Folded wing tip question

I have a old question, maybe someone can refute, or verify?

I tend to mistrust 'sea-stories' w.o. cites. Sometimes I think
they likely true, probably partly true, or unlikely.
But some good ones stick in my mind, from all categories.

Making the rounds circa 1972 was that a F4 with folding wings
(story was MC, possib. Navy) taxied out (story was at Kadena)
got clearance to take off, hit afterburners and got enough thrust
to take off. Sheesh - wingtips were still folded up. Could only
stay in air with afterburner thrust, had to eject, dumped $4 mil.
plane in East China Sea. True or not? Ever true anywhere
or anytime to anyone??

I have seen (recently sited on s.m.n.) what appears to be a
picture of a plane (A-7?) flying with tips folded, so ???

That story is at least as old as the WW II F4U Corsair.

WDA

end

"a425couple" wrote in message
...

I have a old question, maybe someone can refute, or verify?

I tend to mistrust 'sea-stories' w.o. cites. Sometimes I think
they likely true, probably partly true, or unlikely.
But some good ones stick in my mind, from all categories.

Making the rounds circa 1972 was that a F4 with folding wings
(story was MC, possib. Navy) taxied out (story was at Kadena)
got clearance to take off, hit afterburners and got enough thrust
to take off. Sheesh - wingtips were still folded up. Could only
stay in air with afterburner thrust, had to eject, dumped $4 mil.
plane in East China Sea. True or not? Ever true anywhere
or anytime to anyone??

I have seen (recently sited on s.m.n.) what appears to be a
picture of a plane (A-7?) flying with tips folded, so ???

W. D. Allen Sr. wrote:
That story is at least as old as the WW II F4U Corsair.

That and...although I've got zero time in the F4, I'm betting that one
could go ballistic long enough to get the tips down and locked. Anyone?

--
John Miller
email domain: n4vu.com; username: jsm(@)
Surplus (For sale or trade):
Besson (Kanstul) International Trumpet

Probably be able to reach down, lower and lock them while airborne.
Pilot and RIO pretty stupid in public tho if this is true.

What was the RIO doin' when the pilot wiped out the cockpit last time?

"W. D. Allen Sr." wrote in message
"a425couple" wrote
I have a old question, maybe someone can refute, or verify?
I tend to mistrust 'sea-stories' w.o. cites.
Making the rounds circa 1972 was that a F4 with folding wings
(story was MC, possib. Navy) taxied out (story was at Kadena)
got clearance to take off, hit afterburners and got enough thrust
to take off. Sheesh - wingtips were still folded up. Could only
stay in air with afterburner thrust, had to eject, dumped $4 mil.
plane in East China Sea.
True or not? Ever true anywhere or anytime to anyone??
I have seen (recently sited on s.m.n.) what appears to be a
picture of a plane (A-7?) flying with tips folded, so ???
That story is at least as old as the WW II F4U Corsair. WDA

Thank you Mr. Allen,
Yes, I will accept that it is an old story, and that it sounds to
"good" or "bad" to be true. But sometimes they are, so I asked.

A good poster over on s.m.n. gave me this link, "
http://www.vmf235.com/f8_wingsfolded.jpg not F-4 but if I read the
photo credit right is Marine. You have to careful with Google refs ---"
Anyone know if this photo is real, and what outcome was?

And on the other response, yes, I also thought some maneuver
could be done in flight to help wing lower (balistic or stall) but
was answered that hydralics could not overcome aerodynamics.
Hey, he was Airdale, I was grunt, I enjoyed drink and talk.
Questioned him no further on that, 30 years later, I am courious.

On Wed, 27 Apr 2005 09:02:16 -0700, "a425couple"
postulated :

I have a old question, maybe someone can refute, or verify?

I tend to mistrust 'sea-stories' w.o. cites. Sometimes I think
they likely true, probably partly true, or unlikely.
But some good ones stick in my mind, from all categories.

I posed the question to an old AD-6 Skyraider pilot from the 50's.

Here is his answer:


--------------start----------------
Sadly, in the case of our favorite airplane, AD's, it's true! No one
ever landed intact. The few AD's that did take off with folded wings
crashed shortly after takeoff.

The F8U is a different story. There were a couple of instances when
those birds actually got airborne, and then landed safely.

Kit

------------end-----------------

Greasy Rider© @invalid.com wrote in message
AD-6 Skyraider pilot from the 50's.
AD's, it's true! No one ever landed intact. - few AD's
that did take off with folded wings crashed shortly after takeoff.
The F8U is a different story. There were a couple of instances
when those birds actually got airborne, and then landed safely.

Thank you Greasy Rider. So the main premise is true and
valid. Pilots have taken off with this 'problem' and crashed
(and some have landed safely!!).
We just do not know yet about specific, F-4 at Kadena.

a425couple wrote:
I have a old question, maybe someone can refute, or verify?

I tend to mistrust 'sea-stories' w.o. cites. Sometimes I think
they likely true, probably partly true, or unlikely.
But some good ones stick in my mind, from all categories.

Making the rounds circa 1972 was that a F4 with folding wings
(story was MC, possib. Navy) taxied out (story was at Kadena)
got clearance to take off, hit afterburners and got enough thrust
to take off. Sheesh - wingtips were still folded up. Could only
stay in air with afterburner thrust, had to eject, dumped $4 mil.
plane in East China Sea. True or not? Ever true anywhere
or anytime to anyone??

I have seen (recently sited on s.m.n.) what appears to be a
picture of a plane (A-7?) flying with tips folded, so ???



I can confirm a visiting A7E doing it out of the fuel pits at NAS
Miramar in that era. He was doing fine until he tried to turn downwind
and one panel separated. The only injury was superficial glass cuts to
a toddler in a house on the lip of a canyon when wreckage shattered the
patio door.

Rick

"Yofuri" wrote in message
I can confirm a visiting A7E doing it out of the fuel pits at NAS
Miramar in that era. He was doing fine until he tried to turn downwind
and one panel separated. The only injury was superficial glass cuts to
a toddler in a house on the lip of a canyon when wreckage shattered the
patio door. Rick

Thank you very much. Think that is the one pictured
in the link?

a425couple wrote:
"Yofuri" wrote in message

I can confirm a visiting A7E doing it out of the fuel pits at NAS
Miramar in that era. He was doing fine until he tried to turn downwind
and one panel separated. The only injury was superficial glass cuts to
a toddler in a house on the lip of a canyon when wreckage shattered the
patio door. Rick


Thank you very much. Think that is the one pictured
in the link?


Could you repeat the link? I missed it.

Rick