Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-4>HA19015

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

VF-103 was activated in 1952 and from 1953 until 1957 they were the “Flying Cougars” before becoming the “Sluggers”. In 1965 VF-103 received the F-4B which they flew until 1968 when the F-4J arrived. VF-103 deployed 15 times on board USS Saratoga and in 1971 sailed to the Mediterranean. In 1972 F-4J 157299 scored a victory over a MiG-21 and in 1976 was transferred to VF-11 “Red Rippers” where it was lost in 1977. Late in 1995 VF-84 “Jolly Rogers” was decommissioned so to keep the name alive VF-103 adopted the name “Jolly Rogers”.

Specifications :

Dimensions
Length:	58 ft 3 in
Height:	16 ft 3 in
Wingspan:	38 ft 5 in
Weight:
Empty:	32,000 lbs
Maximum Takeoff:	56,000 lbs
Performance
Maximum Level Speed:	Mach2+
Combat Radius:	Intercept – 781 miles
	Attack – 868 miles