Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-4>HA1903
McDonnell Douglas F-4J "Blue Angels"
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.
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 1950 the Blue Angels and their F9F-2s joined the Korean War as part of USS Princeton's Fighter Squadron VF-191 "Satan's Kitten's". In 1951 the demonstration team resumed flying using the faster F9F-5 Panther. In 1954 the team acquired the Grumman F9F-8 Cougar, in 1957 the F11F-1 Tiger, the F-4J Phantom II in 1969 and in 1974 the Blue Angels began flying the A-4F Skyhawk. In their 40th anniversary year the F/A-18 Hornet became the new aircraft. By 2006 the Blue Angels had thrilled over 427 million spectators world wide.
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 |