Description

F-9 Viper was developed in 1967 by McDonald Aerospace for the Advance Carrier Based Interceptor Program . F-9 Viper was introduced in 1972 and currently operated by 12 different countries Such as Greece , USA , Canada , Brazil , The UK , Germany , France , Japan , South Korea , Spain , The Netherlands and Denmark.

F-9 Viper

Role : Interceptor , Fleet Defence , Fighter-bomber

Manufacturer : McDonald Aerospace

Developed : 1967

Introduced : 1972

Built : 870

Status : In Limited Service

Produced : 1967-1989

Viper have the top speed of Mach 1.9 to Mach 2.2 depending the role , it can carry 8,900Kg of Ordinance or Payload in 12 Pylon Stations , including Air-to-Air Missiles , Air-To-Ground Missiles, Various Bombs and Electronic Decoys. The Viper received a M145 Rotary Cannon in 1972 due to weakness

Viper was extensively used in Vietnam War . It served as a Attack , Fighter and Bombing Roles . Viper was also used in Iran-Iraq War as a Anti-SAM launcher and Ground Attacks and as a Electronic Warfare and Ground Attack roles in Gulf War.

Development and Designs

F-9 Viper was a plane developed along side with F-4 Phantom . F-9 Viper was develop due to how expensive to operate the Phantom Was . Viper was a cost effective fighter and fleet Interceptor . F-9 Viper's first prototype was rolled out in July 26 1967 in McDonald Aerospace Aircraft Factory in Nevada , 4 Prototypes was ordered. Viper use a Delta Wing Design with a downward dihedral Horizontal Stabilizer for better maneuverability. The Design of Viper look like the Phantom but the Viper have some difference such as Fuselage , Wing and Cockpit design . The cockpit of Viper was rather simple which make it easy to learn to fly and operate. The first flight of Viper was in September 20 1967 in Area 51 . The first prototype flew for 34 minutes and landed . After in 1968 the plane had received it's radar to test it with it's Firing Control Radar and Identification Friend Or Foe. After years of Development, in December 21 1971 was introduced to USAF and in April 28 1972. It was introduced to the world

It's first upgrade was in 1991 with a new avionics to compete with 3rd , 4th , 4.5th gen jets.

Operational History

In Vietnam War , Viper work together with Phantom in Bombing Runs , Ground Attack , Troop Support Role , Interceptor, Fighting and Fleet Defence. In every 12 Migs being down led 2 Vipers was lost. The Viper was something the Viet Cong Mig-21's should shoot down first to able to fight the other aircraft such as the A-36 , F-4 Phantom , B-51 , B-52 , B-48 and A-6 Intruder and A-7 Lovecraft . In 1973 , a Viper was shoot down deep in enemy territory in Ha Giang province and the pilot was captured and executed days later . In total 56 Vipers was down out of 230 sent in Vietnam.

Iran-Iraq War , F-9 Viper played a role in the Iran-Iraq War as a Anti-SAM launcher and Ground Attack roles with limited dogfight records . During the war , 12 Vipers was shoot down out of 54 sent to the War

Gulf War, During the Gulf War ,F-9 Viper played Electronic Warfare plane and as a Ground Attack roles , out of the 12 planes converted as a Electronic Warfare , 5 was shoot down and out of the 45 Aircrafts that serve as a Ground Attack role , 12 was shoot down.

The plane was retired in USAF in 2005 and 1997 in the Navy . The Viper was replaced by the F-16 , F-15 and F-22 in the airforce and was replaced by the F-18 Hornet in the Navy

Specifications

General characteristics

Crew: 1-2
Aspect ratio: 2.77
Airfoil: NACA 0006.4–64 root, NACA 0003-64 tip
Max takeoff weight: 79,366 lb (36,000 kg/Maximum Load) * Maximum landing weight: 61087 lb (29,706 kg/Medium Load)
Powerplant: 2 × General Engines Engineering GFA-670-B3 after-burning turbojet engines, (67.96 kN) thrust each dry, 17,845 lbf (89.38 kN) with afterburner
Wingspan 54.6ft (16.6m)
Length 67.7ft (20.6m)
Height 20.9ft (6.4m)
Empty Weight 57,892lbs (26,259kg)
Loaded Weight 74,214lbs (33,663kg)

Performance

Max Speed : 1,976kph in 36,000 load ,2,234 in 31,067kg Load
Max Speed: Mach 1.9-2.2
Cruise Speed: 560-890kph
Combat Range: 1,190 Km
Ferry Range: 5,600km
Service Ceiling: 12km
Rate Of Climb: 197.9 m/s
Thrust To Weight Ratio: 0.98 at Medium Load 1.13 at Max Load

Armaments

•1x M145 Rotary Cannon

•12 Pylons stations with a additional mountable pylon to increase Pylon Stations to 16.

•6x Guardian Missiles

•8x Interceptor Missiles

•10x Inferno AGM

•4x Rocket Pod

•10x Mk 25 Bombs

•4x Mk 50 Bombs

Avionics

1972-1994

Radar APG-67/98
Fire Control System Wild Weasel KP-6 FCS
Identification Friend Or Foe Joker 67 IFF
Lock Warning System MXM-67 International

1994- Present

Radar APG-86/102
Fire Control System Maximo KP-10 FCS
Identification Friend Or Foe Joker 190 IFF
Lock Warning System MXM-102 International

Controls :

Pitch, Roll, Yaw: Aircraft Controls
VTOL: Landing Airbrakes
Trim: Trims the Horizontal Stabilizer Control Surface
Brakes: Brakes and Airbrakes
AG-1 Afterburners
AG-2 Drop Tanks
AG-3 Arresting Hook
AG-4 to AG-5 Countermeasures
AG-6 Lights