North American FJ-4B Fury
With the Korean War focusing attention on the advancements made in Russian aircraft technology in the MiG 15, the Navy looked for a fast way to acquire a fighter with better performance. The best jet was the F86 Saber, which had developed from the original Fury and could easily defeat the MiG 15. Converting this Saber into a carrier fighter led to the Fury family of jet aircraft.
The last and definitive version of the Fury family was the FJ-4B or “Fury Bravo”. On the FJ-4B the wing was strengthened to handle the Martin Bullpup missile system. The engine was a Wright J65-W-16 A sapphire turbojet. The fury was also equipped with the Low Altitude Bombing System (LABS) from the Air Force F-86H. This system was used to deliver tactical nuclear weapons by automatically computing the exact time of bomb release; both to ensure hitting the target and allowing the pilot to get clear. A second set of speed brakes was added to improve the Jet's attack capabilities. A total of 222 FJ-4Bs were produced from 1956 through 1958.
The FJ-4B had several good characteristics, including a roomy cockpit and excellent maneuvering in the air. The jet was referred to by its pilots as “Cadillac” and many thought the fury bravo a better attack platform than its replacement the A4D Skyhawk.
Plaque courtesy Lat34North.com.
Original page, with additional info, here.
Photo credit: Byron Hooks of Lat34North.com.