‘A guy who received his wings at the same time as I did was in the F-4 training squadron with me. Being new to the aircraft, and especially one with an afterburner, he did a very dumb and costly thing.’ John Chesire, former US Navy F-4 Phantom II pilot
As a more powerful successor to the General Electric J47 turbojet, the General Electric J79 turbojet’s development started in 1952. With the afterburner running, the engine produced a maximum thrust of 17,000 pounds (-15 version).
At full dry power, fuel consumption was about 35–40 gallons per minute; the afterburner increased it by roughly 50.
The Convair B-58 Hustler, the first US bomber with a Mach 2 top speed, was powered by this engine. Several fighters developed during the late 1950s also employed the J79. The Lockheed F-104 and McDonnell Douglas F-4 are the two most well-known models, both of which could travel at Mach 2.
The J79 engine allowed the twinjet, all-weather Phantom II, with top speeds above the speed of sound, to become one of the most versatile fighters ever created.
John Chesire, former US Navy F-4 Phantom II pilot, recalls on Quora;
‘A guy who received his wings at the same time as I did was in the F-4 training squadron with me. Being new to the aircraft, and especially one with an afterburner, he did a very dumb and costly thing.
‘During some Air Combat Maneuvering (ACM) training off the coast of San Diego, he failed to monitor his fuel quantity. Being in afterburner too long, and burning fuel rapidly by massive bucket loads, he ran out of fuel, flamed out, and had to eject over water.
‘He was grounded for awhile as his record was reviewed. Eventually, he was reinstated into flight status again.’
Chesire concludes;
‘His was a good lesson for the rest of us. I watched my fuel quantity while using afterburner thereafter, like a hawk.’
Photo by U.S. Navy
