The USAF tested the Navy F-4B in 1961 to see if it could serve as
its main tactical fighter aircraft and decided to approve of a USAF
version that was designated F-4C. The first F-4C prototype flew in May
1963 and production deliveries began in November 1963. The aircraft was
modified with larger tyres as compared to its Navy counterpart and
the rear cockpit was reconfigured so that the rear-seat crewman could
also fly the plane. Tailhook, radome and hydraulic folding wings were
retained. It used two J79-GE-15 engines and had a RAM air turbine. The
radar set consisted of a AN/APQ-100 radar and there was a AN/APA-157
intercept computer. The production stopped in 1966 when 583 F-4Cs were
built.
Bob Dwyer's web site shows very nice and detailed images of an F-4C instrument
panel. Another restored F-4C instrument panel is shown on Dale's
aircraft instrument panel pages.
The images below show typical F-4C Phantom II cockpit layouts and
instrument panels. Click on the images to view larger versions.
 F-4C Phantom II front cockpit layout and instrument panel. |
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 F-4C Phantom II rear cockpit layout and instrument panel. |
Streak Eagle has designed very nice high resolution F-4C, D and E cockpits, that are partly based on the images shown below. If you are looking for a high resolution F-4 Phantom cockpits for your flight simulator, check out his versions at CombatACE F-4C Hi-res Cockpit, CombatACE F-4D Hi-res Cockpit, and CombatACE F-4E Hi-res Cockpit. These cockpits are also available on AVSIM.
Dave has completed restoration of the F-4C panel below and is now working on restoring a complete F-4D nose section. His progress is shown below in the F-4D section.
In Switzerland, Renzo Delnon has turned his home in Villars-sur-Glâne into an aviation museum that is open to visitors after making an appointment. He can be contacted through the Villars-sur-Glâne web site (in French, with telephone number and e-mail address). A newspaper article about his museum was published in La Liberté Journal (in French).
Renzo is working on the restoration of a beautiful F-4C cockpit section, which includes part of the windshield, the upper fuselage as well as the rudder pedals. Images of his project are shown below. He is presently wiring the instruments to get all systems lighted.
After gaining experience with the F-4C, the USAF decided upon
modifications to the aircraft to enhance its air-to-ground capabilities
without major structural modifications. These changes included a
AN/APQ-109 radar set and in some cases an AN/APA-165 intercept computer,
a different optical sight (AN/ASG-22) and an AN/ASQ-91 weapons release
computer was added. The F-4D became involved in combat operations in
Southeast Asia in May 1967. The USAF relegated most of the F-4Cs to a ground
attack role, while the F-4Ds were used for air-to-air interception
duties. Its weapons included the usual AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9
Sidewinder missiles, but the F-4D could also launch the unsuccessful
Falcon missiles. Both F-4C and F-4D did not have a canon. For more
information about the F-4D please visit Joe Baughers
F-4D web site.
The front and rear cockpit layouts of a typical F-4D Phantom are
shown below, whereas images of an F-4D front
instument panel and an F-4D rear
instrument panel can be viewed on the TopFlight
Imaging web site of Henry Busch, as well as information on scale
modelling, scale trains and a Martin Baker MKH7 ejection seat from the
USAF.
 F-4D front cockpit instrument panel layout. |
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 F-4D rear cockpit layout. |
The system integration of the F-4D consists of the following avionics systems:
These systems are all inter-related and functioning together. (Source: McDonnell Product Support Division (1967). F-4D Aircraft TDDR-50 series trouble shooting manual, Vol. V).
Several F-4D Phantoms were equipped with a time-frequency Eliminate Range-zero (EROS) Collision Avoidance System (CAS), developped by McDonnell, which consisted of a CAS pod (installed in the left inboard forward missile cavity), an antenna and door assembly installed on top of the fuselage just behind the aft canopy (door 35) and an EROS indicator and control box in the main pilot's panel left of the HSI (see below). The system becomes active when another aircraft approaches within 25 seconds or to a distance of half a mile and then suggests changes of altitude to both aircraft carrying this system.
After successfully completing restoration of several instrument panels, Andy from Canada has embarked on a new project, i.e. restoring an early F-4D panel. There was some confusion if this was an F-4C or F-4D panel, which was solved by Bob Dwyer, who is an ex-pilot with a lot of hours in F-4 Phantoms and displays F-4 instrument panels panels at www.topflightimaging.com. The restored panel is shown below. Andy still needs the TAKE-OFF CHECK placard to complete his panel. Click here to see a more elaborate request including a picture of the edge-lit placard. Please contact me if you have one of these available...
