A Composite Syllabus for Replacement Training Unit (RTU) conversion training to fly the USAF F4 Phantom as undertaken by Squadron Leader Jim Barclay RNZAF in 1979.
Introduction
This ‘Composite Syllabus’ was compiled in 2026 with reference to my Pilots Logbook and ‘from memory’ of my F4 flying from 1979-1982 as an RNZAF/USAF Exchange pilot with the 31st Tactical Fighter Wing, Homestead AFB, Florida. It is acknowledged that this ‘composite syllabus’ is incomplete. I started my F4E conversion on an informal ‘51/50’ F4 ‘re-famil’ and when the 51/50 unit finally realised I had not flown the F4 before (I’d flown the RNZAF A4K Skyhawk), I opted to do the RTU F4 ‘B’ course. But, in fact, I did only those sorties needed to gain ‘proficiency’ rather than completing the whole ‘B’ course syllabus. Also, I left the ‘B’ course before the end in order to undertake the USAF F4 Instructor Pilot (IP) course on the F4D.
F4 RTU training courses :-
B Course – for those pilots or Weapons System Operators (WSOs) who had not flown the F4 before.
T Course – a shorter ‘re-familiarisation’ course for those pilots and WSOs who had flown the F4 before, or had flown a similar ‘100 series’ fighter.
I Course – for operationally experienced F4 pilots upgrading to Instructor Pilot (IP) status including being competent to fly and operate the F4 from the rear seat with a trainee pilot in the front seat, or from the front seat with a trainee WSO in the rear seat.
51/50 – a short re-famil course for senior experienced F4 pilots
Primary Training Phases (copied from the internet – source unknown)
Transition (TR) Phase: Focused on aircraft handling, including high-speed/low-speed handling, aerobatics, traffic patterns, and recovery from high-G/high-Angle of Attack (AOA) situations. This included mastering the use of rudder over aileron in the F-4 at high AOA to avoid loss of control through unfavourable ‘departure’.
Basic Fighter Manoeuvres (BFM): Introduced aircrew to basic air combat concepts. It taught pilots to manage turn rates with back-stick pressure, the use of rudders for roll control while maintaining neutral ailerons at high AOAs. [The BFM phase preceded the Ground Attack/Ground Attack Radar/Ground Attack Tactics phases because BFM taught the pilot to become confident in handling the F4 throughout a range of high and low AoA manoeuvers in three dimensions; it was said that as the ground did not move, ground attack required pilotage skills only in two dimensions!]
Ground Attack (GA, GAT)/Radar Weapons Delivery (RLD, RLADD): Covered bombing theory, weapons computer systems, and ordnance delivery.
Air Combat Manoeuvres (ACM): Built upon skills learned in BFM to teach free-flow 2v1 and 2v2 air-to-air engagements.
Air Combat Tactics (ACT): Introduced tactical, sequential attacks in complex 1v2 and 2v2 scenarios.
Dissimilar Air Combat Manoeuvres (DACM) & DACT: Provided training against different aircraft types, such as F-5s (representing MiG-21s), A-4s, F-15s, and F-16s.
Additional Syllabus Elements
Academics & Simulation: Nearly 20 training missions were performed in simulators (1.5 hours each) alongside daily ground school classes.
Emergency Procedures: Rigorous study of the “Dash-1” (aircraft manual) and contingency planning for malfunctions.
Instrument/Qual Evaluation: A formal checkride evaluating the ability to fly instruments, handle emergencies, and perform basic aircraft qualification.
Mission Evaluation: A second checkride focusing on the F-4’s specific tactical mission profiles.
The training utilized the F-4 to prepare aircrews for their operational assignments, often with a heavy focus on the air-to-air combat as was required in Vietnam.
F4 Simulator – typically, F4 Simulator (Sim) sorties preceded related flight sorties in order that key principles could be introduced and practiced before flight. The Sim sorties I ‘flew’ have been included within the respective lists of flight sorties below.
