But, other than being smokey in below-afterburner settings (they pretty much fixed that toward the end), the J-79 really was a good engine, particularly for when it was developed. It was a fuel hog though!
The Brit's with their RR engine got a few benefits, but got the slowest and most expensive Phantoms produced.
So...way back in the latter quarter of the last century, we lived in Corpus Christi. Our house was a couple of blocks from the bayfront, literally one block from the south edge of town, and about 1.5 miles north of NAS Corpus. The main approach path to base was down the bayfront, so all those lovely planes flew right in front of our house every day.
My 17th birthday happened to coincide with the airshow on NASCC that year, and I was out there from the moment they let us in the gates. There were TWO Phantoms at the show, a Navy F-4J and an Air Force F-4E, parked next to each other. Heaven!
The pilot of the F-4E was Navy, on exchange duty with the USAF. My buddy told him that we were both high school Navy ROTC pukes, and determined to become Marines (which I did a little over a year later) and that it was my birthday, so the pilot said "Happy Birthday, do you want to get in the plane?" Well, yes!
So he opened the cockpit, I climbed into the seat, and he sat on the edge showing me how
everything worked, the engine start procedure from beginning to end, etc. Spent over 45 minutes sitting there talking about that plane. My buddy got to sit on the intake during this.
When we were done, I was eventually coaxed out of the cockpit, and climbed down. Other folks wanted to climb in, but the pilot told them "Sorry folks, Devil Pups only today", and closed the canopy. As far as I know, I was the only civilian allowed in the plane for that show, which made it even more special for me. One of the best birthday gifts I ever got.
I have bummed rides in a lot of different planes over the ensuing years, but never did get to fly in a Phantom.
The attached pictures aren't great, they are pictures of photos in my album. The pilot is the guy in the sunglasses and golf shirt, ahead of the wing under the formation light. Late 70's, most everyone had shaggy hair! I owe him a big debt of gratitude for spending so much time talking to some kid, that was really kind of him. I try to remember that when kids visit the vehicles at shows.
I chuckled at the sight of that skinny kid climbing down the side, wish I was a little closer to that slender now.
Cheers
. 
. 
. 
. 