Andy's earlier projects were a beautiful F-101B Voodoo front
cockpit instrument panel and an AVRO CF-100 Canuck instrument panel (see
below). These projects took him several years to complete.
Dave Garbe in the USA is restoring an USAF F-4D Phantom
cockpit-nose section (tail no. 65-0720) for static display. He is
looking for instruments, ejection seat, other parts and especially
technical manuals or references to complete his restoration (see images
below for missing instruments). If you have any available, please
contact me at aviation@watergeek.eu.
More information about Dave Garbe's project can be found here.
Also in the USA, Jeff is close to complete restoration of his F-4D main instrument panel. He is still looking for an original USAF threat display indicator unit, which are always difficult to find. The image below show the panel as it is now.
The first production F-4Es flew in 1967. The aircraft was powered
by two General Electric J79-GE-17 high-trust, axial flow turbojet
engines equipped with afterburner. Leading-edge flaps were replaced by
two-position slats to improve stability at low airspeeds and armor
plating was installed in later versions of the aircraft to protect the
oxygen bay, hydraulic/engine fuel feed compartment and stabilator
actuator. This aircraft also included a 20 mm internal nose-mounted
cannon and retained the semi-recessed AIM-7 Sparrow missiles and
external stores stations.
The modified radar set and intercept computer (AN/APQ-120) also
required a new design for the nose of the aircraft, making the nose
longer than that of the F-4D and F-4C. A seventh fuel cell was also
installed and the RAM air turbine removed. The length was increased from
58 feet 3" for the F-4C and F-4D to 63 feet for the F-4E. For more
information about the F-4E please visit Joe Baugher's
F-4E web site. Several cockpit layouts for the F-4E front and rear
cockpits are shown below.
 F-4E front cockpit instrument panel layout before MSOG and slats. |
 F-4E rear cockpit layout after Maverick, TSEO and slats |
 Japanese RF-4E(JA) front cockpit arrangement (source: McDonnell Douglas Product Support Division, 1974. (JA) RF-4E Aircraft TDDR-50 Series Troubleshooting Manual, Vol. 1-2. TDDR-50RE(JA), supplement to TDDR-50RE). |
 Japanese RF-4E(JA) aft cockpit arrangement (source: McDonnell Douglas Product Support Division, 1974. (JA) RF-4E Aircraft TDDR-50 Series Troubleshooting Manual, Vol. 1-2. TDDR-50RE(JA), supplement to TDDR-50RE). |
Joe from St. Louis or Bethalto, Illinois, has beautifully restored an F-4E Phantom cockpit section. This section has been mounted on a mobile platform and it is possible to have this F-4E Phantom cockpit on display for birthday parties, corporate events, school activities or otherwise. Joe's web site is www.littlepilots.com and you can contact him at littlepilots@charter.net.
Flight instruments particular to the F-4C, F-4D and F-4E aircraft
are shown below. Please visit my F-4B/N
(main panel) and F-4J/S Phantom II (rear
panel) pages to view instruments common to most F-4 aircraft. Electrical
connections for lighting the instruments are also given on these pages.