Transition Phase (TR)
Sim1 18 Jun 79 – 1.2 hrs
Sim2 18 Jun 79 – 1.2 hrs
Sim3 20 Jun 79 – 1.2 hrs
Sim4 20 Jun 79 – 1.2 hrs
TR1 21 Jun 79 – (with the 51/50 unit) stalling & recovery, Hi and Low Angle of Attack (AoA) handling, AoA audio tones through pilot’s earphones, F4E AoA/slats programming, Loop, Immelmann, GCA x 2, Closed patterns. 1.6 hours
TR2 22 Jun 79 – Lazy 8, Chandelle, Rig-Stab-Aug check, Confidence Manoeuvres:- Lo AoA roll, Inverted recovery, pitchback, nose slice, rudder reversal at hi AoA, Loop, TAC/GCA, no flap touch & go (T&G), simulated (sim) single engine T & G, closed patterns. 1.6 hrs
TR3 25 Jun 79 – as above – 1.6 hrs
Sim5 26 Jun 79 – Standardisation Evaluation (Stan Eval) competency check. 1.5hrs
TR4 3 Jul 79 – [now with RTU ‘B’ Course] Pairs takeoff as #2, Close formation (fmn) finger left & right, pitch out & rejoin, split to single acft – Chandelle, Lazy 8, Low & Hi AoA roll, min time nose high turns, Reversal, Loop, Immelmann, TACAN holding pattern, TAC/GCA sim single engine, 2 x Closed Patterns. 1.7 hrs
TR5 6 Jul 79 – 350KIAS to 450K TAS climb, AoA audio, 45deg and 60deg steep turns, unusual attitudes, Chandelle, Lazy 8, Stab/Rig/Droop check, Low AoA 360 roll, Low AoA 180 deg roll and inverted recovery, Hi AoA 360 deg roll, Rudder reversal, Min time nose low turn, Min time nose Hi turn, GCA sim single engine, no flap T & G, 2 x closed patterns. 1.5 hrs
TR6 11 Jul 79 – Cruise mach climb, Steep turns above FL 180, Chandelle, Lazy 8, Unusual Atts, Stab/Rig/Droop check, Lo AoA 360 deg roll. Lo AoA ½ roll Inverted recovery, Hi AoA roll, Nose Hi & Lo Min time turns, Rudder reversal, Loop, Cuban 8, Sim single eng GCA T & G, No flap T & G, 2 x closed patterns. 1.5 hrs
TR7 13 Jul 79 – upper air as above, TACAN, GCA then aborted due Thunderstorms. 1.2 hrs
TR8 16 Jul 79 – as for TR6. 1.5 hrs
TR9 17 Jul 79 – Stan Eval TR Check-ride – Steep turns, Lazy8, Chandelle, Rig/Stab/Droop test, Low AoA roll, Low AoA inverted recovery, Hi AoA roll, Immelmann, Split S, Nose lo min time turns. Nose Hi min time, Unusual atts, TACAN point to point nav to join Holding pattern then TACAN approach to Missed App Point, no flap T &G, Pitchout at 250K into Closed pattern. 1.5 hrs
TR13 11 Sep 79 – Night Transition – stream T/O, Pairs close fmn, Circling R/V join-ups, TAC/GCA, GCA, night closed patterns. 1.4 hrs.
