Center Section

The center area of the left console features the radar control and countermeasure panel.

Radar Set Control Panel

See Radar Set Control Panel section for more detailed description of all the functions below.

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Power Knob

Five position rotary switch (1) controlling power state of the APQ-120 Radar.

Name	Description
OFF	Powers radar off.
TEST	Applies voltage to control monitor power and provides BIT-test functions 1 through 6.
STBY	Power applied to radar, remains in a non-transmitting standby state.
OPR	System is fully operational.
EMER	Overrides the time delay, pressure, and temperature restrictions to allow radar operation.

See the Radar Power Section for more details.

The three position switch (3) controls polarization of transmitted radio frequency energy. LIN should be used in normal conditions, CIR 1 and CIR 2 can be used to reduce precipitation clutter at the expense of increased ground clutter.

See Radar Polarization Knob Section for more details.

Range Knob

The rotary switch (2) is used to select range sweep of 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, or 200 mile ranges on both radar displays. Ranges up to 50 are displayed on the range lamp.

See the Radar Range Knob Section for more details.

Maneuver Switch

The two position switch (4) controls radar tracking acceleration response. LOW sets a limit on antenna acceleration and HI removes acceleration limit.

See Radar Maneuver Knob Section

Bar Scan Switch

The two position switch (5) selects elevation scan pattern between 1 and 2 bars. Only RDR-B modes can make use of 2 bars.

See Radar Scan Switch Section for more details

Aspect Knob

The rotary switch (6) is used to program the AIM-7 with a predetermined simulated Doppler instead of actual received Doppler, so that the WSO can provide an estimated correct speed-gate for the Sparrow when not tracking.

See Aspect Knob Section for more details

Receiver Gain Knobs (RCVR GAIN)

Receiver Gain Knob

Coarse (outer ring, 8) and Fine (inner knob, 7) gain control for the radar receiver. Larger values result in more noise and can cause display to become saturated. Lower values may result in lower detection ranges.

See Receiver Gain Knob Section for more details

Track Switch

The three position switch (9) selects range tracking type for use in heavy clutter environments, or automatic tracking under normal circumstances.

See Radar Track Switch Section for more details

Display Knob

The rotary switch (10) sets the display type of the radar scope to access specific mode functionality in conjunction with the Mode knob. The types are as follows:

Name	Description
B WIDE	Selects 120 degree B-sweep for search. Half-action places the sweep under manual Antenna Hand Control stick.
B NAR	Selects a 45 degree B-sweep sector for search, which is manually shifted with the Antenna Hand Control stick.
PPI WIDE	Selects a 120 degree wide plan position indicator sweep for MAP mode.
PPI NAR	Selects a 45 degree plan position indicator sweep that can be shifted with the Antenna Hand Control stick.
VI	Provides pure pursuit guidance to a locked target for Visual Intercept; a break X will appear at 1000' range.

Manual Vc Knob

A 12 position switch (12) used to apply estimated range rate of closure (clockwise, 0-9), or estimated opening of range (counterclockwise, 0-2) against a target in manual track mode.

The numbers are multiplied by 100 knots while closure means closing in to the F-4 and opening means the target is flying away from the F-4.

See MAN Vc Knob Section for more details

Pulse Switch

Three position switch (11) controlling radar pulse width and pulse repetition frequency (PRF).

Name	Description
AUTO	Uses Power Level Mode Switching to determine best Pulse selection. Selects short pulse is used for acquire and track.
LONG	Wide pulse width and low PRF, allowing maximum range detection; no track automatic pulse adjustment.
SHORT	Narrow pulse width with high PRF for increased close range performance.

See Pulse Switch Section for more details

Mode Knob

A six position rotary switch (14) that determines the current base mode of operation of the radar.

Name	Description
BST	Air-to-Air boresight with antenna aligned radar boresight line and optical sight with sight in A/A.
RDR	Search Mode with Feedhorn Nutation (wider beam-width) mode.
MAP	Search Mode without Feedhorn Nutation (narrower beam-width)
AIR-GRD	Air-to-Ground boresight, Tracks range of illuminated ground, radar is boresighted to the radar boresight line with drift compensation.
BEACON	Radar receives and displays signals from ground or airborne beacon transponders for navigation.
TV	Not used with DSCG. De-tunes AIM-7 if selected, preventing Sparrows from guiding.

See Mode Knob Section for more details

Skin Track Light

Lamp (13) that illuminates when a track is attained with range data. In the event of HOJ or a range memory situation, the light will go off. Accompanied on the rear DSCG radar scope with the T symbol that illuminates under the same circumstances.

Throttles

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The throttle arrangement for each engine in the F-4E Phantom II is located on the front and rear cockpit left console. Mechanical linkage transmits throttle movement to the engine fuel control. The rear cockpit throttle does not enable the afterburner. Located on the rear throttle is a speed brake switch and a mic switch.

Speed Brake

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The Speed Brakes are actuated by a three position switch (1) found on the inboard throttle in both cockpits. Either switch will actuate the brakes. The positions are Out, Stop, and In; the Out position is momentary and reverts back to Stop when released.

For further information see the 3.1.2 Flight Control Surfaces chapter.

Mic Switch

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The microphone switch (2) for the Intercom System is the aft position on the inboard throttle grip in both cockpits. When using the intercom, all audio sans the pull-up tone, stall warning, and ECM are reduced (same as RADIO OVERRIDE). In the fwd position the switch will enable transmitting over radio.

AN/ALE-40 Cockpit Control Unit (CCU)

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The CCU is a primary control panel of the Countermeasures System.

It is used to select different modes of operation and gives the WSO the ability to dispense countermeasures.

For further information see CCU.

Dispense Button

The push button (1) initiates chaff/flare dispensing as selected by Cockpit control unit and AN/ALE-40 programmer

Ripple Switch

Guarded by a cover (2), when positioned ON, dispenses flares at rate of ten per second until dispensers are empty, so long as flaps and speed brakes are retracted.

💡 After around 10 seconds, all flares have been dispensed.

Counters

Indicate quantity of chaff (3) and flare (6) cartridges remaining, respectively.

They are automatically set by the ground crew when rearming.

Chaff Mode Knob

A rotary switch knob (7) that controls the amount of dispensed chaff.

Name	Description
OFF	Chaff system inactive.
SGL	A single burst commanded when dispense button pressed.
MULT	A salvo commanded according to programmer when either dispense button pressed.
PROG	Multiple salvos commanded according to programmer when either dispense button pressed.

Flare Mode Knob

A rotary switch knob (4) that controls the amount of dispensed flares.

Name	Description
OFF	Flare system inactive.
SGL	A single burst commanded when dispense button pressed.
PROG	A salvo commanded according to programmer when either dispense button pressed.

Indicator Lights

Illuminates (5 and 8) whenever a mode is selected on the respective countermeasure mode knob.

Can be rotated to dim and pressed to test.

Heatblur F-4E Phantom II