Posts: 1804 From: Washington, DC, USA Registered: Apr 2003
posted 01-25-2015 07:42 AM
The February/March 2015 issue of "Air & Space" magazine has an article about the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II fighter plane, emphasizing how versatile it was. The article mentions how a Phantom was used in a zoom-climb to chase and photograph the Gemini 2 (unmanned) ascent up to 68,000 feet altitude, 18,000 feet over the Phantom's service ceiling.
For a fleeting moment, his altimeter eclipsed 68,000 feet. "We had virtually no energy left," says Petry. "We weren't flying anymore at that point — just riding. But the F-4 stayed quite stable."
The Titan leaned into its trajectory and barreled downrange. Petry broke away inverted and maneuvered to restore airflow over the wings. He and his backseater kept Gemini II in the F-4's camera sights, he says, "until we fell out of the sky."
Has anyone seen this chase footage? I'd love to see that...
heng44 Member
Posts: 3779 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
posted 02-01-2015 02:43 PM
Is this a Phantom chasing the Gemini 4 launch?
Jurg Bolli Member
Posts: 1247 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Nov 2000
posted 02-01-2015 03:59 PM
This looks like a Phantom to me.
micropooz Member
Posts: 1804 From: Washington, DC, USA Registered: Apr 2003
posted 02-01-2015 06:21 PM
It most certainly is a Phantom! Good find, Ed!
heng44 Member
Posts: 3779 From: Netherlands Registered: Nov 2001
posted 04-07-2015 03:51 AM
Yesterday I happened to find this in my library, exactly half a century after the fact. The April 12, 1965, issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology has a cover of the Gemini 3 launch on March 23, 1965, photographed by the crew of a McDonnell F-4C as it passed through 35,000 ft. altitude. The F-4C carried a wing-mounted 35mm Northridge camera with a 32 inch Jonel lens. The aircraft was flown by 1st Lt. Jack Petry, aircraft commander, and Capt. Ray Seal, pilot, both assigned to the USAF's 836th Tactical Air Division.
You can see why I can't scan the cover, so I snapped a photo.
Space Cadet Carl Member
Posts: 305 From: Lake Orion, MI Registered: Feb 2006
posted 04-09-2015 07:56 AM
Call me crazy... but I remember watching a Gemini launch live on either CBS, NBC or ABC and seeing just a couple seconds of live television from a chase plane as the Gemini-Titan rose through the sky. It was only like a three second shot and I honestly couldn't believe my eyes as I was watching it.
I watched the launch on a color TV and the video quality from the chase plane was excellent! I realize everyone is going to have a hard time believing that I actually saw this and I can't recall which launch or network it was.
LM-12 Member
Posts: 4028 From: Ontario, Canada Registered: Oct 2010
posted 04-09-2015 12:15 PM
You can see what looks like the contrails of three jets chasing the Gemini 5 launch vehicle near the end of this British Pathe newsreel footage.
posted 04-09-2015 03:06 PM
You're not crazy, Carl. I remember seeing the same camera shot on a Gemini launch, although the exact mission escapes me. Gemini 5 had three photo planes and Gemini 6 had two. From what I can gather, each 1965 Gemini mission had at least one. Don't know about 1966.
The April 1966 National Geographic Magazine has a photo of the Gemini 6 launch showing it's contrail and the two smaller ones.
During Project Mercury, Convair F-106 Delta Darts were used as chase planes.
dtemple Member
Posts: 786 From: Longview, Texas, USA Registered: Apr 2000
posted 08-26-2023 05:04 PM
Does anyone have contact info for any of the chase pilots that flew the chase planes for tracking Gemini launches, as well as on through the shuttle? I am trying to do research for a magazine article for Aviation History magazine.
Also, I need to find some public domain photos such as those shown in other posts on this topic. I have been trying to search the National Archives but without success so far.
posted 01-25-2015 07:42 AM
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