Subject: New Fighter Series--McDonnell F-4 Phantom (31 of 50)

From: [email-masked]
Date: 16 Jun 94 02:24:03 GMT

>From [email-masked]

The F-4(HL) was a 1966 McDonnell proposal to the Royal Navy for a 
version of the F-4M with enhanced performance.  

The goal of the F-4(HL) project was to obtain a better catapult 
performance and a lower carrier approach speed than that of the F-4M 
which was at that time about to enter production for the Royal Navy.  
The F-4(HL) was to have been powered by a pair of 20,514 lb.s.t.  with 
afterburner Rolls-Royce RB-168-27R turbofans.  It was to have had a 
14-inch longer fuselage and was to have been equipped with wings with 
longer span (43 feet 5 1/2 inches, as compared to 38 feet 4 7/8 inches 
for the F-4M) and slightly less sweep (40 degrees as opposed to 45 
degrees for the F-4M).  The characteristic leading edge dogtooth of 
the F-4M was to be eliminated.  The stabilators were to have had 
increased area as well.  The air intakes were to be provided with 
auxiliary blow-in doors on the sides to improve the airflow to the 
engines at low forward airspeeds.  

Assuming a project go-ahead in the late summer of 1966, a first flight 
of the F-4(HL) could have taken place in early 1968.  In the event, 
the Royal Navy did not order the F-4(HL), and the project was 
abandoned before anything could leave the drawing board.  

Source:

  McDonnell F-4 Phantom: Spirit in the Skies.  Airtime Publishing, 1992.

Joe Baugher				AT&T Bell Laboratories
1000 E. Warrenville Road		Naperville, Illinois 60566-7013