 front left view of that tank on VMFA-513 F-4B at Cherry Point, so, I have changed my notes for both photos from Sgt Fletcher to Royal Jet (and add one of those aircraft to my "to build" list)
Rex,
DeleteThanks for looking. I don't happen to have that publication. I've glanced through a lot of my stuff but haven't seen it yet, probably because I focus on U.S. Navy and its Phantoms tended not to carry the 370-gallon tanks.
here is a USN bird with Royal Jet outer tanks, Double Ugly Volume 3 USN, page 31, middle photo, port side view, VF-33 F-4B in July 1966
DeleteThere is another pic of a VF-32 F-4B carrying a Royal Jet tank on the left wing and a McDonnell tank on the right wing dropping a AQM-37A drone in December 1970. The pic can be found on the top of page 112 in Model Publishing´s "First and Foremost - An illustrated History of Carrier Air Wing One" by D. Olson and A. Romano.
ReplyDeleteI just added a crop of that picture that shows the shorter cylindrical section of that tank. Thanks for pointing it out.
DeleteNew pic found: Ginter Books No. 301 "Black Knights Rule!" On page 40 the upper picture shows a nice fourship Formation of VF-154 F-4Js taken on 1 Jan 1970. Of the 4 planes 2 (#211 and #212) or maybe even 3 (#215) carry the elusive Royal Jet wing tank.
ReplyDeleteI can't tell on #215; #206 appears to have a Sargent Fletcher tank under the left wing, providing a comparison with the slightly different Royal Jet configuration. Thanks for bringing the picture to our attention. (For my review of "Black Knights Rule", see http://thanlont.blogspot.com/2014/05/black-knights-rule.html)
DeleteJust found another 2 pics with the Royal Jet 370gal wing tank in Airdocs "Pictorial USMC Phantoms" by Pat Martin. On the bottom of page 53 there is a VMFA-334 F-4J with that tank. Pic taken in July 1967 at the MCAS El Toro open house. And on the bottom of page 72 there is a pic of a RF-4B of VMCJ-3 which cries the RJ wing tank. Sadly no date or location for the pic is given.
Delete