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From: Miloch <Miloch_member@newsguy.com>
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Subject: McDonnell FH Phantom (the original Phantom I)
Date: 8 Oct 2016 08:47:17 -0700
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_FH_Phantom
The McDonnell FH Phantom was a twin-engined jet fighter aircraft designed and
first flown during World War II for the United States Navy. The Phantom was the
first purely jet-powered aircraft to land on an American aircraft carrier and
the first jet deployed by the United States Marine Corps. Although with the end
of the war, only 62 FH-1s were built, it helped prove the viability of
carrier-based jet fighters. As McDonnell's first successful fighter, leading to
the development of the follow-on F2H Banshee, which was one of the two most
important naval jet fighters of the Korean War, it would also establish
McDonnell as an important supplier of Navy aircraft. When McDonnell chose to
launched what would become the most versatile and widely used western combat
aircraft of the Vietnam War era, adopted by the USAF and the US Navy.
Halfway through the production run, the Navy reassigned the designation letter
"D" back to Douglas, with the Phantom being redesignated FH-1. Including the two
prototypes, a total of 62 Phantoms were finally produced, with the last FH-1
rolling off the assembly line in May 1948.
Realizing that the production of more powerful jet engines was imminent,
McDonnell engineers proposed a more powerful variant of the Phantom while the
the design of the Phantom's replacement, the F2H Banshee. Although the new
aircraft was originally envisioned as a modified Phantom, the need for heavier
armament, greater internal fuel capacity, and other improvements eventually led
to a substantially heavier and bulkier aircraft that shared few parts with its
agile predecessor. Despite this, the two aircraft were similar enough that
McDonnell was able to complete its first F2H-1 in August 1948, a mere three
months after the last FH-1 had rolled off the assembly line.
Role
Carrier-based fighter aircraft
Manufacturer
McDonnell Aircraft
First flight
26 January 1945
Introduction
August 1947
Retired
1949 USN, USMC
July 1954[1] USNR
Primary users
United States Navy
United States Marine Corps
Number built
62
Developed into
McDonnell F2H Banshee
The first Phantoms were delivered to USN fighter squadron VF-17A (later
redesignated VF-171) in August 1947; the squadron received a full complement of
24 aircraft on 29 May 1948.[citation needed] Beginning in November 1947,
Phantoms were delivered to United States Marine Corps squadron VMF-122, making
it the first USMC combat squadron to deploy jets. VF-17A became the USN's first
fully operational jet carrier squadron when it deployed aboard USS Saipan on 5
May 1948.
The Phantom's service as a frontline fighter would be short-lived. Its limited
suited for duty as a point-defence interceptor aircraft. However, its speed and
rate of climb were only slightly better than existing propeller-powered fighters
and fell short of other contemporary jets, such as the Lockheed P-80 Shooting
Star, prompting concerns that the Phantom would be outmatched by future enemy
jets it might soon face. Moreover, recent experience in World War II had
demonstrated the value of naval fighters that could double as fighter-bombers, a
capability the Phantom lacked. Finally, the aircraft exhibited some design
newly developed ejection seats,[1] and the location of the machine guns in the
upper nose caused pilots to be dazzled by muzzle flash.
The F2H Banshee and Grumman F9F Panther, both of which began flight tests around
the time of the Phantom's entry into service, better satisfied the Navy's desire
for a versatile, long-range, high-performance jet. Consequently, the FH-1 saw
little weapons training, and was primarily used for carrier qualifications to
transition pilots from propeller-powered fighters to jets in preparation for
flying the Panther or Banshee.
Specifications (FH-1 Phantom)
General characteristics
Crew: One
Length: 37 ft 3 in (11.35 m)
Wingspan: 40 ft 9 in; 16 ft 3 in with folded wings[8] (12.42 m / 4.95 m)
Height: 14 ft 2 in (4.32 m)
Wing area: 276 sq ft (25.6 m2)
Empty weight: 6,683 lb (3,031 kg)
Loaded weight: 10,035 lb (4,552 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 12,035 lb (5,459 kg)
Fuel capacity: 375 gal (1,420 l) internal, 670 gal (2,540 l) with external drop
tank
Performance
Maximum speed: 417 knots (479 mph, 771 km/h) at sea level
Cruise speed: 216 knots (248 mph, 399 km/h)
Range: 604 nmi (695 mi, 1,120 km)
Ferry range: 852 nmi (980 mi, 1,580 km) with external drop tank
Service ceiling: 41,100 ft (12,525 m)
Rate of climb: 4,230 ft/min (21.5 m/s)
Thrust/weight: 0.32
Armament
*
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