F-4E HPC center tank

[+ravenclaw_007 7,293]

does sombody know what year exactly the USAF F-4E´s changed from the old center tank to the F-15 type HPC center tank ????

 

i can not find any specific date but i found some pictures from 1978 showing F-4E´s with HPC center tank , the german air force F-4F changed in 1980 from the old to the HPC center tank

Edited December 4, 2012 by ravenclaw_007

[dast24 138]

Maybe this will help:

http://s362974870.on...howtopic=254217

 

no exact date

the estimations reached from early 80´s to 85´s

 

maybe the transfer to fit the tank to all in service F-4E´s took some time.

 

From an F-4 Pilot:

"We had them at Ramstein starting from around 1985"

Edited December 4, 2012 by dast24

[+ravenclaw_007 7,293]

Thanks , in this case the F-4E_78 will be made with the old center tank

[Spinners 15,968]

I thought it coincided with the entry into service of the F-4G.

[Svetlin 480]

The F-15A entered service in 1976, the tank was apparently developed with the F-15 in mind, so it probably entered service together with the F-15, therefore it makes sense to me to consider a starting date between 1976 and 1978.

[+ravenclaw_007 7,293]

I thought it coincided with the entry into service of the F-4G.

 

yap , that is correct an i have pictures from 1978 showing F-4E´s with that tank but i can not verify that this pictures are reale taken in 1978 so i´m looking for somebody who realy knows

 

and i find it a bit funny that the german air force dit start to use the tank in 1980 but the USAF in 1983 to 1985

 

but for now the F-4E_78 still uses the old tank antil i get the proof that in 1978 realy some of this F-4E´s did fly with the HPC tank

[Blade 291]

yap , that is correct an i have pictures from 1978 showing F-4E´s with that tank but i can not verify that this pictures are reale taken in 1978 so i´m looking for somebody who realy knows

 

Could you link or upload these photos?

 

I also think that the HPC tank was first used on the F-4G. I also remember reading somewhere that initially they were retained for the weasels only.

The earliest picture I could find showing an F-4E with an HPC tank was taken in '84. I also found pix depicting Ramstein-based Phantoms still with the old tank taken sometime in '85.

The earliest pictures I could find showing Luftwaffe F-4Fs and RF-4Es with HPC tanks were taken in '83.

 

(Of course it is possible that the tank was introduced earlier, but for me the best proof is dated photos.)

[+Soulfreak 6,351]

http://www.5053phantoms.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=23

http://www.5053phantoms.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=26

maybe in these albums you find some dated photos Volker...