F-4J Phantom II Boarding Ladder

Did the USN use this style of boarding ladder for the F-4J Phantom II, or was this just used by the USAF?

This happens to be made for the 1/12 Freewing Phantom II (that must be huge) by MotionRC in Illinois.

Jim

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AFAIK the Navy exclusively used the retractable boarding steps (to save space on carrier deck I guess)

…But I could be wrong. :roll_eyes:

H.P.

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That does make sense.

Thanks,
Jim

Fewer things that need to be dragged around and take up space in the walkways; if you left them out on the flight deck itself they could get blown around by jet exhaust. And you’d need a different ladder for each different type of aircraft the carrier is operating, taking up even more space.

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Good point, Sean. Space is at a premium on a carrier.

Jim

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Great pictures, Carlos. Thanks.

Jim

No! there is a panel below the rescue decal that opens and a three rung ladder drops down. Where the white line is behind the ladder in your photo are two ovals. eachone is a step. I was a Navy Plane
Captained these for three years.

Thanks, Gary. I kind of had a feeling that it was something like that.

Jim

Built in ladder. Nice. I’d fall on my ass! Guess that’s why I’m not a fighter pilot. :grin: That, and I have really poor vison.

Jim