dtmdragon

F-4E-41 Phantom II (69) RNZAF - Initial delivery batch of 11 Block 41 F-4E Phantom delivered in 1969 (first batch of a five year 16 aircraft order.) - Serial # NZ6201 to NZ6211. - Standard SEA camouflage and USAF stencils of the day. - Fitted "for but not with ECM" so RWR antenna, wiring and cockpit displays fitted but no computer to make it function. - Weapons procured includes Mk-80 series slick/ retarded bombs, AIM-9E, AIM-7E, LAU-10/A, and LAU-3/A First flight off the St. Louis assembly line. Early RNZAF Fern Leaf roundels - not popular! F-4E-41 Phantom II (72) RNZAF - Above aircraft after MIDAS4 gun muzzle modification in 1972 and instillation of low-voltage formation lights. - Decision for follow up purchase of RWR equipment deferred permanently so cockpit RWR displays removed. F-4E-41 Phantom II (74) RNZAF - Above aircraft with maneuvering slats fitted in 1974 via kit-sets procured with the second batch of Phantoms (Block 60) delivered below. F-4E-60 Phantom II (74) RNZAF - Second and final batch of 5 Block 60 F-4E Phantoms delivered in 1974. - Serial # NZ6212 to NZ6216. - Standard SEA camouflage and USAF stencils of the day (slightly different to the Block 41 aircraft as five years newer). - Fitted "for but not with ECM" so RWR antenna and wiring fitted but no computer to make it function. Cockpit RWR displays removed in RNZAF service. 1979ish, lower 'Camouflage Grey' color replaced with 'Light Gull Grey' as used on the RNZAF's P-3 Orion (this was done in real life on the RNZAF A-4K Skyhawks). 1984, F-4E fleet repainted in Euro 1 which better suits the New Zealand environment. F-4E-ARN Phantom II (84) RNZAF - 6 attrition replacements purchased and delivered in 1984 from current USAF F-4E fleet in preparation for RNZAF F-4E fleet avionics/ capability upgrade. - Serial # NZ6251 to NZ6256. - Standard SEA wraparound camouflage and USAF stencils of the day. - Full current USAF F-4E fleet RWR/ countermeasure (flare/ chaff) capability. - Aircraft equipped with TISEO and AN/ARN-101 Digital Avionics Modular System (ARN-101 provides for a CCIP bombing mode). F-4E-41/60 'Kahu' Phantom II (88) RNZAF - Comprehensive $140 million upgrade program: project 'Kahu'. First upgraded aircraft operational in 1988. - AN/APG-66(NZ) multi-mode radar. - Modernized cockpit with glass displays, HOTAS and a Ferranti wide-angle HUD. - ALR-66 RWR - ALE-40 countermeasure dispensers. - MIL-STD 1553B databus - Litton Industries LN-93 inertial navigation system. - Airframe and engines completely stripped down and given a life extension. - Aircraft wiring replaced. - Engine smoke abatement system. - Modern weapons procured include GBU-10 LGB kits, AIM-9L, AIM-7M, CRV-7, AGM-65B/G. - F-15 600 gallon HPC tanks as on USAF Phantoms. 1997 onwards all green camouflage. 2004, All RNZAF aircraft repainted 'Medium Grey'. Previous 'urgent operational requirement' program adds targeting pod (Litening), GPS navigation, GBU-12 and JDAM capability for OEF deployment. Background (all factual): In mid 1964 Operational Requirement No. 5/Air called for a tactical combat aircraft to replace the Canberra. Specifically a long range aircraft with the primary role of counter-air/interdiction and secondary roles of close air support and air defense. In June 1965 The Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) Morrison was quoted as wanting 18 F-111 aircraft for the RNZAF at a cost of £1.5 million per aircraft. The public and media supported the idea but the Chief of Defense Staff (who was a Naval Officer) and the acting Prime Minister publicly opposed the purchase. In August 1965 the Chiefs of Staff Committee rejected the idea of acquiring long-range interdiction aircraft and in September agreed that close air support should be the primary role of the new combat aircraft. In December came Air Staff Requirement No. 12 with the following requirements of the new combat aircraft: - Ability to provide effective air support to ground forces. - Highly reliable and robust - Self defense capability to evade or counter supersonic interceptors and surface-to-air missiles. - Long range. - Ability to operate closely with American and Australian forces. By May 1966 the RNZAF had finished evaluating six candidate aircraft: - F-4C Phantom II - A-7A Corsair II - Mirage IIIO - F-5A Freedom Fighter - F-104G Starfighter - A-4E Skyhawk In August 1966 the RNZAF officially asked the government to purchase 16 F-4 Phantoms at a total cost of £19 million. Now remember AVM Morrison making it known he wanted the F-111? He would later go on to admit he never wanted the F-111 he had wanted the F-4 all along but given the cost of the F-4 he wanted to make it look more attractive (cost wise) by putting it next to the F-111. The minister of Defense then announced the final stage of the evaluation had been reached and a decision was a few weeks away. The purchase of the F-4 seemed to be all but done... BUT the Treasury department now intervened and recommended purchasing the F-5! The RNZAF High Command was furious! But ultimately powerless to halt the path to purchasing the A-4 Skyhwak that had just begun. Over the next year the RNZAF, Cabinet Defense Committee, Treasury, the Finance Minister and the Chief of Defense wrangled over purchasing the F-4 or an alternative (F-5 or A-4). Then at the end of 1967 the New Zealand Currency was devalued and a squadron of F-4 Phantoms was now instantly out of New Zealand’s price range. It was either 11 Phantoms or 16 Skyhawks. So the Skyhawk it was. So if the Treasury Department hadn't intervened in the procurement process towards the end of 1966 it seems entirely likely that New Zealand would have placed and order for the F-4 Phantom II at the end of that year. Or once the NZ dollar devalued in 1967 the option of an initial 11 F-4E order followed by another 5 in 5 years was considered, which I have gone for here.