Basic Fighter Manoeuvres (BFM)
BFM1 27 Jun 79 – [with 51/50 re-qual unit] – Pairs T/O as #2, Finger (Close Fmn), Route Fmn (Tac spread), Com-out turns, Manoeuvring Wing at 250 yds, Rolling Manoeuvres. Split to Single acft – 500K Opt AoA turns, Hard turns, Extensions and Reversals, Mil Pwr & Afterburner (AB) Pitchback and Sliceback, TACAN Sim single engine, No flap straight-in T & G, 3 x Closed patterns. 1.4 hrs
BFM2 28 Jun 79 – [with 51/50 unit] Pairs T/O (Lead),Weapons Check and move to Tac Fmn above 7000 ft, Com Out turns (90 deg, 180, 45, 30), Accel Manoeuvres, Lo AoA Yo-Yo, Hi AoA Yo-Yo. Lag Roll, Cine tracking. ½ nozzle 250K close fmn pairs descent, Pairs GCA to lo approach. Split- Re-Entry from Initials, 2 x Closed patterns – 1.4 hrs ///
Repeated on B Course on 20 Jul 79 – Stream T/O, Wpns Check, Comm Out turns, Cine tracking, G awareness turns, 3 x 1 v 1 set ups:- – Closure to Yo-Yo, Closure to angles, Angle solving , Pairs GCA to low app, Closed patterns. 1.3 hrs
BFM3 28 Jun 79 [with 51/50]– as for BFM 2. 1.2 hrs. Repeated on B Course 25 Jul 79 – 1.0 hr
Sim 6 29 Jun 79 – Inflight wpns check procedures & radar intercepts. 1.5 hrs
BFM4 30 Jun 79 [with 51/50] – Pairs T/O (lead), Comm out turns, 3 x setups to close up for gun tracking, Pairs GCA, Closed patterns. 1.2 hrs .
Repeated on B Course 26 Jul 79 – Pairs T/O (#2 of 2) Ranging, Cine tracking, Defensive BFM (hi G in-plane for Missiles, Guns Defence hi G out-of-plane, Roll Slides. 1.1 hrs.
BFM5 27 Jul 79 – [now in the B Course] Pairs T/O #2 of 2, Ranging, Defensive BFM set ups, Vertical scissors, Pairs landing. 1.0 hr
BFM6 31 Jul 79 [B Course] – Pairs T/O #1 of 2, Tac com-out turns, Head-on to extended pitchback for belly attack, Defensive Barrel roll attack, Neutral Splits to 1 v 1, Roll Slides, ARA Approach. 1.2 hrs
Ground Attack Radar (GAR)
SIM11 27 Jul 79– GAR procedures. RLD, RLAAD.1.5 hrs
SIM12 31 Jul 79 – GAR procedures. RLD, RLADD 1.5 hrs
GAR1 1 Aug 79 – Low Level nav, Low Alt Awareness Trg (LAAT), Avon Park ‘C’ Nuc Range near Orlando. 2 x Visual Laydown (VLD) [34/4, 43/5], 2 x Vis Low Alt Drogue Delivery (VLADD) [510/6, 225/5] using Mk 106 practice bombs. 1.4 hrs
GAR2 6 Aug 79 – #3 of 3. Stream T/O, Trail Departure, Split for single nav to ‘C’ range. VLADD [63/8], Radar Laydown (RLD) [92/12], RLADD [U/12]. 1.4 hrs
SIM 13 7 Aug 79 – GAR – LL Nav, RLD, RLADD. 1.5 hrs
GAR3 8 Aug 79 -#3 of 4. LL Nav 500 feet AGL to make assigned ToT (-2 secs!) for First Run Attack (FRA) by RLADD [241/12], VLADD [135/2, 54/8], RLD [205/1], VLD [105/6, 85/6]. 1.5 hrs
SIM14 9 Aug 79 – GAR – RLD, RLADD, Offset Bombing. 1.5 hrs
Gar4 13 Aug 79-LL Nav to make rqd ToT for VLADD strike. [-10 sec early, 26/9] 1.1 hrs
Gar5 3 Aug 79 – #2 of 2 Pairs T/O LL Nav 500 feet enroute ‘C’ range, Com-outturns 3 x VLD [50/6, Bull, Bull], 3 x VLADD [129/6, 61/6, 86/11] Close Fmn RTB for pairs TACAN
Ground Attack (GA) some including Air Refuelling (AR)
GA1 15 Aug 79 – #3 of 3. 3 x 20 deg Low Angle Low Drag (LALD) using BDU 33 bombs [91/5, 26/1, 37/12], 3 x 30 Deg Dive Bomb (DB) BDU33 [44/5, 25/5, 19/9], 10 deg strafe using 100x20mm [16 %]
AR1/GA2 22 Aug 79 – #3 of 4. Join with KC135 tanker at FL260 to take on 6000lb fuel, then to ‘C’ range – 20 deg LALD [17/4, Bull], 20 Deg Dive Toss (DT) [U/12, hangup], 30 deg DB [51/7, 69/11], 10 deg Strafe 100x 20mm [58%]. 2.2 hrs.
