F-4E Beastmode Challenge

[Chaffee]

Okay, looking at the load-out chart here, it appears that the F-4E can theoretically mount 24 Mk.82 bombs with 4 Sidewinders and 4 Sparrows, which puts it only about 1762 lbs. (801 kg.) over its maximum gross take-off weight.

So, who will be the first to get the "Flying Brick" in the air on full fuel without ejecting their wizzo on the takeoff roll?

Sign-in here to accept this challenge or bow down to lesser pilots. Post pics/videos or it didn't happen. (But especially post "agony of defeat" pics/videos).

[Kalasnkova74]

“In practice, not all combinations might be possible, as there are a lot of technical factors resulting in restrictions.”

 

For example: AIM-9s cannot be mounted on the inboard wing pylons with certain bombs due to clearance issues.

[Stackup]

The annoying bit is that the 24 Mk-82's was shown off in 2023 and Beyond (1:35) and now they've been saying we can only do 22 because of this special weapon adapter thing. 

The TER does get in the way of the rear Sidewinder fins without the SWA yes, but only for firing them, not for loading them.  However, assuming that the TER is jettisoned when you press the emergency jettison button to shed weight for a dogfight, you would no longer have the clearance problem and could fire your Sidewinders without issue.  If that is the case, I think it should still be an option, but not allow you to fire the Sidewinders if the TER is equipped without the SWA or maybe it explodes if you do or just fails to fire.  

The other thing is that how close to the ground is too close?  I would think that even with the SWA, 3x Mk-82's probably wouldn't scrape the ground and 3x Mk-81's really shouldn't.  Mk-83's, M-117's, and the CBU's I get, as those are pretty big in diameter.  The only other reason I can think of would be if it exceeds the max pylon weight and I don't think it does. 

22 isn't that much different than 24 and it is really a ridiculous loadout, but all the same I'd be very interested to know if it was a manual or SME that limited smaller bombs from being triple racked on TER's with the SWA. 

Or perhaps maybe a new screenshot of how close it is to the ground to get a better perspective, because I can't find any pictures of the SWA itself (other than the one that has already been posted on the discord and this forum and the screenshots with the GBU-12's), let alone one on the plane with bombs loaded and the aircraft sitting on the ground.

[Chaffee]

If it doesn't work, dump the Sidewinders altogether and go with triple M117s on 2 and 8. I believe that's actually HEAVIER, so more BEASTMODE!

But seriously, it'll be interesting and fun to see just how heavy a load out we can get the Brick off the ground with.

Edited January 31, 2024 by Chaffee

[=475FG= Dawger]

With enough runway, it will fly with whatever you can physically hang on it as long as both engines are operating. Lose one and farms are bought if operating outside established guidelines. 
 

Of course, DCS doesn’t really simulate all the high speed abort/single engine go factors since practicing all that silliness is pretty dull. 

[BSS_Sniper]

1 hour ago, =475FG= Dawger said:

With enough runway, it will fly with whatever you can physically hang on it as long as both engines are operating. Lose one and farms are bought if operating outside established guidelines. 
 

Of course, DCS doesn’t really simulate all the high speed abort/single engine go factors since practicing all that silliness is pretty dull. 

Not really. There's still max tire speeds on the ground and that has nothing to do with go/no go

[Chaffee]

14 hours ago, =475FG= Dawger said:

With enough runway, it will fly with whatever you can physically hang on it as long as both engines are operating. Lose one and farms are bought if operating outside established guidelines.

Thinking highest altitude, shortest runway, highest gross weight, don't hit the mountain is F-4 Beastmode King.

[=475FG= Dawger]

1 hour ago, Chaffee said:

Thinking highest altitude, shortest runway, highest gross weight, don't hit the mountain is F-4 Beastmode King.

 The really high airports are either really short or really long. 
 

Don’t have any really high ones in DCS. 
 

Nevada might be the highest ones. 

[bfr]

6 hours ago, Chaffee said:

Thinking highest altitude, shortest runway, highest gross weight, don't hit the mountain is F-4 Beastmode King.

