Cockpit dimensions from a real F-4 Phantom

[Diesel_Thunder]

I had some requests from some sim pit builders who've commented on my Youtube channel, asking for dimensions and measurements on the F-4 Phantom that I get to help maintain. I have yet to find any dimensional drawings in our Tech Manual library, and I've not been able to source any documentation or drawings online. So this past Saturday I got out a tape measure and a notepad and just started measuring. The ejection seats have been taken out, giving me a better opportunity to get good measurements.

Below are measurements from the front cockpit, plus photos for those who want to extrapolate other measurements. The first post will be for the cockpit only. The second post will be measurements from a real Martin Baker Mk 7 ejection seat, U.S. Air Force version. If there is interest in the rear cockpit I will get those measurements too. If there are other measurements or photos that I could get, please ask below.

All measurements are in inches.

Canopy:

Canopy Bow width (inside arch) - 26 1/2"

Canopy Bow height - 18"

Canopy Rail length - 40"

Canopy Rail height to floor (forward edge) - 29 1/2"

Canopy Rail height to floor (aft edge) - 35"

 

Instrument Panel
Floor to bottom edge of instrument panel - 18"

Floor to top edge of glare shield - 39"

Aft wall to instrument panel - 43 1/2" (this varies as the aft wall is canted vertically to the rear)

Bottom edge of instrument panel to highest upper corner - 15 1/2"

Altimeter gauge width - 3 1/2"

VSI gauge width - 2 3/8"

Round engine gauge width - 2"

 

Consoles:

Center console width (top edge) - 10 3/4"

Master caution and warning panel height (tallest edge) - 7 1/2"

Side console width, forward end - 11"

Side console width, aft end - 14 1/2"

Side console height, forward inboard - 16"

Side console height, forward outboard - 18"

Side console height, aft inboard - 11 1/4"

Side console height, aft outboard - 14" (approximate, was hard to get a good read with this one)

Width between left and right console - 22 3/4"

 

Controls:

Stick height (floor to top of stick) - 25 1/2"

Throttle handle height (in full aft position) - 5 3/4"

Throttle handle width, combined (left and right, excluding switches) - 4 3/4"

Throttle handle width, single (excludes switches) 2 1/8"

Emergency brake pull handle, L x W - 3" x 1/2"

Drag Chute handle length - 8 1/2"

 

Edited December 12, 2022 by Diesel_Thunder

[Diesel_Thunder]

Martin Baker Mk 7, USAF version:

 

Seat Pan width - 21"

Seat back to forward most corner - 23"

Seat pan width at side pull handle - 21"

Seat pan depth (fore to aft) - 25 1/2"

Seat pan to top of seat - 42"

Bottom of seat to top of seat - 47 1/2

Seat cushion depth (fore to aft) - 18"

Main chute bucket width (widest point) - 17"

Face curtain handle width - 12 1/2"

 

Edited December 11, 2022 by Diesel_Thunder

[Zpigman]

Legendary.

[TomVR]

another great reference is this photogrammetry can someone did ages ago of a static display

 

https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/mcdonnell-douglas-f-4-phantom-ii-65e172a92b6d4783892b6c9dc1b1a4bc

[Biggus]

This is probably a silly question, but are the consoles backlit? 

[Vinc_Vega]

Yes, the original panels of a Phantom were backlit. As far as I remember, their lights had a slightly red colour.

Regards, Vinc

Edited March 5, 2023 by Vinc_Vega

[Biggus]

6 hours ago, Vinc_Vega said:

Yes, the original panels of a Phantom were backlit. As far as I remember, thier lights had a slightly red colour.

Regards, Vinc

 

Thanks for that!  Sounds somewhat similar to the Tomcat.

[Diesel_Thunder]

On 2/19/2023 at 5:03 PM, Biggus said:

Thanks for that!  Sounds somewhat similar to the Tomcat.

Before night vision goggles, most of these would be backlit in red as that color impacts your natural night vision the least. Our D model still has the red lights.

Interestingly in the Tomcat's life, when the crews started getting more air to ground missions, and then got NVG's, the cockpit lighting had to get changed from red to green to be NVG compatible.

 

Edited March 5, 2023 by Diesel_Thunder

[Biggus]

@Diesel_Thunder, you've been enormously helpful.  I've got yet another request, with absolutely zero sense of urgency about it:  Could you please get some images of the assembly with the flaps switch?  Thanks to your pictures in the other thread, I've got plenty to work with now.  It is massively appreciated.

[NotBonk]

On 3/5/2023 at 1:17 AM, Biggus said:

@Diesel_Thunder, you've been enormously helpful.  I've got yet another request, with absolutely zero sense of urgency about it:  Could you please get some images of the assembly with the flaps switch?  Thanks to your pictures in the other thread, I've got plenty to work with now.  It is massively appreciated.

Just a heads up, the flaps position switch is a 3-pos switch with it being up-half-down. The red light surrounded by yellow and black caution walls is the ejection light, it’s a button that the pilot presses to alert the WSO that they’re going to eject. 

[Biggus]

That's very helpful, thanks @NotBonk. 

[NotBonk]

@Biggus Here’s some from the D. Little hard to see the remainder of the text but the black strap is immovable.

[Biggus]

Thank you so much, @NotBonk!

[Max Thunder]

Thank you!

[dotbmp]

hey Diesel thunder, thanks a ton dude! A request for a measurement, how long is the outboard panel next to the throttles?

this one in the HB manual. i'm looking for the fore to aft length specifically.