Ok will do

Just noticed alternative cockpit lod is missing from the new upload

During Bay of Pigs VA-34 A-4B Skyhaks from the USS Essex flew a CAP/ escort mission with the intention of protecting the Rebal A-26 Invaders but due to a timing cock up were an hour late and missed engaging the Cuban T-33A fighters. They also flew multiple reconnaissance flights over the invasion beach throughout the incident. Due to President Kennedy insisting that there be no proof of US involvement the Skyhawks had their USN markings painted over. This was one of the first VSF Skyhawk detachments and the A-4B could not carry the AIM-9 at this point so Skyhawks operating over Cuba just had two wing drop tanks plus thier 20mm cannons.

Yes its in the campaign, its already there as apart of OTS mod

13th TFS Black Panthers (loving what a 'fresh' set of camouflaged skins and detail decals can do for these old F-4C & D birds)

Wild Weasel IV, Vietnam 1972

Yes! Second that!

Does anyone have any detailed info on the specific modifications to the F-4E that would have been done to make the German AF F-4E(F) had they stuck to the original order? As we already know it would have weighed less and had the 2nd crew member removed but how exactly would it have been done? Would the rear canopy have had a fairing built over it or simply had the ejection seat and controls removed? How much less would it have weighed etc?

USS Pueblo incident, Korea, January 1968 12th TFS Foxy Few: 4537 FWS (Fighter Weapons Squadron): 356th TFS Green Demons: 334th TFS Eagles: 335th TFS Chiefs: 336th TFS Rocketeers: 318th FIS Green Dragons: VF-191 Satan's Kittens, USS Ticonderoga:

ShaKhrai's Su-27 Ukrainian pixel skin 1.0 cleaned up a little and put through a details template with panel lines and Ukrainian warning markings etc

D's and C's....

Looks good mate!

2.3: - New AGM-78D model (thanks ravenclaw_007!!!) Data/ loadout/ campaign ini adjusted accordingly. * (Kurnass 78 & 2000 will now use AGM-78D but AGM-78D Egrof Sagol is still included for use by Israeli F-16D as it is a rail launched version. The standard AGM-78D will drop and then fire but still use the ARM rail correctly on the Kurnass 78 & 2000 - Texture corrections for F-4E Kurnass 78 & F-4E Kurnass 2000 drop tanks.

2.3: - New AGM-78D model (thanks ravenclaw_007!!!) Data/ loadout/ campaign ini adjusted accordingly. * (Kurnass 78 & 2000 will now use AGM-78D but AGM-78D Egrof Sagol is still included for use by Israeli F-16D as it is a rail launched version. The standard AGM-78D will drop and then fire but still use the ARM rail correctly on the Kurnass 78 & 2000 - Texture corrections for F-4E Kurnass 78 & F-4E Kurnass 2000 drop tanks.

IAI PW1120 powered Super Phantom

Israeli Weasels 1982

2.2: - Minor data/loadout.ini corrections. - Minor texture corrections. - Minor weapon corrections. - Optional white texture for the Python 3 missile, as this was how the early models used in the 1982 Lebanon War were painted.

2.2: - Minor data/loadout.ini corrections. - Minor texture corrections. - Minor weapon corrections. - Optional white texture for the Python 3 missile, as this was how the early models used in the 1982 Lebanon War were painted.

From ODS