GA3 23 Aug 79 – 10 deg Low Angle Bomb (LAB) [24/6, 54/6], 45 deg DB [nil due cloud], 30 Deg DB [nil due cloud], 10 deg strafe [6%]. 1.4 hrs.
GA4 24 Aug 79 – #1 of 3. 20 deg DT [25/9, 58/9], 20 deg LALD [39/6, 46/12], 30 deg DB [24/7, 10/6], 10 deg strafe [15%]. 1.3 hrs.
AR2/GA5 28 Aug 79 – #2 of 2. R/V with tanker at 26,000 feet for 6000lb, then 20 deg DT [US/6, 18/5], 20 deg LALD [27/7, 56/1], 30 deg DB [41/7, 58/6], 10 deg Strafe [35%]. 1.8 hrs
GA6 29 Aug 79 – #1 of 2. 20 deg DT [DT inop], 20 deg LALD, 10 deg strafe [53%]. 1.4 hrs.
AR3/GA7 5 Sep 79 – RV with tanker for 6000lb, then to ‘C’ range [no wpns due malfunction SUU25 wpns carrier]. 2.0 hrs
AR4/GA7 11 Sep 79 – RV with tanker for 6000lb fuel, then to ‘C’ range – 30 deg DB [83/7, 15/6], 20 deg LALD [43/11, 58/6, 47/8], 20 deg DT [52/5], 10 deg strafe [23%]. 2.1 hrs.
GA8 13 Aug 79 – 30 deg DB [US/6, 39.3], 20 deg DT [66/9, 44/7], 20 deg LALD [28/5, 45/3], 10 deg strafe
GA11 24 Sep 79 #1 of 3 – 20 deg curvilinear (curv) DB [U/12, 22/7], 45 deg Hi alt DB (roll in 13,500 ft release 8300 ft) [U/7, 91/8, 32/4, 19/4], 20 deg strafe [62 %]. 1.3 hrs
GA12 25 Sep 79 – 20 deg Curv [8/1, 14/5], 45 deg HADB [U/6, 78/6, 70/11, 63/11], 10 deg strafe [61%]
Ground Attack Night (GAN), including some Night Air Refuelling (NAR)
GAN13 14 Sep 79 – #1 of 2 – 30 deg DB with flares from C130 Hercules, and without. 1.5 hrs
GAN14 18 Sep 79 – #2 of 2 – 20 deg LALD [26/5, 77/11], 30 deg DT [26/11, 71/11], 30 deg DB [31/11, 73/5]. 1.5hrs
NAR1/GAN15 19 Sep 79 – #2 of 2 – RV tanker 6000lb, 20 deg LALD, 30 deg DB, 30 deg DT. 1.9 hrs
NAR2/GAN15 extra 20 Sep 79 – RV tanker6000lb. 20 deg LALD, 30 deg DB [bull, bull, 37/7, 86/5]. 1.9 hrs
Ground Attack Tactics (GAT)
GAT1 26 Sep 79 – #1 of 2 – Tactical range Avon Park – 20 deg curv DB [11/1, 84/5], 10 deg low angle strafe curv [37%], 20 deg pop-up DB [20/3, 52/1], 30 deg popup DB [56/2]. 1.5 hrs
GAT2 2 Oct 79 – #2 of 3 – 20 deg pop left pattern [88/11, 16/8, 6/12, 25/10], 30 deg pop right pattern [U/6, U/12], 10 deg strafe [13%]. 1.4 hrs
GAT3 3 Oct 79 – #4 of 4 – 20 deg pop, 30 deg pop, 10 deg strafe 1.2 hrs
GAT4 4 Oct 79 – #3 of 3 – Pre-planned pops from IPs to Tactical targets x 3 attacks with 2 bombs per pass (SA2 site ‘Bullseye’ = perfect 2 bomb bracket), SA3 site [13/2], 57 mm site – no bombs due wx, 10 deg strafe [14 hits on single pass with130 rounds]. 1.3 hrs
GAT5 5 Oct 79 – #2 of 4 – Pre-planned pops to small tac tgts – in echelon, or split, or B’Nai pops. 1.3 hrs
