Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-4>HA19039

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

The first F-4Es were delivered to the Israeli Air Force in 1969 and were nicknamed Kurnass (Sledgehammer) with the RF-4Es being called Orev (Raven). These aircraft were comprised of ex-USAF aircraft as well as new built. Israel became the largest non-USA operator of the F-4. McDonnell F-4E Phantom II 69-7241 MSN 3912 was transferred to the Israeli Air Force in 1970 as serial 119 and then 109 and even later 519. In 1980 improvements to the F-4E began which would make the aircraft even more deadly and this is when the term Kurnass became official.

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