Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-4>HA1921
McDonnel Douglas F-4J Phantom II VF-31, USS Saratoga, June 1972 "101"
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.
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-31 set many Navy records during the time it flew the F-4 Phantom
II. On June 12, 1972, CDR. Sam Flynn and Lt. Bill John, while flying
F-4J AC 101 (157293), downed a North Vietnamese MiG-21 with an AIM-9
Sidewinder missile, which made VF-31 the only Navy fighter squadron to
achieve air-to-air victories in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.
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 |