GAT6 10 Oct 79 – #2 of 2 – 1 x pre-planned pop for split attack on truck convoy, 2 x FAC controlled hi threat split pops. 6 x MK82 500lb inert bombs. 1.3 hrs
GAT7 12 Oct 79 – 4-acft. Assessed mission – sim heavy weight stream T/O at 20 secs, low level 4 ship nav to target for 3 x popups to targets on Tac range. 1.3 hrs
GAT8 15 Oct 79 – Red Banner Exercise – 5 x 4 ship airfield attack on tac range – Low level com-out ingress to bomb SA2 site, 2nd attack on 57mm gun.
Air Combat Manoeuvres (ACM)
ACM1 17 Oct 79 – briefed for 2 v 2 ACM but due to lack of acft, flew 2 acft BFM – 2 setups as attacker, 2 as tgt. 1.2 hrs
ACM1 19 Oct 79 – briefed for3 acft ACM, but flew 2 ship BFM. 1.0 hr
I started the F4 Instructor Pilot (IP) course in October 1979, so no further ‘B’ course missions
ACM – introduced on the Instructor Course (now on the F4D)
ACM1 17 Dec 79 – 1B/3 (i.e. rear seat of lead aircraft in a 3-ship formation) – Tac intercepts 2 v 1 Offensive sequential attacks. 0.9 hrs
ACM2 4 Jan 80 – 2A/3 – 1 v2 initial moves, counter offensive. 0.8 hrs
Air Combat Tactics (ACT) – no time to introduce ACT on the ‘I’ course
Dissimilar BFM (DBFM) and Dissimilar ACT (DACT) – introduced on the ‘I’ course flying the F4D
DBFM1 7 Jan 80 – 1A/2 with F5E Aggressor from Nellis – cine tracking, 2 x scissors, 2 x offensive engagements. 0.8 hrs
DACM1 8 Jan 80 – 1A/3 (2F4D, 1 F5E). 1 x offensive setup for sequential attacks against F5E, 2 x counter offensive F5E v F4s 0.8 hrs
DACT1 9 Jan 80 – 2B/4 -2 x F4D CAP engaged by 2 x F5E. 0.7 hrs
DACM extra 9 Jan 80 – 2B/3 – 2 x F4D CAP, 1 x F5E. 3 engagements sequential attacks. O.9 hrs
DACT2 11 Jan80 – 1A/4 – 2 x F4D engaging 2 x F5E. Deception tactics to engage 1 x F5E with the other F5E out of the fight. O.7 hrs
Having completed the ‘I’ Course on the F4D on 22 Jan 80, I was assigned as an ‘IP’ to the 309th Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) flying the F4E – after a front seat and a back seat F4E refamil flights, I remained instructing with the 309th on the F4E until the Sqn re-equipped with the F4D in July 1980. As the 309th was to have an ‘operational’ flight of pilots and WSOs, I was reassigned to the 308th TFS in September 1980 on the F4D and thereafter remained with the 308th until my last flight on 26 Jan 82, after which I returned with my family to New Zealand. My total flying on the F4 was 717.5 hours.
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