McDonnell FH Phantom – Fotografije & Video

V McDonnell FH Fantom je bil dvomotorno letalo za letalo, ki je bilo načrtovano in prvič letelo med 2. svetovno vojno za mornarico ZDA. Fantom je bil prvo čisto letalo, ki je pristalo na ameriškem letalonosilcu in prvo letalo, ki ga je napotil ameriški marinski korpus. Čeprav je bilo ob koncu vojne zgrajenih le 62 FH-1, je to pomagalo dokazati sposobnost preživetja letalskih borcev na nosilcih. Kot McDonnellov prvi uspešen borec, ki je vodil do razvoja nadaljnjega F2H Bansheeja, ki je bil eden izmed dveh najpomembnejših mornariških lovcev korejske vojne, bi tudi mcDonnella vzpostavil kot pomembnega dobavitelja mornariških letal. Ko se je McDonnell odločil, da bo ime vrnil z Mach 2 razredom McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, je lansiral tisto, kar bo postalo najbolj vsestransko in široko uporabljano zahodno bojno letalo vietnamske vojne, ki sta ga sprejela USAF in ameriška mornarica.

Vir: McDonnell FH Phantom na Wikipediji

The McDonnell FH Phantom was a twinjet fighter aircraft designed and first flown during World War II for the United States Navy. It was the first jet-powered aircraft to operate from an American aircraft carrier, and the first jet fighter to serve with both the US Navy and the US Marine Corps. The Phantom was a remarkable technological achievement, demonstrating the feasibility and potential of naval jet aviation.
The Phantom had two Westinghouse turbojet engines mounted in the wing roots, which gave it a sleek and streamlined appearance. The cockpit had a bubble canopy that offered excellent visibility for the pilot. The nose housed four 12.7 mm machine guns, and the wings could carry eight rockets or a drop tank. The Phantom had tricycle landing gear, which raised the tail and prevented the hot exhaust from damaging the carrier deck.
The Phantom made its first flight on January 26, 1945, with only one engine installed. The second engine was added soon after, and the first prototype performed its first carrier landing and takeoff on July 21, 1946, aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Navy ordered 100 production aircraft, but reduced the number to 60 after the end of the war. The first production Phantom flew in October 1946, and entered service in July 1947. The VF-17 squadron was the first to operate the Phantom from a carrier, aboard the USS Saipan in May 1948.
The Phantom was soon surpassed by more advanced jet fighters, such as the McDonnell F2H Banshee and the Grumman F9F Panther. It was retired from active service in 1954, after only seven years of operation. However, it paved the way for future generations of naval jet fighters, and established McDonnell as a leading manufacturer of navy aircraft. The Phantom’s name was revived by McDonnell for its famous F-4 Phantom II, which became one of the most successful and versatile combat aircraft of all time.