Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-4>HA1919

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

VMF (AW –All Weather)-235 “Death Angels” were renamed VMFA-235 in September 1968 and equipped with the F-4J Phantom II. VMFA-235 flew the last active duty F-4 and aircraft 153879 was the last F-4 launched from a carrier. VMFA-235 pilots referred to their red-nosed aircraft as “Bozo-Noses”. In April 1980 153879 was upgraded to an S variant retiring in December 1983 while with VF-151. The aircraft went to storage and eventually was removed for restoration and destined for the San Diego Aircraft Carrier Museum.

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