Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-4>HA1924

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

On February 1, 1968 the former VMF(AW)-451 became VMFA-451 when they exchanged their F8U-2 Crusaders for the F-4J Phantom II. In 1954 after a few name changes the unit finally adopted the name “Warlords” as well as a new insignia. It consisted of a jet punching through a Carling beer label with a motto “Vini, Vici” meaning “We came, We conquered”. In 1963 VMF(AW)-451 moved to MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina. Over the years the squadron had spent time aboard USS Forrestal and in 1976 they were scheduled to return to the carrier for a Mediterranean cruise so the F-4J’ s were painted in U.S. Bicentennial markings along with Carrier Air Wing 17 tail-code of “AA”. As it turned out the Med cruise was cancelled. On January 31, 1999 VMFA-451 was decommissioned after 57 years of service.

Specifications :

Dimensions
Engines:	2 X General Electric J79-GE-8B/8C/10 turbojets, 11,870 lb.s.t dry, 17,900 lb. s.t. with afterburner. (lb.s.t. - Pounds Static Thrust)
Maximum speed:	1,584 mph at 48,000 ft. (Mach 2.4), 875 mph at sea level (Mach 1.15)
Initial climb rate:	41,250 fpm.
Service ceiling:	70,000 ft.
Combat ceiling:	54,700 ft.
Combat range:	596 miles, maximum range 1,956 miles with maximum external fuel.
Weights:	30,770 lbs empty.
	46,833 lbs gross.
	41,399 lbs combat weight.
Dimensions
Wingspan:	38 ft. 5 in.
Wing area:	530 square ft.
Length:	58 ft. 3.75 in
Height:	16 ft. 3 in.
Fuel
Maximum internal fuel:	in fuselage tanks 1,347 US gal.
Internal wing tanks:	630 gal.
Maximum external fuel:	3,317 US gal.
	600 US gal in a centerline tank, 370 US gal in each of two tanks that could be carried underneath the outer under wing pylons.
Armament:	4 X AIM-7 Sparrow semi-active radar homing air-to-air missiles in semi-recessed slots in the fuselage belly.
	2 X to 4 AIM-9 Sidewinder infra-red homing air-to-air missiles carried under the wings on the inboard pylons.
	Maximum offensive load of up to 16,000 lbs carried on the centerline and 4 under wing hard points.