Or have a game of dare in multiplayer where each player positions themselves along the runway at the farthest point from which they think they'll be able to take off from the remaining tarmac.

[Bozon]

On 2/1/2024 at 2:30 AM, =475FG= Dawger said:

With enough runway, it will fly with whatever you can physically hang on it as long as both engines are operating.

With enough runway you can simply drive to your target 

[WTFCSon]

Can I cheat by starting light on fuel?

[Chaffee]

2 hours ago, WTFCSon said:

Can I cheat by starting light on fuel?

There is no cheating in F-4E BEASTMODE!

[Kirk66]

If you really want to max out the F-4, you need 3 external fuel tanks, 6 M117 bombs on stations 2 and 8, 3 AIM-7s, and an ALQ-131 in the left forward missile well. Full fuel, of course. Make sure you taxi real slow, and don't try landing without dumping some fuel first.

 

[Chaffee]

15 hours ago, Kirk66 said:

If you really want to max out the F-4, you need 3 external fuel tanks, 6 M117 bombs on stations 2 and 8, 3 AIM-7s, and an ALQ-131 in the left forward missile well. Full fuel, of course. Make sure you taxi real slow, and don't try landing without dumping some fuel first.

 

YAAAS! 

Kirk66 gets it.

[JB3DG]

On 2/4/2024 at 1:21 PM, Kirk66 said:

If you really want to max out the F-4, you need 3 external fuel tanks, 6 M117 bombs on stations 2 and 8, 3 AIM-7s, and an ALQ-131 in the left forward missile well. Full fuel, of course. Make sure you taxi real slow, and don't try landing without dumping some fuel first.

 

This is where I anticipate many users coming unstuck. I remember back in the FSX days with the Milviz F-15E and F-4E, people were complaining about the jets being impossible to land at 150kts. Yeah don't try getting down to 150kts with a full internal fuel load + weapons. Not gonna happen.

[=475FG= Dawger]

1 hour ago, JB3DG said:

This is where I anticipate many users coming unstuck. I remember back in the FSX days with the Milviz F-15E and F-4E, people were complaining about the jets being impossible to land at 150kts. Yeah don't try getting down to 150kts with a full internal fuel load + weapons. Not gonna happen.

Its more likely he was referring to the landing weight limit but it isn’t like the jet will break in half at that weight. It will just require a serious inspection. 

[JB3DG]

On 2/6/2024 at 8:12 AM, =475FG= Dawger said:

Its more likely he was referring to the landing weight limit but it isn’t like the jet will break in half at that weight. It will just require a serious inspection. 

It's questionable whether they will be able to come to a stop without running out of runway though given the approach speeds required. Tires are likely to catch fire.

[=475FG= Dawger]

3 hours ago, JB3DG said:

It's questionable whether they will be able to come to a stop without running out of runway though given the approach speeds required. Tires are likely to catch fire.

Drag chute and arresting gear( something DCS is sadly lacking)

[bfr]

On 2/6/2024 at 11:59 AM, JB3DG said:

This is where I anticipate many users coming unstuck. I remember back in the FSX days with the Milviz F-15E and F-4E, people were complaining about the jets being impossible to land at 150kts. Yeah don't try getting down to 150kts with a full internal fuel load + weapons. Not gonna happen.

Pretty sure it happened with the Strike Eagle in DCS too initially where people forgot to change the fuel slider when setting up quick practice scenarios and forgot a fully fuelled jet carries a not insignificant weight of fuel. 

[mkellytx]

On 2/7/2024 at 8:32 AM, JB3DG said:

It's questionable whether they will be able to come to a stop without running out of runway though given the approach speeds required. Tires are likely to catch fire.

Tires only catch fire from the hot brakes that cause them to burst which breaks the hydraulic lines that p-ss hydrocarbon based fluid onto 1000+ degree steel, been there, done that… 

Edited February 15, 2024 by mkellytx

[Dragon1-1]

They can burst from overspeeding them while in contact with the ground.

Edited February 15, 2024 by Dragon1-1