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ARU-11/A Artificial Director Indicator, made by Lear
Siegler. |
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Horizontal Situation Indicator ID-1411, made by Collins. |
 The ID-1090/APN-155 radar altimeter made by the
Radio Corporation of America. Located on the main pilot's instrument
panel. The set is a pulsed range-tracking radar, that provides the
pilot with accurate terrain clearance information from 0 to 5000
feet. The set consists of two identical antennas, a receiver -
transmitter unit, an R-F switching unit and this indicator. The
receiving antenna is on the lower left front fuselage near the
left-inboard leading-edge flap, whereas the transmitting antenna is
on the corresponding spot on the starboard side. The radar altimeter
functions up to 30° bank angles and 50° pitch angles. A low
altitude warning light is mounted. Displayed in USAF F-4D and F-4E
flight manuals. Pinouts are (source TDDR-50D F-4D trouble shooting
manual vol. 5): A= 115 V AC to receiver/transmitter, B= 115 V AC
input from Aircraft supply, C= GND, D= self test signal to coax
switches, E= +20 V DC reference, F= indicator drive signal to
indicator counter in receiver/transmitter, G= indicator drive signal
return, J= flag signal from search generator in receiver/transmitter,
K= +28 V DC from aircraft supply, L= 0-5 V AC input from aircraft
lighting bus, N= lighting GND, P= GND, R= +20 V DC from
receiver/transmitter, S= error signal from indicator counter in
receiver/transmitter, U= +28V DC to receiver/transmitter. |
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Pioneer - Bendix Corp. airspeed and mach number indicator. |
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C-8160/A Flight director mode selector, made by Collins
Radio Corp. |
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C-10311/A Control, mode selector panel. Later version used in USAF F-4D and F-4E aircraft. Lights with pin A to ground and pin D to 0-5V AC. |
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Camera control panel from an RF-4C aircraft. Located on main pilot's instrument panel. |
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Flight instrument lights
brightness control panel on an RF-4C instrument panel. |
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ARU-13/A remote attitude indicator, made by Lear Siegler. |
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ARU-3A 4-minute turn and slip indicator as located on the
RIO's instrument panel. Integrally lighted (5 V) and operating on 28
V DC. |
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At least two different ARK-10A/A24G-8 angle of attack
indicators with different pinouts were used on the F-4C/D/E. Both
were made by Specialties Inc. (MFR code 10639). More information
provided on my F-4B/N page. I have a spare AOA indicator available. |
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Abrams Instrument Corp. (Lansing, MI) timer fire control bombing, dual. Used in the RF-4C - F-4E rear cockpits. Consists of a 115V 400 Hz motor, reduction gearing, a 28V DC clutch solenoid arrangment initiating the timers, two cam followers and and snap action switches that direct the 28V DC to the timer signal outputs T1 and T2. Pin connections: A= GND, B= 115 V 400 Hz, E= 28 VDC, G= T1 signal, J= GND, K= initiate 28V DC, L= T2 signal and M= 14/28 V AC lighting. Source TO 1F-4C-2-18. |
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AVK-14/A24G-8 True airspeed indicator made by Airesearch. |
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ID-1126/ASN-46 Ground speed indicator manufactured by Bendix Corp., Detroit, Michigan. Located in the F-4C aft cockpit instrument panel. On some early F-4D aircraft this indicator was also found next to the fuel gauge on the main pilot's instrument panel. |
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Rounds remaining counter mounted on the pedestal panel of the F-4E Phantom. Made by Veeder.Root, CW103103. Pin connections: A= +28 V DC, B= GND, C,D 14 V lighting. |
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ID-1311/ASQ Remote UHF Channel indicator, manufactured by Collins Radio Company (Cedar Rapids, Iowa). Pinouts are (TDDR-50 Series F-4D Trouble Shooting Manual, 1967): A,B,C,D,E,R,S = indicator control, F,H = motor rotation, G = Power GND, J = GND light, K = +5 V lighting, L = +28 V DC power, M,N,P = not connected. |
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ID2244/ARC-164(V) remote UHF channel indicator with LCD
display that was presumably used in the F-4 to replace the older
version shown above. This indicator was used with the controls radio
set C-10832/ARC-164(V) and C-11099/ARC-164(V). It has lighting at
pins j (ground) and k (0-5 V). |
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Landing checklist data plate on RF-4C, F-4C and F-4D panels.
Andy is looking for a set of take-off and landing data plates to
complete restoration of his F-4D panel. He would like to buy these or
can swap them against a pair of F-4B take-off (see below) and landing
data placards. Please check my Aviation
Sales and Trades web page for details and do contact me if you have
any available. |
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Take off and feed tank check
data placard used in the F-4D, and possibly other F-4 Phantom models. |
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RF-4C KY-28 Mode indicator lights panel. Indicator light
lenses are missing. These indicator lights are located on the center
glare shield. |
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Wheels indicator light as used
on the F-4C and F-4D main pilot's instrument panels. |
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These are the RADAR (green),
HEAT (green), GUN (green) and ARM (amber) indicator lights (last two
lenses missing) mounted next to the left side of the optical radar
sight in the F-4E. |
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Wheels indicator of the F-4E.
