Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Favorite Jet Fighters:

The century series fighters had tail hooks installed as a mod. Many were just like a leaf spring with the tail hook shoe help up by a latch that was solenoid controlled. The F-111s had a hydraulic operated tail hook that would extend by pilot control but maintenance had to raise it back up. The F-4s and A-7s were Navy designs and had the same tail hooks in all branches. The F-4 tail hooks were called "crew chief killers" because of their location and height on the plane. One "urban myth" about the F-105 was a pilot took the barrier in Thailand and it ripped the aft section of the plane off. Keep in mind many single engine planes back then had the aft section removed to replace the engine.