Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-4>HA19003

General Background

The F-4 Phantom II first entered US Military service in 1960. It was designed as a fleet defense fighter for the US Navy but by 1963 it was adopted as the US Air Force primary fighter-bomber. Despite the size and weight of this Cold War icon the F-4 broke 15 world records and continued to hold five of them until 1975.

Produced from 1960 to 1981 there were 5,195 Phantom IIs manufactured. Eleven countries other than the USA had the Phantom II in their inventory.

The Aircraft

In 1957 WDT 61 (Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 61) was formed as an Aircraft Technical and Airworthiness Center. Based in Manching Air Base, Germany the center is the main facility for testing and evaluating military aircraft and weapons. To mark the WDT 61 50th Anniversary McDonnell Douglas F-4F 37+16 was given a special orange paint scheme that included “50 Jahre Flugerprobung” (50 Years Flight Testing) plus written aerodynamic and flight formulas on various locations on the aircraft as well as the famous Phantom SPOOKY on the belly.

Specifications :

Dimensions
Length:	17.7m
Height:	4.7m
Wingspan:	11.6m
Wingarea:	49.2 sq m
No. of Engines:	2
Powerplant :	General Electric J79-GE-10 (A/B 17,900Lb/8,119Kg)
Performance
Range:	2,222 km
Cruise Speed:	908 km/h
Max Speed:	2,299 km/h
Climb:	12,572 m/min
Ceiling:	16,672 m