July 12, 2006 at 6:38 am
This question is for anyone who has actual knowledge (not speculation) of Buccaneers and RN Phantoms… or has access to a REALLY good reference on these aircraft.
I have been trying for quite some time to find the following data:
Buccaneer:
1. Maximum allowable take-off weight from the “long” BS-4 catapult [44 meter?] used on the Victorious and Hermes (port catapult after 1966).
2. Minimum allowable Take-Off speed at maximum catapult TO weight (44 m BS-4).
FG.mk.1 Phantom:
1.a. Maximum allowable take-off weight from the “short” BS-5 catapult [45 m?] (bow catapult on Eagle & Ark Royal).
1.b. Minimum allowable Take-Off speed at maximum catapult TO weight (45 m BS-5).
2.a. Maximum allowable take-off weight from the “long” BS-5 catapult [60 m?](waist catapult on Eagle & Ark Royal).
2. b. Minimum allowable Take-Off speed at maximum catapult TO weight (60 m BS-5).
As these aircraft and ships are long out of service, there should be no classification problem in getting this data… unless, like here in the US, no publication anywhere has even a “general, non-specific” TO speed for any F-4 Phantom model (at least that I have been able to find).
I have only seen a “max. TO weight” number that does not reference land or sea, and makes no reference to which catapult models allow what weights.
Your help is thanked in advance, as well as is any ultimately futile effort anyone makes to find this data.
PS If you are just going to tell me which book to buy/hunt for that will (or might) have the info, don’t bother, as my access to UK bookstores and libraries with specialist books is non-existant. Please post the numbers if you have them.
“Answers are the easy part, questions raise the doubts.”
Jimmy Buffet: “Off to see the Lizard”
By: Bager1968 - 12th July 2006 at 19:22
Thanks for the link, I will do that.
Thanks for forwarding it… I appreciate it.
By: JetBlast - 12th July 2006 at 12:11
I have copied this post and sent it to the Fleet Air Arm Museum to see if they can come up with anything from their records, will let you know my findings.
By: Firebird - 12th July 2006 at 10:31
May be an idea to post this over on pprune as there is a number of ex-RN Bucc and F-4 aircrew post there, worth a go…??