This indicator is mounted below the center glare shield on the port
side. |
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Velocity indicator lights of
the F-4E, reading 5, 10, 25 and 50 in green. These lights are mounted
below the center glare shield on the starboard side. |
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Angle of attack indexer light and SHOOT light. These were mounted at both sides of the radar scope HUD and used to get the right angle of attack during approach and to indicate when to shoot. |
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In addition to these gauges, indicator lights and switches, there are
the following control panels on the main panel (list not yet complete).
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AN/APR-36(V) Threat Display control
indicator unit produced by Applied Technology,
Division of Itek Corporation, USA. Used in
F-4D, F-4E and F-4F Phantom aircraft before TO
1F-4E-591. |
| The ID1902/APR-46V Threat Display control indicator was used instead of the APR-36V unit shown above after TO-1F-4E-591C (Source: TO 1F-4E-4-4 Technical Manual. Illustrated parts breakdown. USAF Series F-4E Aircraft. Volume IV: Instruments, electric, and electronic systems). | |
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Threat warning display panel produced by
A.E.L. Israel Ltd Electronics Industries in
1983. Used in Israeli Air Force F-4E Phantom
aircraft. |
 The lights in this unit read "selected" (green), "ready" (amber), "selected" (green), "ready" (amber), "sw/sw" (green), "selected" (green) and "ready" (amber). Lighting for the edge light panel: A ground, E +28 V AC |
USAF missile status panel from Master Specialties Co.
California, USA. Manufactured in September 1965. This panel is used
in Air Force F-4Es and some export models that came out after 1966.
It was retro-fitted into F-4C/D aircraft when Navy versions used
earlier (see below) needed replacement and was on production F-4E's
prior to the re-design of the front cockpit for air-to-air
optimization. |
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Typical RF-4C pedestal panel. |
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F-4D pedestal panel located below the main pilot's
instrument panel. Contains the master armament switch, weapon
selector switches, HOBO/Shrike band switch, bomb release mode switch,
Maverick arm switch, etc., as well as the hydraulic, pneumatic and
oil pressure indicators. The rheostat below is for setting instrument
light brightness. The rudder pedal adjust gear is missing. |
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F-4E (and F-4F) Regulator Oxygen Diluter-Demand Auromatic
Pressure Breathing control box. This one is made by Drägerwerk
(West Germany) under license from Bendix Corp. USA. |
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Right sub panel with warning lights. This panel is for an early F-4C aircraft. These were replaced later by the four-column panel with less wide light cubes as used in the Naval F-4B and later versions of the F-4. A few light cubes were different to reflect differences in Air Force and Navy equipment (thanks Bob for information). |
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F-4E External lights and utility panel. Has switches for
different lights (fuselage, wing and tail) and also a switch and
rheostat to regulate the intensity of the formation lights. |
 Navigation computer control box CP-723B/ASN-46.
Made by the Navigation and Control Division of the Bendix
corporation. This control box was used in the rear cockpit of the
F-4E and operated by the radar intercept officer. This unit is part
of the Inertial Navigation System. The RIO (Navigator) can dial in
the Latitude and Longitude of up to two different targets, TGT1 and
TGT2. After the first target is reached the switch is turned to the 2nd
target and the heading to the next target is instantly displayed. At
this point the RIO may dial in the co-ordinates of a third target and
momentarily turn the switch to reset. This method of target selection
is called leapfrogging. The Inertial Navigation System (the
Gyro Stabilized Platform of the INS System) also supplies signals to
the weapons release computer system and the radar unit (pers. comm.
Ron Stone). |
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C-4455/APQ-100 Radar antenna control stick used to control
the radar antenna direction by the RIO and housed in the rear
cockpit, left side panel. |
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F-4E radar voltage control monitor panel
used to control and monitor the voltage
supplied to the radar unit by the RIO. Housed
in the rear cockpit, center console. |
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Landing gear - flaps - slats indicator panel mounted in the rear cockpit of F-4E Phantoms, which were fitted with slats (Photo: Effy). |
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AN/ALE-40 Chaff and Flare control panel used in the F-4E
after the late 1970s. |
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F-4E rear cockpit electronic counter measures (ECM) control
panel |
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Lear Siegler ID-1942/A data display panel as mounted in the
rear cockpit of later versions of the F-4E Phantom. |
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Litton C-6481A/ASQ-91 radar cursor control panel, located on the right console in the rear cockpit. Used in F-4D and F-4E aircraft. |
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Nuclear store consent arming switch, located on the left console in the rear cockpit. Used in F-4D and F-4E aircraft. |
